Warm/cool white dual LED strip parallel wiring advice

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nadja7765 @nadja7765

Репутация: 1

Опубликовано: 1 авг 2019 г.

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Warm/cool white dual LED strip parallel wiring advice

Hi Guys,

I have bought a double row LED strip featuring one row of cool white and one warm white LEDs. I am intending to build a grow case for my carnivorous plants.

The case has 4 shelves and each shelf has 4 strips of a dual row (warm & cool white) rigid LED strip. Each strip uses 8W meaning each shelf will use 32W. Times 4 the whole cabinet will draw 128W

I have bought the following transformer:

Aluminum Shell 12V 300W Rain Proof Transformer Outdoor LED Power Supply Driver

I am wondering if I should wire the strips in parallel or in series. Each strip has two negatives and one positive. I was intending to wire each shelf in series then combine all the the cables into one which will be wired into the transformer. Would this work?? I have tried to find videos on wiring this type of strip, but I cannot find anything at all. Any video I could find is on flexible strips with one positive and one negative connection. Also what thickness of wire should I use? Any help is massively appreciated!

Nadja

Photos attached!

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Toon Konings @teuntje Репутация: 48,2к 1,2к 4 238 · Answer 1 · 2025-08-21T01:10:19-07:00

Series: Current flows through one strip after another. Not recommended for 12V LED strips, because each strip requires 12V. If you wire in series, the voltage needs to add up (e.g., 4 strips × 12V = 48V), which your 12V power supply cannot provide.
Parallel: Each strip receives 12V directly from the power supply. This is the correct method for your setup.

💡 Conclusion: Wire all strips in parallel.

Each strip has 2 negative lines (for warm & cool) and 1 positive line.
Connect all positive lines of one shelf together, and do the same for all negative lines.
Do this for each shelf, then connect all 4 shelves in parallel to the 12V power supply.

Your total power is 128W at 12V. Current I=P/VI = P / V:

I = 128W / 12V ≈ 10.7A

Recommended wire:

1.5 mm² (AWG 16) is sufficient for ~11A.
For longer runs (>2–3m), use 2.5 mm² to reduce voltage drop.

Use twisted or soldered connections with heat shrink or connectors.
Avoid shorts between positive and negative wires; 12V at 10–11A can generate heat.
Check polarity before powering on.

✅ Summary

Series: ❌ Do not do it
Parallel: ✔ Correct choice
Wire: 1.5–2.5 mm²
Total power: 128W at 12V → current ≈ 11A

Soldering Skills

Warm/cool white dual LED strip parallel wiring advice

1 ответ

1️⃣ Series or parallel?

2️⃣ How to wire in parallel

3️⃣ Wire thickness

4️⃣ Extra tips

✅ Summary

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