|
|
|
The following page was printed from RemoteCentral.com:
LED strip lights; diminishing brightness...
| |
|
Topic: | LED strip lights; diminishing brightness over length This thread has 13 replies. Displaying all posts. |
|
Post 1 made on Tuesday September 6, 2016 at 12:37 |
Audiophiliac Super Member |
Joined: Posts: | August 2006 3,311 |
|
|
I know there probably many variables to consider here, but I installed 2 16' strips of LED in a crown molding in a theater room. I noticed right away that the brightness dimmed gradually, with the LEDs closest to the power supply considerably brighter than the ones nearer the end. Is this normal? I have another set on my desk to replace those, because homeowner wanted a warmer color. They are behaving the same way. We definitely have enough current. The power supply I have now is actually a magnetic LV dimming module/power supply. The one at the home now is just your standard AC/DC wall wart.
Is this a function of the strips themselves? Is it considered "normal"? I have some LED christmas light strings that do not exhibit this behavior. We just finished a theater room at an old folks home where the electricians installed some LED rope lighting across the 3 risers and they do not exhibit this behavior. So there has to be something with the strips we have been using, right?
Any best practices, pointers, product recommendations? The ones on my desk are from LEDJump, the dimming module from Hitlights, where the original strips also came from. My plan is to run a 2 conductor wire from the power supply all the way around and power the second strip from the other end. Hopefully this will make thing a bit more even at least.
|
"When I eat, it is the food that is scared." - Ron Swanson |
|
Post 2 made on Tuesday September 6, 2016 at 12:55 |
Ernie Gilman Yes, That Ernie! |
Joined: Posts: | December 2001 30,104 |
|
|
Your cure is exactly what I was going to suggest. You might even connect that added pair to the middle of each run if you can. Your wire will be a larger gauge than the copper in the tape. You know this will solve the problem, which is a hint as to what's going on.
It sounds like you're running the string a longer distance than it is designed to go as a single piece. Think about it -- all the current of the LEDs at the far end goes through the small copper traces of the entire length of the tape. That copper has resistance and the copper feeding the far LEDs is the WHOLE strip, so the highest resistance. It makes sense that there's some length where the voltage drop across the copper will make the LEDs visibly dimmer.
Contact the manufacturer and find out what their maximum run length is, and be ready to ask them to how to cure this if you're within their spec.
|
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw |
|
Post 3 made on Tuesday September 6, 2016 at 13:26 |
fcwilt Senior Member |
Joined: Posts: | September 2003 1,283 |
|
|
Hi,
There is also the possibility the some "brands" of these products have heavier copper traces which would reduce the voltage loss.
Were did you get your product?
I've done a handful of locations and I have always fed power to each strip separately just because it seemed like a good idea. I did NOT check with the manufacture to see if they had a spec for this.
Frederick
|
Regards, Frederick C. Wilt |
|
Post 4 made on Tuesday September 6, 2016 at 13:38 |
Ernie Gilman Yes, That Ernie! |
Joined: Posts: | December 2001 30,104 |
|
|
Most of us would not check with the manufacturer until we had a problem. That's just human nature and technician nature. We figure we know what we're doing until it's proven otherwise!
|
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw |
|
OP | Post 5 made on Tuesday September 6, 2016 at 13:54 |
Audiophiliac Super Member |
Joined: Posts: | August 2006 3,311 |
|
|
Thanks for the input.
The first strips were from HitLights. Their Luma5 strips. The manual states that you can connect 2 strips without any additional parts, but going beyond that, they sell an amplifier that goes between, with separate power inputs. Not sure what difference this is vs. my idea of just running a wire from the power supply and powering the 2nd strip directly.
The second set is from LEDJump and they have no instructions really at all. But the principles stand that are mentioned in HitLights documentation. DC voltage drop is not your friend. :)
Easy explanation. Easy solution.
|
"When I eat, it is the food that is scared." - Ron Swanson |
|
Post 6 made on Tuesday September 6, 2016 at 14:09 |
fcwilt Senior Member |
Joined: Posts: | September 2003 1,283 |
|
|
On September 6, 2016 at 13:54, Audiophiliac said...
Thanks for the input.
