Whats the current best approach for distributing power across a grid of led strips?

Archive FastLED Archive
1

Whats the current best approach for distributing power across a grid of led strips?

I’ve seen a few people using copper tape at the top and bottom of each column with the strips ending just shy which are then soldered across with solid core wires. This seems like a fairly good solution but I’m wondering if anybody else has any ideas?

I’m starting a rather large LED matrix project, 54x32 pixels of APA102’s, and would like to figure out a good power solution. I have a 120 amp meanwell PSU on its way which should be sufficient, but distribution is always a problem. Would a 1" wide copper tape strip cut the mustard? (I’ve seen them tested at 70amps for hobby train setups).

Any other advice for building a matrix this large?

2

I just use bus bars, marine for outside. They’ll handle the A’s and heat no problem, bit heftier than tape tough.

3

Ah, the matrix is 6ft long…I was hoping to avoid cutting and stripping and joining 53 wires each for ground and power.

4

yeah i dont blame you, i can still feel the effects of the last big build…

some of the bus bars have terminals for screws, as well as long stripes of metal you just clamp, but can worsen the drop. if you havent already, invest in decent crimp tools and automatic wire strippers though.

or crowdsource slave children to do thy bidding,

5

Yeah I have some automatric strippers…and as for the slave labour well there’s a lot of people in the office here at SupplyFrame! :wink:

6

I have used, and would use again, tinned copper grounding braid. If it’s a fixed panel, solder thick (16-18 AWG) directly from the ends of each strip to the braid—tin the braid first and it’s easy—or if it’s a wearable, drill holes in the braid and bolt in blade connectors, mating to crimped blade lugs on looped wires (for strain relief) soldered to the strip ends. (This setup sounds complicated but it isn’t really—I can post a pic of my setup if you want.)

7

@Robert_Atkins thats an interest approach, I guess copper grounding braid has a much high current carrying ability than a thin bit of copper tape?

8

Yup. very low voltage drop.

9

I used the copper tape for a small 16x16 matrix just for the sake of simplicity. The internet says that people have run 10amps through this stuff, but didn’t say for how long. I never push more than 5 amps for my application. The voltage drop was negligible.

https://plus.google.com/105445034001275025240/posts/JRzVHMHaX3x

10

I ordered custom jumper wires here: http://www.squires.com

I got a mix of straight and preformed (bent) pre-stripped jumper wires that match my grid layout exactly. Minimum quantities make the cost come to about 15 usd per 1k jumpers, but for me, the time saved was totally worth it. Ymmv, 22 awg wire can’t push a ton of current, but my grid has only 11 pixels per row, I do not expect any trouble. I’m going to use copper tape as a bus on my next project, but love that idea of tinned grounding braid…