# Damaged cables **URL:** \ **Category:** Hardware\ **Created:** [June 8, 2022, 9:01pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/damaged-cables/5496 "2022-06-08T21:01:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rosseba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@rosseba](https://wled.discourse.group/u/rosseba)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 9:01pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/damaged-cables/5496/1 "2022-06-08T21:01:10Z")
Hi all, today, setup mentioned in this thread: > [@Maximum current for my setup](https://wled.discourse.group/t/maximum-current-for-my-setup/3970): > > Hi all, below my setup: WS2812B 5V led strip (not the full strip but only 189 LEDs of 300 total) ESP32 MH-ET with WLED 0.12 firmware PS DC5V 20A 100W LED strip specs: 60 LEDs/mt Power: 18W/m, 0.3W/LED Below the wiring: If I let the config untouched so: Enable automatic brightness limiter: checked Maximum Current: 850 mA light is dim. If I uncheck the flag, the light is super sunny sunny sunny but I don’t want to blow up my house. Some newbie quest… stop working: led strip stay on even during WLED reboot, changes from WLED webui are not acknoledged by led strip, etc A close look at ESP board show me this: ![photo5839285623104583996](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/2/2e354d4837388b094cffa4fcdef3ae0605b84d20.jpeg) ![photo5839285623104583997](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/3/37ef7450aefbba522d1758a7652256bf800dda75.jpeg) cables from led strip to power supply were… melted (especially GND one). Do you think is just a cable issue (I should use thicker cables) or are any other attention points to consider? Please let me know what do you think… Thanks, -f ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 1:41am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/damaged-cables/5496/2 "2022-06-09T01:41:21Z")
You might want to use heavier wire. It is hard to tell from the pic but your wires on the strip look like they are stripped a bit long. Are you sure they could not have touched one another and or some other metal object? I would put some heat shrink over them next time or some hot glue. **Definitely** add a fuse between the strip and the power supply on the +. Do you use White a lot? I don’t think you would smoke the wires unless something shorted or you were using white. ---
**Author:** ![rosseba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@rosseba](https://wled.discourse.group/u/rosseba)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 5:21am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/damaged-cables/5496/3 "2022-06-09T05:21:28Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > You might want to use heavier wire. OK, that was my main concern > [@Jinx](#): > > It is hard to tell from the pic but your wires on the strip look like they are stripped a bit long. Are you sure they could not have touched one another and or some other metal object? Yeah I’m pretty sure about it. > [@Jinx](#): > > I would put some heat shrink over them next time or some hot glue. **Definitely** add a fuse between the strip and the power supply on the +. I’ll do. What size fuse should I use? > [@Jinx](#): > > Do you use White a lot? I don’t think you would smoke the wires unless something shorted or you were using white. I use white 99% of the time 🙃 The led strip is white 6h/8h a day during week days. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 8:04pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/damaged-cables/5496/4 "2022-06-09T20:04:03Z")
Easiest: I would use a 15a automotive fuse. _and wire that can support at least 15a_ -Ideally using the limiter in the config set on 10000 and a 12a fuse, but you will have a hard time finding 12a fuses unless going with glass tube type. 100% go with heavier wire if you are mostly using white.