Question

Hey, got a question on powering an 80 foot strand of led strip lights. I would need an initial power source 12-24V then an amplifier every 16-20 foot powered by the same power source? I’d like amplifiers and power source + controller all in one cabinet in my basement. Does my length of power wires going to Led strip matter? Is there a better product that would do what I want with out all the amplifiers? Thanks for your input

Answer 1

Depends on wattage per ft, voltage, length of run from LED driver to beginning of tape. For example: Assuming 12v and 1. 44 w/ft (Diode LED brand) with max continuous run of 16. 5 ft you could do a 150w driver with 5 separate runs. One run from driver to each strip 16/2 class 2

Answer 2

Fit each of your 5m strips in place and run the power cable for each strip back to your supply. You can buy big power supplies cheap online. I have a 30A 12v supply running in my Comms cupboard and it feeds the led lights in all the wardrobes, kitchen cabinets and outside lights. Helps keep things simple and means it's easy to isolate a failure.  

Answer 3

These are cheap, work very well and you can really over spec them so they are not working hard or generating a lot of heat.  
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173732292727

Answer 4

So my idea is to run waterproof strip lighting around the inside of my above ground pool capping. It’s roughly 82 feet in circumference. I’d put the strip inside clear vinyl tubing for extra protection and seal ends and openings with silacone. Then I’d also like to do my decking on separate controller. Also would like a temp sensor for the pool and have an indicator light that works with pool temp sensor and say if the pool is 60 degrees it’s blue, 65 degrees yellow 70 degrees red. I want to try and get this done for June when it’s prime swimming time.  

Answer 5

My pool is the hardest part to get right

Answer 6

This is how I see it can be done

Answer 7

Have 1 of these for deck and one for pool, but being in a location that’s between 50-100 feet from both objects makes me wonder if the transformer won’t power it correctly or the controller signal will die before reaching the lights

Answer 8

Forget amplifiers IMO. Just run each strip back to wherever the power supply is gonna live and put the controllers there. Solder a decent size piece of cable to each strip so you get less loss. You have 80 feet you want to cover, That is roughly 25m and I have some 40 meters of LED strip in my house all run back from a central point. the controllers are sometimes local and sometimes with the power supply depending if they are on Genie switches, wifi or IR. The great thing about this approach is you can test with a single strip on a bench to make sure it will work before you go any further. if you get the chance, Use a single length of tube and have it big enough to take the led strip and at least a couple of lengths of cable, then you don't need to have anything sealed in the pool as you can run the pipe back to wherever the PSU is living. I am all about making life easier and simpler. This approach will give you flexibility. As a side note, what about putting RGBW led strip in and you could change the colour of the light strip based on the pool temp rather than an indicator light.  

Answer 9

Just account for voltage drop if you use runs. Also you can use different supplies. But I will use a common ground to all so that you have no potential differences