LED Light Wiring
Submitted by Brad McEldowney on Tue, 01/08/2008 - 20:09.
From what I'm understand, there is no voltage drop through long wiring for led.
Does anyone know if that means led lighting uses only one gage of wire - no
matter how long the run?
That would result in huge savings over traditional kits, since it's
the wiring that starts to get expensive because longer runs require
more-expensive, heavier-gage wire.
Brad, The voltage drop is a
Brad,
The voltage drop is a product of the total wattage of the lights on that wire, the size of the wire, and the length of the wire. Since LED's us 1/5th the energy of a Halogen, you will be able to have longer runs with the same gauge wire.
Mike's comments are solid;
Mike's comments are solid; not meaning to contradict at all here ... low wattage at a given voltage means low current, that's the P = E*I (power is voltage time amperage "E" for "electro-motive force" ... dunno why current is "I").
But just to clarify on the nuts&bolts: the reason long-distance transmission lines are high-voltage is that there's less loss. But unless you're using a really small guage (with a "u", right? *grin*) that shouldn't be a concern. Anyhow, for reliability I don't imagine anyone using fine wire.
And concerning DC VS AC, history holds the a tale of nasty marketing and competition, but fact is /with higher voltages/ DC is to be avoided; it causes muscles to clamp down, whereas AC causes a twitch which is more likely to push someone clear of the shock source. (I got hit by 700B+ DC working on a transmitter; I didn't die but it isn't something I'm likely to forget. Quite a different kettle of fish!)
--bentrem
--
Confusion is a kinky form of enlightenment, clarity in drag.
Uncertainty is certainty that has stepped on a banana peel.
Negativity is brilliance competing with itself.