wire size

[babybear]

Ok I working on next years displays. I'm using strip lighting cutting them up and soldering them back together. working with the 18 gauge  is a little.... Would cat 5 be better?  Im going to make 2 more (at least) and 2 candles.   

[Phrog30]

I don't think in this case cat5 would be better. I do think bullet nodes would be better.

Just my opinion, since you asked.

James

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[babybear]

Looking at two things here.  I'm not looking for better performance but just the ease of assembly. I'm thinking soidering a smaller solid wire easier than the strands. Or going to 22gauge. Now, strip Lighting ver bullets.  On my snowflakes I'm using 40 nodes. In bullets that's 40 LEDs where in the strips I get 120 LEDs.  The strips lay flat with the LEDs face outwards. Bullets on there side or depth issue.  That part everyone has their likes. Yes I'm the odd one. As for your opinion I do appreciate you response. Here to learn.

[Phrog30]

Looking at two things here.  I'm not looking for better performance but just the ease of assembly. I'm thinking soidering a smaller solid wire easier than the strands. Or going to 22gauge. Now, strip Lighting ver bullets.  On my snowflakes I'm using 40 nodes. In bullets that's 40 LEDs where in the strips I get 120 LEDs.  The strips lay flat with the LEDs face outwards. Bullets on there side or depth issue.  That part everyone has their likes. Yes I'm the odd one. As for your opinion I do appreciate you response. Here to learn.

You said it right. It's opinion. Everyone has their personal tastes.

There are other wire connection methods that could speed the process up. Personally, I still like soldering and heat shrink.

James

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[JonB256]

That is probably a good use for strip pixels. I did something similar and used 22ga wire. It is still running fine (3 seasons).

[babybear]

I have used those other systems for a quick repair on the top of my mega tree, yep up 23 feet. took longer to get up there than make the fix

[danj]

Back to original post....   I use cat5 for everything.   I double up org-org/white, blue-blue/white, etc.    I am using three wire WS2811 strips so I am not using the brown-brown/white wires.   I used cat5 for signals/power and for power injection successfully in 2015.    It is a bit tedious to work with since it so small, you have to un-twist, then re-twist, etc.    But I figured since I had a 1000' of it might as well use it for everything.   One thing I might do this year is get a different color jacket for power injection so it is crystal clear which ones are signal and which ones are power injection....

[Phrog30]

Just realize cat5 has a low current limit, even if you double/triple up.

If you run power through it, please be careful.

James

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[babybear]

the way the lights lay out there is no more than 6 nodes or 18 LEDs per connection 6 of them.  At that point they all group up and turn into 16 gauge that will pick up the poll, another 60 nodes, 180 LEDs power injected at each 20/60, and back to my power supply. that's a total of 100 nodes/ 300 LEDs per setup running back to the power supply. I will be using cat5 after leaving the displays for data only and 16 gauge for power. I'm going to keep them separate for data interference. power supplies will be around the yard where needed. What I think is funny is the amps per roll, they say 3.2. Last year I had 2 rolls per 5 amp fuse and many time had all white going and never blew a fuse. So what is the true watts or amps per roll. 

[Phrog30]

So what is the true watts or amps per roll.

I don't go by the specs, I command all white (full load) and measure current with an amp clamp. So far, actual has been less than stated.

James

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[danj]

Thanks James.  I appreciate the warning.   I double up the "regular" plus-minus-data wires and the cat5 I am using for power I use all eight conductors, four plus four minus.   I will heed your warning!!!   This worked fine in 2015.....

[babybear]

As for using Cat5 for data are you double that up to? I was always told thats a no no as when the same data goes down two different wires and one hits a little resistance the data would get there at different times and cause issues. 

[danj]

Hmmm.   Maybe doubling up my data isn't a good idea...   I used the green-green/white pair for data.  No problems with this on two megatrees and six arches.

[Gilrock]

There is no problem shorting two conductors together for the data line.  Changes to voltage on one end of the line appear almost instantaneously at the other end of the wire at near the speed of light.  A slight variation in resistance between two twisted pair wires isn't going to slow anything down.

[Phrog30]

I agree that you could use multiple strands for data, but I can't see any benefit in two strands versus one.

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