LED strips 5050 rgb 14meter

Hi ppl,

I'm new here and I didn't see an introduction page, so I'll introduce myself here . I'm bart and I'm new to electronics. I want to experiment with LED lighting in my house. I've got some questions and I hope there are some people out here who could help me out.

I have the common 5m LED strip 5050 rgb (300 LED SMD). I have a power supply with 12V 5A output (thus 60W, DC). I want to connect multiple strips to one of 13,7 meter. I wonder what power supply I need for this setup. Can I connect about 3 strips directly or will I run into trouble?

I want optimal light output with max lifespan.

These are the exact operating details:
PCB Black 5050 RGB 300 LED SMD strip
Ø Color: RGB（Colorful）
Ø Protection class IP60 (Non Waterproof)
Ø Operating voltage: 12V DC
Ø Operating current: 6A / 5 Meter
Ø LED quantity: 300 LED / 5 Meter
Ø Operating temperature: -20 to 50 °
Ø Viewing Angle: 120 °
Ø Life time:>50,000 hours
Ø Size: L500cm (5M) × W1.0cm x T0.25cm

With best regards,

Bart

Your power supply has a maximum allowed output current of only 5A but each LED strip draws 6A which will overload your power supply.
For 3 strips you need very complicated mathematics to figure out how much current a new power supply must provide. What is 6A times 3?

Audioguru said:

Your power supply has a maximum allowed output current of only 5A but each LED strip draws 6A which will overload your power supply.
For 3 strips you need very complicated mathematics to figure out how much current a new power supply must provide. What is 6A times 3?

Click to expand...

love the sarcasm. Obviously I 'm gonna need another power supply.

The problem is that 13,7meter ask 16,44A and I don't think the conductors on the strip will allow for that and burn. So I need another solution. Something with RGB amplifiers and transformators but don't know how.

Oh. Are you planning on connecting the strips in a string so that the first one will smoke and burn with 16.44A?
Run wires under the first and second strips to feed the 3rd strip then another run of wires under the first strip to feed the 2nd strip.
Or use a separate power supply for each strip.

Audioguru said:

Oh. Are you planning on connecting the strips in a string so that the first one will smoke and burn with 16.44A?
Run wires under the first and second strips to feed the 3rd strip then another run of wires under the first strip to feed the 2nd strip.
Or use a separate power supply for each strip.

Click to expand...

there's no space for running wire under it

Audioguru said:

Your power supply has a maximum allowed output current of only 5A but each LED strip draws 6A which will overload your power supply.
For 3 strips you need very complicated mathematics to figure out how much current a new power supply must provide. What is 6A times 3?

Click to expand...

Isn't it 13.7/5 * 6 [A] ? as he wants a total length of 13.7m

Still that is a hefty power supply

Try looking for flat wire, used to run under carpet http://www.taperwire.com/speakerwire.htm

- - - Updated - - -

Audioguru said:

Run wires under the first and second strips to feed the 3rd strip then another run of wires under the first strip to feed the 2nd strip.
Or use a separate power supply for each strip.

Click to expand...

If the wire can handle more than 10A , then it can power the second and third set.