Signal and Power Distance Test
Just in case someone looks for “real world” results in the future.
The short story is…
A 51-LED strip powered by 5-volts from a salvaged computer power supply, over 100 feet of 18-gauge wire, and controlled by FastLED on an Arduino Mega 2560 over a 100-foot 24-gauge telephone extension cable (signal and ground wire from Arduino to strip).
…worked!
A more detailed explanation at
http://diyledchristmaslights.blogspot.ca/p/led-christmas-lights-distance-check.html