Help with flexable led strip lighting.

[jmlcolorado]

So I installed crown moulding in the living room, over the entry, down the hallway and back into the living room of my house.
I HATE those damn **** lights in the center of the ceilings of older homes so this was my solution.
I also don't like lamps all that much.
So the rope light has dimmed to an output beyond reasonable use. Most of that likely stems from me buying cheap china products, but still.
SO, I'd like to try out flexable led strip lights. The LEDs are of a better technology on these. Problem is I see that no matter where I look, the max legnth you can run is 16.4 feet. I think this is likely because of the size of the transformer. Likely using a 25 watt max transformer.

I need to run a continuous legnth of 84 feet. At 1.2 watts per foot, that would be 100 watts.
I can buy bulk led strip all day long. Wild it be possible to buy a 100 watt transformer to run this legnth?
Also, why is the rope light able to run such a legnth (though degrading over time) with 1 small transformer? I looked at the transformer to see how much output it has, but I isn't marked with anything, but it is physically smaller then a 5 watt, 3 foot run of led strip.
Here's a link to the stuff I was looking at:

http://www.elementalled.com/bulk-led-strip-light-100-foot-spool.html


If this product is not the right stuff for this type of use, does anyone have something that IS?
Thanks!

 

[rburke65]

Ok.....I'll help.

 

[jmlcolorado]

Ok.....I'll help.

Sorry, I posted that link by accident before I got the rest of it filled out

 

[gowings]

Get on the net and look at Aliexpress. I ran 48 feet with no issue and have experience doing the connections and amplifiers for your 84 foot length. Each run of 5 meters needs approx 50 watts of power. So you'll need a 300 watt power supply to start.
For every run of 5 meters you will have to push that power so RGB amplifiers will be needed along the way.
Draw it out with the power sources marked and I will help you out. Should not cost more than 200.00 all in. 35 for each 16 feet plus power supply /amplifiers, connectors and wire.
Shoot me a PM if you want help

 

[gowings]

Here is my latest project. 3 runs all on 1 switch, running on a 180 watt power supply. RGB 5050 strips

 

[jmlcolorado]

Get on the net and look at Aliexpress. I ran 48 feet with no issue and have experience doing the connections and amplifiers for your 84 foot length. Each run of 5 meters needs approx 50 watts of power. So you'll need a 300 watt power supply to start.
For every run of 5 meters you will have to push that power so RGB amplifiers will be needed along the way.
Draw it out with the power sources marked and I will help you out. Should not cost more than 200.00 all in. 35 for each 16 feet plus power supply /amplifiers, connectors and wire.
Shoot me a PM if you want help

Here is my latest project. 3 runs all on 1 switch, running on a 180 watt power supply. RGB 5050 strips

Awesome! That's great input! I'm not much of an electrician, so this reply is exactly what I need.
The good thing is I have a clear attic above so I I HAD to, I could run a couple more power sources, but I really would rather not as the outlet I have installed now, is right below the top plate of the wall and completly concealed behind the crown moulding. T install more the same way, I would have to pull the crown off to gain better access.
Ill have to lookup a RGB amplifier.
So for this to work, it would basically not be 1 continuous run? The RGB amplifiers install inline in a few locations throughout the run to push power to the end, right?
Okay, back to my reaearch.

 

[jmlcolorado]

Okay, I see where this is going. The RGB amplifier would be used if I was using color changing LEDs. (Half tempted to, go big or go home).
But right now, in my case, I'm utilizing 2700k single temp LEDs so an RGB amplifier would not be needed. HOWEVER, I would still need to have seperate power supply's for every 32' run, right?

 

[darkk]

Problem is I see that no matter where I look, the max legnth you can run is 16.4 feet. I think this is likely because of the size of the transformer. Likely using a 25 watt max transformer.
I need to run a continuous legnth of 84 feet. At 1.2 watts per foot, that would be 100 watts.
I can buy bulk led strip all day long. Wild it be possible to buy a 100 watt transformer to run this legnth?If this product is not the right stuff for this type of use, does anyone have something that IS?
Thanks!

http://www.elementalled.com/12v-dimmable-driver.html
This same comany sells the power supply you need. I would contact them and ask how to accomplish your project. I do a lot of Led projects and I don't see this as a problem. You may have to run 5-6 separate 16 foot lengths and run a separate power wire to each run because of the conductor size of the strip. But you can surely use one power supply.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I don't have any personal experience with this product, but I get their catalogs in the mail all the time and the kit prices seem reasonable:
http://www.e-conolight.com/led-products/led-flexible-cable-strip-lighting.html

 

[rlitman]

HOWEVER, I would still need to have seperate power supply's for every 32' run, right?

You can use one power supply, but you need to separate the strips into runs with separate wires feeding each.

Exactly. If everything is continuous, and you want to tap into the middle of a single pair of power feed wires, you need them the be large enough to supply the current for the entire setup. For 100W, a 14 gauge zip cord should be fine for that purpose.

 

[Kevin54]

Here is my latest project. 3 runs all on 1 switch, running on a 180 watt power supply. RGB 5050 strips

Not sure what that is but looks pretty cool. Any larger pics?

I have a good source for LED's but it's on my other computer. When I get in later, I'll try to remember to post the link up. The place has real decent prices on LED's or small Incandescent rope lighting.

I'm getting ready to put up about 24' of rope lighting and the box states that you can run 201' continuous.

 

[gowings]

This was a locker room I did for a hockey team.
Approx. RGB 5050 waterproof -50 feet, 3 runs-1 power supply-1 RGB controller. Total material cost $135.00. I use a supplier in china that is excellent. They now sell a RGB wireless controller that is smartphone app ready. Around $85.00 I think.