Reference of Current Draws of Common RGB Lights Used

fasteddy

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The below figures are based on manufactures specifications and are for an RGB light when showing white (Red, Green and Blue all on)

RGB Dumb Strip

30 LED/m 12vdc strip
7.2 watts/m @ 12vdc = 0.6 amps/m

60 LED/m 12vdc strip
14.4 watts/m @ 12vdc = 1.2 amps/m

2811 IC smart strip

12vdc 2811 strip - 10 sections/m Strip
7.68 Watts/m @ 12vdc = 0.64 amps/m

12vdc 2811 strip - 16 sections/m Strip
11.5 Watts/m @ 12vdc = 0.96 amps/m

5vdc 2811 strip 30 sections/m Strip
7.2 Watts/m @ 5v = 1.44 amps/m

5vdc 2811 strip 60 sections/m Strip
14.4 Watts/m @ 5v = 2.88 amps/m

5vdc 2811 strip 64 sections/m strip
15.3 Watts/m @ 5v = 3.06 amps/m

12vdc 2811 String of 50
(0.3 Watts * 50) @ 12vdc = 1.25 amps per 50 strings
*Note refer to this thread to see the differences between 5vdc and 12vdc strings

5vdc 2811 String of 50
(0.3 Watts * 50) @ 12vdc = 3 amps per 50 string


2801 IC smart strip

5vdc 2801 strip 32 sections/m Strip
10 watts/m @ 5vdc = 2 amps/m

12vdc 2801 strip 12 sections/m Strip
10 watts/m @ 12vdc = 0.833 amps/m

12vdc 2801 String of 50
(0.3 Watts * 50) @ 12vdc = 1.25 amps per 50 strings
*Note refer to this thread to see the differences between 5vdc and 12vdc strings

5vdc 2801 String of 50
(0.3 Watts * 50) @ 12vdc = 3 amps per 50 string


6803 IC smart strip

12vdc 6803 strip 10 sections/m Strip
7.2 watts/m @ 12vdc = 0.6 amps/m

5vdc 6803 String of 50
(0.3 Watts * 50) @ 12vdc = 3 amps per 50 string
 

logandc99

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Great reference info. Thanks. Will be very helpful as I am soon to jump into the world of pixels.
 

fasteddy

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battle79 said:
Handy reference,
Will be very useful in figuring out how many PS to get.
I did notice a little 5vdc typo on the last line of 2811 chips. :p

Regards,
Rowan

Thanks for pointing that out, looks like i had the hyperlink mixed around with 12vdc, all fixed now
 

Boof63

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Thanks for reference for both details and links to actual products
Cheers boof63
 

Brian000

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Great info, thanks for all the help, successfully fired up the pixels today.
Wow those wires do get warm.

5vdc 2811 String of 50
(0.3 Watts * 50) @ 5vdc = 3 amps per 50 string

Might explain it when using 16 strings. Time for another power supply.
 

drakky

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I was just fiddling in excel with this info, if someone would like to check I've done it right and the numbers are correct ? the sheet might be helpful to some people
 

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fasteddy

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drakky said:
I was just fiddling in excel with this info, if someone would like to check I've done it right and the numbers are correct ? the sheet might be helpful to some people

Excellent work, at a quick glance it looks good. Thanks for putting this togethr to make it easier for other to calculate current needs.
 

AAH

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I must have missed this post last year possibly because of the madness surrounding mini season. There are a couple of errors that i spotted after someone in chat found the calculator and I had a gander. Once the few errors are corrected I reckon this could get linked from the wiki and in the revised ACL101.

drakky said:
I was just fiddling in excel with this info, if someone would like to check I've done it right and the numbers are correct ? the sheet might be helpful to some people
 

mborg10

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AAH said:
I must have missed this post last year possibly because of the madness surrounding mini season. There are a couple of errors that i spotted after someone in chat found the calculator and I had a gander. Once the few errors are corrected I reckon this could get linked from the wiki and in the revised ACL101.

drakky said:
I was just fiddling in excel with this info, if someone would like to check I've done it right and the numbers are correct ? the sheet might be helpful to some people


i was just looking at this too. Be good if some pixels and modules were in the calculator. Im gonna need to put in some fuses for my P2's.
 

jrk1963

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Hi

I am planning to rebuild my window frames using 2811 nodes. According to the information here, these nodes use .3 watts per node. I bought my pixels from Holiday Coro. On their web site it says these pixels use .54 watts per node.

I don't have a way to measure amperage, so I have been using Ohms law to figure the amperage based on the wattage information and the number of pixels that I am planning to use. With the differing information, I'm not sure which wattage value to use in my calculation.

I don't mean any disrespect, but, I am confused as to which is correct.

Have the pixels changed somehow since FastEddy posted this?

Thanks.
 

i13

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jrk1963, based on that wattage value I'm thinking you are using 12V nodes. I'd stick with the 0.54 watts per node for the calculation purposes because there is so much variation in 12V nodes. Some of them are above 0.6 watts per node. This is the disadvantage of 12V nodes because the power draw is higher than 5V and the 12V doesn't give you any extra brightness.


Fasteddy, is this is a mistake? It says @ 12vdc for the 5V pixels.
Fasteddy said:
2801 IC smart strip

5vdc 2801 String of 50
(0.3 Watts * 50) @ 12vdc = 3 amps per 50 string


6803 IC smart strip

5vdc 6803 String of 50
(0.3 Watts * 50) @ 12vdc = 3 amps per 50 string
 

fasteddy

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i13 said:
jrk1963, based on that wattage value I'm thinking you are using 12V nodes. I'd stick with the 0.54 watts per node for the calculation purposes because there is so much variation in 12V nodes. Some of them are above 0.6 watts per node. This is the disadvantage of 12V nodes because the power draw is higher than 5V and the 12V doesn't give you any extra brightness.


Fasteddy, is this is a mistake? It says @ 12vdc for the 5V pixels.
Fasteddy said:
2801 IC smart strip

5vdc 2801 String of 50
(0.3 Watts * 50) @ 12vdc = 3 amps per 50 string


6803 IC smart strip

5vdc 6803 String of 50
(0.3 Watts * 50) @ 12vdc = 3 amps per 50 string

This is an old thread and wasn't a mistake at the time of writing this as it was based on the original specifications. But I think there have been some changes to many of the 12vdc designs due to the price point for these lights. Originally when these were newer and more expensive and the LED quality was possibly higher in the past, as originally they ran the 12vdc at approx. 10mA per colour when this was written, if the LED quality is good with a large LED die then you don't notice much difference between running at 10mA and 20mA per colour, but when lower quality LEDs gets used then the differences start to appear and looks like many of the 12vdc ones now run at the full current which is very inefficient.

The Minleon lights use 12vdc with 10mA per colour in this way

I do have a link to the other thread discussing the differences between 12vdc and 5vdc pixels in the original post that explained the differences and reasons
 
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