powering 5050 LED strips

[basementcalling]

Bought a test strip of 5M LEDs to play around with. Not being the brightest about electronics, I have no clue how to safely power the strip while I play around with some lighting configurations. Beyond that, figuring a way to power multiple strips is another "learning opportunity" here as well. Anticipating using 5-6 strips total in areas under my upper deck.

Thoughts and suggestions solicited.

[peteski]

Sounds like something that people who frequent the DCC/Electronic forum should be able to assist with. 

What are the current and voltage ratings for that particular strip?

[bdennis]

Peter,
A 5m strip of 5050 LED's normally draws about 1.5Amps at 12v.
It is normally best to get a power supply with each 5m LED strip. That's the most efficient and effective way to do the install if your not into electronics.
eBay is your friend in terms of finding power supplies for the LED Strips.

[peteski]

Dennis' idea is probably the safest for someone not very comfortable messing around with electronics.

[basementcalling]

Sounds like something that people who frequent the DCC/Electronic forum should be able to assist with. 

What are the current and voltage ratings for that particular strip?

Peteski, I almost posted this there, but I'll let a moderator move it for me if needed. Why post appropriately if members get that service free of charge? 

Specs

Working Voltage: 12V DC
LED Quantity: 300 leds/5 Meter
Working Current/Meter: 1A
Output power: 60W /5 Meter
Output Power: 0.2w/led ; 60w/300leds;
Working Current/5Meter: 5A
Working Tempreture: -20℃~50℃
Luminous Flux: 780-900 Lumens/Meter
Color Temperature: 2800--3500K

It talks about output power, but listed nothing about input voltage or current.

I'll probably find like others that I want multiple strips under my valence, but I had to start testing somewhere and Ian recommended this strip based on his tests on his new layout, so plunge in I did.

What I don't want is multiple wall warts all over the place eventually when done. 

[bdennis]

Peter.
After my own testing I found that you need at least 3 strips side by side to get enough light out of them.. I ended up going with Fluro's..

See here..
http://dh2ndsub.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/more-on-led-strips-for-lighting.html

I think you will be able to get a power supply to power multiple LED Strips.. But will need some research.

Also see this thread re lights - https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=26212.0

[basementcalling]

Peter.
After my own testing I found that you need at least 3 strips side by side to get enough light out of them.. I ended up going with Fluro's..

See here..
http://dh2ndsub.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/more-on-led-strips-for-lighting.html

I think you will be able to get a power supply to power multiple LED Strips.. But will need some research.

Also see this thread re lights - https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=26212.0

Thanks, BD. I've followed along with Alan's exploits for a couple years now. Great work, but much more intensive than I am expecting to need here.

I read your posts, here and on your blog after I bookmarked it, about lighting with interest. Luckily in most of my areas, my deck to deck separation is 8-12 inches from lower deck top to underside of the upper deck. Most scenes are 6-12 inches deep in the double decked portions. If the depth is greater that area either doesn't have an upper deck above it and will be lit from the ceiling (deep upper deck areas mostly) or I planned on going multi strip on the LEDs. I'm hoping the shorter distance will reduce the strips needed from your 3 to 1 or two in many places.

Of course, that last paragraph is based on assumption and speculation, thus the need for some real world testing.

[Ian MacMillan]

I use an old 430w ATX power supply. Feeds all 10 of my strings with no issue.

[peteski]

Peter, according to the specs, the entire 5 meter string consumes 5 amps of current at 12V DC.  If you will use multiple strops (or cut the 5 meter strip into multiple segments, you need to hook the individual strips in parallel with each other and with the power supply.  All the negatives tie together and all the positive ends tie together.

Current consumption will be a sum of the currents consumed by each strip.  So if you have three 5 meter strips, they would consume 15 amps at 12 V DC.  My recommendation is to get a power supply which is capable of supplying at least 20% more current than the total amperage needed.  So a 12V DC, 18 amp (or higher capacity) power supply would be a good choice.  Also make sure use gauge of wire which is heavy enough to handle the current.  A 14 AWG wire should handle 15 amps (12 AWG would be even safer). Also make sure that all the wire splices are down well (wither solder or crimped) - poor connections could have enough resistance to heat up and possibly cause you problems.

[bdennis]

Peteski,
Are you sure it is 5A? for 1 x 5m string?
In the testing I did, the multi meter only displayed around 1.2 to 1.5A.. (but Im using 240v as I live in Australia and not 120v per the US.)

[peteski]

Peteski,
Are you sure it is 5A? for 1 x 5m string?
In the testing I did, the multi meter only displayed around 1.2 to 1.5A.. (but Im using 240v as I live in Australia and not 120v per the US.)

Dunno... I simply went by the specs provided by Peter P. in his reply to my question (in this thread).

BTW, we are talking about the 12V supplied to the LEDs (not the mains). The power supply's input voltage makes no difference (the amperage on the secondary side of the power supply is whatever the LEDs consume - not dependent on the primary side's voltage).

[bdennis]

Peteski,
Yah yes.. Forgot about the secondary side.. So the while 120v vs 240 is irrelevant.. So all good there..
If the data I received or was able to get before I received the LED's is anything to go by, it is sketchy at best..
Probably need to get 1 x 5m string and do some testing so I'm sure it is not 5A per 5m.

[peteski]

Peteski,
Yah yes.. Forgot about the secondary side.. So the while 120v vs 240 is irrelevant.. So all good there..
If the data I received or was able to get before I received the LED's is anything to go by, it is sketchy at best..
Probably need to get 1 x 5m string and do some testing so I'm sure it is not 5A per 5m.

It is quite possible that the specs are incorrect. I have never used any of those LED strings, so you have lots more experience with them than I do.    If these less than the specs then having a power supply with larger current capacity will not hurt anything. But it will be wasted by not being fully utilized.

[babbo_enzo]

Peter, according to the specs, the entire 5 meter string consumes 5 amps of current at 12V DC. 

Hi all,
I've buy some 5050 strips too:
http://www.dx.com/p/jz-5050-smd-w-60w-3600lm-6500k-300-5050-smd-led-white-light-lamp-strip-white-yellow-black-5m-255403
According specs I agree it (may) sink 5 A @12VDC , so I've modify an old ATX PC PSU (rated for 19A @12V)...
When LEDs arrived and I've connected to the PSU, checking with a Fluke meter.... I read 2,2A @ 12,1 VDC !?
I can't justify the reading, but... more than enough to light properly the layout!
Cheers

[DKS]

If these less than the specs then having a power supply with larger current capacity will not hurt anything. But it will be wasted by not being fully utilized.

I've got bunches of these strips and power supplies. Most of the commercial supplies made for them are switching type (no transformer), so there won't be much power waste if they're over-capacity.

I'd recommend just getting a bunch of the cheap Chinese supplies made for the strips. Nice thing is they come with the proper connectors, so it becomes plug-and-play. You can also get dimmers for them, too, and they work great.