12V rgb wall ambient lighting

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Karol

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Hi all,

I was looking for a recommendation on wire and power supply and controller for the rgb smd light strips. I have in total just shy on 22m of what I believe is 5050 60led/m. I got them off ebay a good while ago and it came with 3 power adapters rated at 12v 5A (for 30M kit). Hence 1 turned out to be faulty and I only used 22m i decided to give it a shot using just the two but only 2 months later one of them died (they are turned off at the fuse when not on) and was roasting hot. After looking around on the internet I'm finding quite mixed opinions as to what power supply i should use so I thought I'd ask some people for opinions.

Here's the setup and requrements:
4 lengths of 3.24M
2 lengths of 2.44M
2 lengths of 2M
I'm not worried if I have run a separate cable to each length but would prefer as discrete cable as humanly possible but safety first (at the moment its connected in series, each adapter powering 2 sets 5.24-5.68M with that rgb cable for those lights but please advise me otherwise if that's not suitable)
I also need it to work off of one controller for changing colours (at the moment its 2, you can imagine the pain)
A music controller would be a cherry on a cake if anyone has any ideas:)
 
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Karol said:
(at the moment its connected in series,
Click to expand...

Well that is wrong. You must run them in parallel not series otherwise they will be very dim or not work at all.
If the origional supplies were 12v 5a it makes sense to use the same rating surely.
 
Using a calculation found here https://www.eeweb.com/profile/davis-shang/articles/calculating-power-supplies-for-led-strip-lighting
(22m x 60led x 0.24w) / 12v works out to about 30A total (with +10% margin)
which means for the cable for the biggest length (3.24M *60led *0.24W) /12 is 4.27A (with +10% margin) is a minimum for the cable current rating if I was to run a cable separately from the supply to each strip.

Im currently looking at a combo of those 3..
Power adapter https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B072J97...olid=24396DBBZEJ71&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Amplifier https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00UANI...olid=24396DBBZEJ71&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Controller https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01JHP3...olid=24396DBBZEJ71&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
 
So as sold an LED strip cannot be used as is? It must be cut into several lengths?
 
winston1 said:
Well that is wrong. You must run them in parallel not series otherwise they will be very dim or not work at all.
If the origional supplies were 12v 5a it makes sense to use the same rating surely.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. I did realise the mistake and I'll run them parallel in the new setup tho I didn't actually notice then being dim.

I actually can't find that same one and I need it to run off one controller or else it's a bit of a spoiled effect as it won't be synchronised. + I really (emphasize) really do not trust that old adapters as I could barely hold it in hand for longer than 5 sec when it shot
 
ban-all-sheds said:
So as sold an LED strip cannot be used as is? It must be cut into several lengths?
Click to expand...

The kit I got I believed was a 30M kit with a single controller suited for purpose but I was wrong when it arrived and the seller was not cooperating at all. I cut them into that lengths as that was my requirements but one adapter was broken when I got it and the other two burned in no time. Hence the reason I'm trying to do a bit more research now so I don't end up paying twice agian. I'm happy with the led strips themselves but now just need to find a suitable power source and a single controller
 
Karol said:
The kit I got I believed was a 30M kit with a single controller suited for purpose
Click to expand...
If that strip could have been used as a single 30m length then wiring the segments in series would have been the same as if it had not been cut into segments in the first place.


but I was wrong when it arrived and the seller was not cooperating at all.
Click to expand...
Were they cheap on eBay or Amazon from a Chinese seller?
 
ban-all-sheds said:
If that strip could have been used as a single 30m length then wiring the segments in series would have been the same as if it had not been cut into segments in the first place.
Click to expand...

But the segments would not have been in series. They would have been in parallel.
 
ban-all-sheds said:
If that strip could have been used as a single 30m length then wiring the segments in series would have been the same as if it had not been cut into segments in the first place.


Were they cheap on eBay or Amazon from a Chinese seller?
Click to expand...

The kit actually came in 3 boxes each containing 2x5M led strips and 1 adapter I each. So I was raging from the very start but at the time I didn't quite know better and the seller only agreed for partial refund so I decided to keep the lot and try to make use. The lot was £50 if I remember right so I'd say on a cheaper side considering those from reputable companies. If not the fact that I already cut them apart and fitted the strips before I found out one wasn't working I would've returned the lot. My bad. So now I'm having to find an adequate power supply for it as I refuse to redo the fitting
 
winston1 said:
But the segments would not have been in series. They would have been in parallel.
Click to expand...
If you connect the power to one end of a length, then connect the other end to a second piece, and the other end of that to piece #3, and the other end of #3 to #4, and so on, have you connected them in series, or in parallel?
 
ban-all-sheds said:
If you connect the power to one end of a length, then connect the other end to a second piece, and the other end of that to piece #3, and the other end of #3 to #4, and so on, have you connected them in series, or in parallel?
Click to expand...

Parallel. Any electrician knows that. I believe you are not an electrician.
 
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