Im in the closing stages of planning my LED installation which will require about 1,000 SK6812 LEDs. If you believe the datasheet, they are 90W per 5m and at 60/m Im looking at about 16m which is about 288W at 5V.
To me this is a big number (may not be to others!) and want to proceed with caution a bit. Ive got a QuinLED Digi Quad and plan to use 4 channels of about 4m each. Ive seen plenty of ~300W 5V power supplies but have also read that using 2 x 150W is possible (obviously not connecting the lives together!)
Just wondered what people prefer - 2 smaller or one big supply?
Thanks. I figured there is little difference, I guess my main concern was the numbers. Im a relative newbie and 300W feels like a lot, 2x150W seems a bit less startling!
Its going to be in my garage/outhouse so concerned about safety with the big numbers.
bth i like bigger units, if i need bit more power meters out i just inject more down the line usually not the case tho. depends too how your are using them, white, solid, high/max brightness, mostly effects etc… chart i found is for max brightness more so in white.
Note: its suggested to use a fuse, some bigger more expensive boards have them.
v
Amazon Limited Inventory Available | Wi-Fi Smart LED Controller with Sound Reactive Technology | WLED Pre-Installed | Internal Wi-Fi Antenna | Designed to Control WS281x or SK6812 5volt Smart
can always add a inline fuse.
v
Amazon VANTRONIK Waterproof MINI Inline Fuse Holder with 18 Gauge AWG Wire 12 Inches Long, Fit for Small Blade Fuse in
this youtube video shows some ins & outs. the person who made it makes alot of useful videos on his channel.
v
In reality, 300watts isn’t that much and you are also talking about an absolutely worst case scenario.
One big benefit of the SK6812 is that if you want white on a typical WS2812, you have to turn R, G and B on for about 60ma/LED. On a SK6812, you just turn the white on and the others off for about 20ma/LED. So you are unlikely to really hit 300 watts.
Which is great, though you should still go for a 300 watt supply. You want to have a bigger supply than you need to avoid driving the power supply too hard for long periods. 300watt supply should be able to drive 200 watts pretty continuously and stay “happy” with occasionally bursts up to 300 (though I doubt you’ll hit that).
The bigger issue with 300 watts/hi-watt setups is cable size and power injection. Use a beefy power supply line that runs, ideally, parallel to the LED strip and connects at both ends and, depending on the length, a few times in the middle. For a 75 foot install I have (a bit over 1,300 LEDs), I ran 12 gauge wire from the PS to the start, end and then to the start/end points for each of the 5 strips. Check the voltage at the end of the run and make sure it’s close to 5V (a tough low is OK, but less than 4.8 and things start getting dicey).
