I am getting ready to turn my project large scale, which means for me,

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I am getting ready to turn my project large scale, which means for me, around 50m of strips. I have calculated I will need around 70a of 12v power.

PSU’s seem to be cheaper than a stand alone psu… But I heard that there can be a problem with them if there isn’t a simular amount of load on the 5v rail… I will have about an amp of load on it…

Any “thots”?

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Do you need 70A on 12V ??

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I think calculated load is around 55amps, I left some margin.

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Are you sure you need 12V ??
The strips run usually on 5V.

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the are ws2801 running with a zinner diode for the ic, and then three rgb leds in series to drop the 12v across the LEDs.

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Please send a link of the string - just to make sure that 12V is right.
If 12V, how about this one - for 50 bucks:
100A 93% efficency, hot swappable. You need to solder your wires on the board.

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http://m.aliexpress.com/item/1927065244.html?productId=1927065244&productId=1927065244&productSubject=50M-10rolls-48-LEDs-16-Pixels-M-DC-12V-WS2801-RGB-LED-Strip-IP67-Waterproof-White&productSubject=50M-10rolls-48-LEDs-16-Pixels-M-DC-12V-WS2801-RGB-LED-Strip-IP67-Waterproof-White&tracelog=wwwdetail2mobilesitedetail

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That might work, how do the cables connect?

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solder it on the bars or drill a hole and screw terminals for the thick wires on.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15599551&postcount=167

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Sounds like a good plan. I am a novice to intermediate solder. Do you think it would be best to try to solder 4awg wires to this, or drill out holes and attach maybe two lugs for 6awg… I would then attach those words to a buss bar with, that I can attach the smaller 16 gauge wires too…

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OMG, I have no idea what you have on hand!
Get Cable lugs for 4awg with a small hole,

Solder Cable lugs

DIY Cable lugs

use a Flexible Braid and attach your cable to the end:
https://www.google.de/search?q=flexible+braid&espv=2&biw=1369&bih=873&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIr8nC9L2SxwIVQqJyCh2Reg-v&dpr=1

use pcb edge connectors and solder your wire across the terminals (you have to cut the PCB)
https://www.google.de/search?q=pcb+edge+connector&espv=2&biw=1369&bih=873&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIwuSN5rySxwIVypIsCh323AoV&dpr=1

we call it ‘Kammverbinder’: solder your wire across

make an own ‘Kammverbinder’ with a copper stripe, drill two holes in and solder your wire.
Just get creative and don’t forget to post your result :wink: