Smoke is bad, right? Wiring question for lights

uncle sticky · Post by **uncle sticky** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 7:41 pm

I am running single color led light strips, 12 volt, 16 foot lengths. Had these little controller boxes that came with a 36 bulb led flasher set. Hooked up about 60 feet of the light strip, and it seemed to work. Until smoke came out of the box. Did I overload it? Maybe miss wire? I'm using a12 volt deep cycle battery and 14 gauge copper strand speaker wire. Nothing is grounded, but with 12 volt, I shouldn't have to, right?

[Mod note: edited subject for clarity - Eric]

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 8:33 pm

Sounds like you hooked up way too many lights for it.

Canoe · Post by **Canoe** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 8:49 pm

Yup.

uncle sticky wrote:... Did I overload it? ...

Highly likely.
Too much load drawing too much current. Resulting in too much heat, hence smoke.

Is it still working, or did the smoke escape with all of the magic that let the box work?

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:17 pm

yeah, I've learned, you don't want to let the smoke out.

uncle sticky · Post by **uncle sticky** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:31 pm

I think I may have shorted the line somewhere. The little box still lives, but don't want to push it. What do people use to make multi string single colour lights blink?

BBadger · Post by **BBadger** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 11:22 pm

You could just use multiple boxes. Otherwise, you'll need a box that is rated for the number of LEDs you want to drive.

uncle sticky · Post by **uncle sticky** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 6:52 pm

Currently trying out a turn signal flasher. See if I have enough current

uncle sticky · Post by **uncle sticky** » Mon Aug 24, 2015 9:48 am

Not enough current for a thermal or an electric flasher, even with a led compensator doo hickey. Flashers work great on my 50 watt bulbs, not so much on the led stuff.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Mon Aug 24, 2015 9:57 am

Have you tried a flasher made for LEDs?
http://www.amazon.com/Terminal-Signal-F ... B004O1YTLW

Capinator · Post by **Capinator** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 5:45 pm

How did it turn out?

If you believe the published specs, those strips are something like 6amps a piece at 5 meters. I have found them to be more like 3amps in practice, but even so, you are pushing between 12 and 24 amps with 4 strips - which is a lot (144 to 288 watts). You can get a repeater amplifier for about $9.00 that will solve your problem (they can power 2 strips a piece). You also need to size your primary power wire appropriately to 14awg, preferably 12awg.

Also - you can't plug four strips together end-to-end. Max is two strips end-to-end. Four strips end to end means that you are trying to pass well over 12 amps through the little tiny wires and copper traces that those strips come with. That will give you smoke for sure.

uncle sticky · Post by **uncle sticky** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 4:53 pm

Ended up that those strips are also very fragile, and many were damaged in transport. Meh. I had a 120 volt rope light backup that ran of the generator, got me a night license, but it was never what I had planned.

On the plus side, anybody want to buy an art car?

Smoke is bad, right? Wiring question for lights

Smoke is bad, right? Wiring question for lights

Re: Smoke is bad, right? Wiring question for lights

Re: Smoke is bad, right? Wiring question for lights

Re: Smoke is bad, right? Wiring question for lights

Re: Smoke is bad, right? Wiring question for lights

Re: Smoke is bad, right? Wiring question for lights

Re: Smoke is bad, right? Wiring question for lights

Re: Smoke is bad, right? Wiring question for lights

Re: Smoke is bad, right? Wiring question for lights

Re: Smoke is bad, right? Wiring question for lights

Re: Smoke is bad, right? Wiring question for lights