The first strips were from HitLights. Their Luma5 strips. The manual states that you can connect 2 strips without any additional parts, but going beyond that, they sell an amplifier that goes between, with separate power inputs. Not sure what difference this is vs. my idea of just running a wire from the power supply and powering the 2nd strip directly.
The second set is from LEDJump and they have no instructions really at all. But the principles stand that are mentioned in HitLights documentation. DC voltage drop is not your friend. :)
Easy explanation. Easy solution. A quick glance at one product on the LEDjump site has a doc that says they are "linkable" and a wiring diagram showing each strip fed separately. Go figure. Frederick
|
Regards, Frederick C. Wilt |
|
Post 7 made on Tuesday September 6, 2016 at 15:47 |
trx250r87 Long Time Member |
|
|
Go to Home Depot and get some Armacost LED strip lights. [Link: homedepot.com]If they don't work, return them! I'm using about 20' of these in my kitchen and I don't notice any difference in brightness. Eric
Last edited by trx250r87 on September 9, 2016 08:07.
|
|
Post 8 made on Tuesday September 6, 2016 at 18:51 |
Brad Humphrey Super Member |
Joined: Posts: | February 2004 2,598 |
|
|
On September 6, 2016 at 15:47, trx250r87 said...
I'm using about 20" of these in my kitchen and I don't notice any difference in brightness. 20" or 20' ? Big difference between 20 inches or 20 feet.
|
|
Post 9 made on Tuesday September 6, 2016 at 19:27 |
GotGame Super Member |
Joined: Posts: | February 2002 4,022 |
|
|
That is funny ^
|
I may be schizophrenic, but at least I have each other. |
|
Post 10 made on Tuesday September 6, 2016 at 19:46 |
Brentm Ethereal Home Theater |
Joined: Posts: | July 2003 2,688 |
|
|
Rule of Thumb with LED Strip Lights: 12 V: Power insertion every 5 meters 24 V: Power Insertion every 10 Meters RGB 12 V: Power Insertion 5 meters thru RGB Coupler RGB 24 V: Power Insertion 10 meters thru RGB Coupler
|
Brent McCall Paid Endorser for; Ethereal (386) 846-7264 Cell |
|
Post 11 made on Wednesday September 7, 2016 at 06:55 |
thecapnredfish Senior Member |
Joined: Posts: | February 2008 1,397 |
|
|
Really think you will get an answer calling Xo Chang Lo Duckwang being an ebay seller. Go with Ernie. Rewire it.
|
|
Post 12 made on Wednesday September 7, 2016 at 11:53 |
Ernie Gilman Yes, That Ernie! |
Joined: Posts: | December 2001 30,104 |
|
|
On September 6, 2016 at 19:46, Brentm said...
Rule of Thumb with LED Strip Lights: 12 V: Power insertion every 5 meters 24 V: Power Insertion every 10 Meters RGB 12 V: Power Insertion 5 meters thru RGB Coupler RGB 24 V: Power Insertion 10 meters thru RGB Coupler Well, perhaps, but "power insertion" can simply be the same pair of wires that are connected at one end, also connected at the other end and somewhere in between, so the lower resistance of the feed wire keeps the LEDs from being of different brightnesses. By the way, you can get the original wiring to deliver a more uniform light level if you reduce the light level of the LEDs. Lowering the light level is like adding resistance in series with the light strips, in which case the effects of the resistance of the copper in the light strip is swamped out by the overall resistance.
|
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw |
|
Post 13 made on Friday September 9, 2016 at 08:08 |
trx250r87 Long Time Member |
|
|
On September 6, 2016 at 18:51, Brad Humphrey said...
20" or 20' ? Big difference between 20 inches or 20 feet. Sorry, I edited my typo. Eric
|
|
Post 14 made on Friday September 9, 2016 at 10:54 |
BizarroTerl Active Member |
Joined: Posts: | October 2002 591 |
|
|
Simple. Connect your power to both ends.
|
|
|
Before you can reply to a message... |
You must first register for a Remote Central user account - it's fast and free! Or, if you already have an account, please login now. |
Please read the following: Unsolicited commercial advertisements are absolutely not permitted on this forum. Other private buy & sell messages should be posted to our Marketplace. For information on how to advertise your service or product click here. Remote Central reserves the right to remove or modify any post that is deemed inappropriate.
|
|