Hey everyone,
I could really use some advice on a project I’m working on. I’m in the process of setting up addressable LED strips along the edges of my living room ceiling and want to make sure I’m doing it right. For context, I’m located in the Netherlands in case it matters.
Here’s what I’m dealing with:
Room Size: The ceiling perimeter is around 17.84 meters.
LED Strip: I’m considering using either a WS2812B or SK6812 LED strip, each with 60 LEDs per meter. That’s about 1071 LEDs in total.
Power Supply: I’m thinking of using a 5V 15A power supply to power the LEDs.
Controller: I’ll be using an ESP32 module with WLED for control and planning to integrate it with Home Assistant for setting up cool lighting scenes, like movie night vibes.
Current Setup: The current ceiling wiring is 230V AC, which was originally powering a chandelier and is connected to a wall switch.
My Questions:
- Converting 230V AC to 5V DC: What’s the best way to safely convert the 230V AC from the ceiling to power the 5V LED strips? Should I stick with one big 5V 15A power supply or use several smaller ones?
- Power Injection: How can I prevent voltage drops across the 17.84 meters of LED strip? How many power injection points should I set up, and where should they go?
- Wiring and Safety: What kind of wiring gauge should I use? Are there other components like fuses or enclosures I should be thinking about to keep things safe?
Any advice or recommendations would be amazing. Thanks in advance!
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Hey, sounds like a fun project! For the power, I’d definitely go with multiple smaller power supplies spread out, especially with that length. One power supply for the whole thing might struggle, and you’ll get voltage drops no matter what. I’d recommend doing power injection every 5 meters or so to avoid dimming at the far end of the strip
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You’re gonna want to power inject at least 3–4 times along the strip, maybe more depending on how intense the effects are. Voltage drop can be a real pain with long runs of addressable LEDs. Also, look into using some heat shrink tubing and weatherproof enclosures, even indoors, just to keep everything neat and protected.
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That’s a long strip of LEDs! You’ll definitely need multiple injection points, probably every 4-5 meters like others have said. For the power supply, I’d suggest going with two 10A ones instead of one big one—it’ll distribute the load better. And remember to check your total amp draw so you don’t blow anything
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It seems you’re heading in the right direction! A crucial piece of advice: don’t depend only on the ceiling wiring. Instead, install separate lines for the power supply and ensure the use of a dependable AC to DC converter. As recommended by others, 16 AWG wire is robust enough for such current. Additionally, position your ESP32 near the center of your strip to prevent signal problems.
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Totally agree with everyone else. A single 15A power supply might struggle with 17 meters of LEDs, especially if you’re pushing them hard with bright scenes. Multiple power supplies or at least injecting power every few meters is a must. I’d also recommend testing it in sections before mounting everything, just in case.
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