Lower Gauge LED strips?

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Wondering if there are any LED strips that have lower gauge (thicker) wiring.

I just got a Gledopto zigbee controller and feel like the connection is very, very delicate with such thin wiring.

Is this a thing? Or does everyone just deal with the 2 strands of copper inside the 24(?) gauge wires?

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In the past .. I made custom cables using cat5 solid... worked great

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I’ve done this, too. S/FTP ethernet cord makes some quick, cheap LED wiring.

That being said, I’ve bought some RGB+CCT LED strips, and their gauge is about 18. I was surprised. HITLights seems to be about 18, too, on their daylight strips. (Not solid core—twisted wiring). For just about every install I do, now, I re-solder, or distribute the load with PWM repeaters.

Is there a certain gauge you’re looking for?

A fair note about the push-in connectors on the Gledopto... they’re tough to get to latch with thicker gauges. Probably... 16 and below start to get really annoying. But, if you’re drawing that much current to require that high of a gauge, you should split and use a repeater :slight_smile:

Just for giggles, I’ve been using an RGBGenie controller for some high-powered lights (~240W LED). The controller handles 20A max, and it saved me from running a repeater, since I was able to push out one segment of the LED strip with each of the four channels (5A per strip). Works really slick.

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Hey Adam-

No, there's no specific gauge I am looking for. I just want to feel like I got a good, secure connection.

I got these (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V66YWN1/) when they were on sale 50% off, so I used the opportunity to test the Gledopto, too. When I stripped the connectors to insert into the Gledopto, I felt like I was left with some 1980s Radio Shack speaker wire. I didn't feel like I had a secure connection or that I was getting good contact.

It worked, though. So there's that. But I thought I'd see if there were LED strips that come with thicker wire (is this even thicker? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FDW4M89/ref=psdc_14325491_t2_B074H7DM4B), or if I should order some wire and teach myself how to solder to a tiny-■■■ LED strip.

The huge advantage of those MagicHome wifi controllers is that they didn't require any wire stripping.

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I think those are both 22AWG. Last week, for a set we were working on, we bought 16 (yes, sixteen) of those Tatufy strips you linked land they were the same gauge as 4-wire extensions (I ended up doing some soldering, and they matched up). I would have to check my chart, but I think those are rated to carry somewhere between 7-10 amps.

For the Gledopto, here's what I ended up doing:

  1. Strip, and flux about 1/2 to 1 CM of wire
  2. Wick solder on to the exposed wire
  3. Let it cool, and insert this portion into the Gledopto controller.

This makes the wire more firm, and gives it a much better hold :slight_smile:

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Usually the gauge of the connecting wire is an indication of the PCB thickness layer in the strip itself. Most higher end strips will have a thicker copper layer on the strip to reduce voltage drop along the run. Hence the thicker connecting wires.

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Good info.

Do you have any specific strips you'd recommend?

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I really don't have a name brand I swear by, But I am a fan of the 4 in 1 chips and try and go 24 volt where possible. Some smaller runs I have are 12, which is fine.

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HUGE pro-tip right there. Made all the difference. Still would have preferred some screw downs rather than the push-ins, but you are -- again -- a life saving LED guru.

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Awe shucks :slight_smile: