The rules: - All power values are taken from the Real-World Power sheet from https://quinled.info - We're going to calculate with a nominal current (RGB White 50% value) (See Article: https://quinled.info/2020/03/12/digital-led-power-usage/) - An edge injection point can do about 4Amps and a middle injection point about 8Amps (See Article: https://quinled.info/should-you-replace-wires-on-led-strip/) - A power injection wire should not have more then 10% voltage drop on that wire. (Voltage drop calculator https://www.rapidtables.com/calc/wire/voltage-drop-calculator.html) Scenario 1: 5v, 20m/64ft, ws2812b, 60LEDs/m Scenario 2: 12v, 20m/64ft, ws2815, 60LEDs/m Scenario 3: 24v, 20m/64ft, ws2811, 720LEDs/m COB LED strip ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SCENARIO 1: 5v - 20m/64ft 5m/16t nominally uses: 35w 20m/65ft nominally uses: 140w at 5v! Recommended Power supply = 140w + 20% = 168w (so probably get 200w) Watts to Amps: 140w / 5v = 28Amps !! Added end injection vs video! For 5v strip to make sure there is no drop during nominal usage it's best to have a front + end injection for each 5m strip! *notes injection point* *front* |strip| *middle* |strip| *middle* |strip| *middle* |strip| *end* front = 4Amps 1st Middle = 8Amps 2nd Middle = 8Amps 3rd Middle = 8Amps end = 4Amps Max delivery potential: 4+8+8+8+4 = 32Amps! Fusing: 4Amp should get 5Amp fuse 8Amp should get 10Amp fuse front = 1m 1st Middle = 6m 2nd Middle = 11m 3rd Middle = 16m end = 21m front = 20AWG/0.51mm2 1st Middle = 12AWG/3.30mm2 2nd Middle = 10AWG/5.26mm2 3rd Middle = 8AWG/8.36mm2 end = 10AWG/5.26mm2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SCENARIO 2: 12v - 20m/64ft 5m/16ft uses 50w 20m/64ft uses 200w Recommended power supply 250w+ Watts to Amps: 200w / 12v = 16,66Amps *notes injection point* *front* |strip| middle |strip| *middle* |strip| middle |strip| *end* front = 4Amps middle = 8Amps end = 4Amps Max delivery potential: 4+8+4 = 16Amps front = 1m middle = 11m end = 1m front = 20AWG middle = 12AWG end = 20AWG end (16m) = 14AWG Fusing: 4Amp should get 5Amp fuse 8Amp should get 10Amp fuse Alternative option: (controller in the middle option!) *notes injection point* #notes Data+GND connection# #front# |strip| *middle* |strip| middle |strip| *middle* |strip| end Middle1 = 8Amps Middle2 = 8Amps Max delivery potential: 8+8 = 16Amps Middle1 = 6m Middle2 = 6m Middle1 = 16AWG/1.30mm2 Middle2 = 16AWG/1.30mm2 (extra wire for data+GND to front 11m) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SCENARIO 3: 24v - 20m/64ft 5m/16ft uses 60w 20m/64 uses 240w! Recommended power supply 240w * 1,2 = 288w (so get a 300w) Watts to Amps: 240w / 24v = 10Amps **Cheat mode on!** (The bare minimum...) 5m uses 45w 20m uses 180w 180w / 24v = 7,50Amps *notes injection point* *front* |strip| middle |strip| middle |strip| middle |strip| *end* front = 4Amps end = 4Amps front = 1m end = 1m front = 20AWG/0.51mm2 end = 20AWG/0.51mm2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Scenario 3 ULTRA MODE: !100% RGB WHITE ALL THE TIME! 5m is 112w 20m is 448w Recommended Power Supply is 448w + 20% = 537w (but around 500w is likely fine since we are calculating a max usage scenario) Watts to Amps: 448w / 24v = 18.66Amps *front* |strip| middle |strip| *middle* |strip| middle |strip| *end* front = 4Amps middle = 8Amps end = 4Amps Max delivery potential: 4+8+4 = 16Amps (close enough!) front = 1m middle = 11m end = 1m front = 20AWG/0.51mm2 middle = 16AWG/1.30mm2 end = 20AWG/0.51mm2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Do I need multiple data connections? (See Article: https://quinled.info/2021/03/23/max-amount-of-addressable-leds/) Scenario 1: yes we need 2 (2x 600LEDs) Scenario 2: yes we need 2 (2x 600LEDs) Scenario 3: No... 1x 5m = 100 addressable zones x4 = 400 zones! 33R resistor mode (See Article: https://quinled.info/data-signal-cable-conditioning/) 2-wire + separate data = 249R (default mode) 3-wire cable = 33R