DIY'er - Cable thickness for LED strips

[Fixxxer]

Hi there,

I am installing a few LED strips (plug in ones just) in my garage. I'll be using a transformer (12v, 12.5A, 150w) to power the strips. There's 3 5m strips, all single colour (warm white), consuming 120w in total. The distance from the transformer to the 3 strips is 5m.

What gauge cable would I need to run from the transformer to the strips, to ensure no overheating etc? Would 20 awg be thick enough?

Thanks!

 

[Geoff1946]

No that's too thin. It's not heating you need to worry about but volt drop. The volt drop is a much higher proportion of the supply at 12 volts than if you are considering a mains circuit. You can use speaker cable but get a decently large CSA. I would suggest 2.5mm cable.

 

[Bruspark]

The preferred solution would be to have a smaller transformer at the start of each strip and distribute power at 230V. 5M will see a volt drop at 12V unless you use thick cable although making a ring will also help if you are doing that to avoid a 'dim end'

 

[BorisJ]

Would 20 awg be thick enough?

AWG, American wire gauge, not used here. We use SWG, standard wire gauge, the sizes are different.

 

[masonlvvy]

Hi there,

I am installing a few LED strips (plug in ones just) in my garage. I'll be using a transformer (12v, 12.5A, 150w) to power the strips. There's 3 5m strips, all single colour (warm white), consuming 120w in total. The distance from the transformer to the 3 strips is 5m.

What gauge cable would I need to run from the transformer to the strips, to ensure no overheating etc? Would 20 awg be thick enough?

Thanks!

20AWG or 18AWG for LED Strips is good.

 

[Fixxxer]

Thanks for all the advice. To ensure a proper job is done, I've decided to get a proper electrician in, lol.