Power supplies: Higher wattage vs Multiple smaller wattages?

[mjroennebeck]

Hello, first thank you to everyone that has been giving this noob advice. I have a thousand more questions but I'll start with this and some background.
I have a 20ft mega tree that will have well over 10000 bullet lights, a 8x16 seed pixel garage matrix that has over 20,000 lights, a 4x6 seed pixel window matrix with 5000 plus lights. I'll be using my kulp32a-b with four 8 port power distribution panels as my main control board and that will be used for the mega tree, I'll use my other falcon 32 with four 8 port power distribution panels for the garage matrix and my K16V5 for the other matrix Now for my questions.

1. How many power supplies would you suggest I will need for the mega tree. Garage matrix and the window matrix?
2. Should I get a bunch of 350s or use a 900 or higher for the tree and garage?
3. Is it worth using HP PSUs for the bigger things and mean well or Chinese generic for the others?

 

[Wayne1]

I use the main name brand power supply, I really don't want to be dealing with failures or a fire.

https://www.lightshowhub.com/tools/mega-tree-calculator

My approach and thinking was I needed 3 but used 4 PS's to give myself built in redundancy, lowering the operating temp and hopefully less chance of failure.

 

[AAH]

Assuming that you are using 12V then server power supplies are amongst the best options. They have higher efficiency and a smaller form factor than just about any other supply option. They are designed to be run at full capacity 24/7.
I have been using Chinese generic supplies in 5V, 12V, 24V and 31V for more than a decade with about 20-25 of them in use and had zero problems ever.
I have a huge yard and have controllers adjacent to props and prop groups so I don't have to be too concerned with voltage drop. I have a personal preference to put controllers near big props where possible rather than have a centralised location and have to run dozens of cables back to that point.

I use the main name brand power supply, I really don't want to be dealing with failures or a fire.

https://www.lightshowhub.com/tools/mega-tree-calculator

My approach and thinking was I needed 3 but used 4 PS's to give myself built in redundancy, lowering the operating temp and hopefully less chance of failure.

Pixels (especially 12V) are many orders of magnitude more likely to fail than any power supply. There's generally a number of pixel fires detailed on the forums and FB every season and many, many thousands or pixel failures. I can't recall a single power supply fail that hasn't been due to lightning or abuse of the supply by having it is a poorly ventilated enclosure or running it at better than 100% capacity.

 

[uncledan]

Welcome to ACL. My first advice will be to start small the first year.. Now an answer to your question. I ONLY use Meanwell, I use quite a few of the big ones, RSP3000-12 and a bunch of the smaller ones. I don't have exact numbers but power 7k+ pixels off one with reduced intensity on a single RSP3000, you can also run them in parallel. A single large power supply simplifies things and size of enclosure. Only lost one Meanwell in 10 years and about 40 psu's. Luckily it was a little one