i am building a few quantum lights and was wondering how far away its practical to have the drivers away from the lights as really best case i have my drivers mounted like a ballast on the wall beside the lights the dc side of the drivers would probly have 15 - 25 foot dc leads im thinking that it maybe to far but i figured there isnt much harm in asking would help me better control heat and manage dimming and what not
how far is it practical to have a meanwell driver dc leads ?
- Thread starter cobber
- Start date
Slinging PAR
Well-Known Member
You probably have the headroom for any voltage losses for long runs so long as you use the appropriate gauge wire:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge
VegasWinner
Well-Known Member
18 gauge twisted will handle up to 25' without any signioficant power losses. Over 25' you will have to go 16 gauge wire. I use 18 gauge for runs of average of 6'-10' with no losses or heat dissipation issues
That statement is meaningless without knowing the current. Wire loss is proportional to current.
How many amps? Here's calculators for you.
https://www.rapidtables.com/calc/wire/voltage-drop-calculator.html
https://videos.cctvcamerapros.com/voltage-drop-calculator
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i ran ut threw a calc and it said id lose less then 1 percent at 25 feet which i think is aok i ran test today on one of my lights with the driver ontop of the heatsink and it ended up hits 150f in the center where i was just over 90 on the rest of the board so for me i think it makes alot of sence to have remote drivers just figgured more people would be doing it then i see but maybe im not looking in the right places
CobKits
Well-Known Member
depends. if you are running a low voltage driver in parallel, half a volt can be a 10% difference in current if youre operating near the top end of the driver. in your case with the constant current driver you prob (but not always) have voltage to spare
VegasWinner
Well-Known Member
wrong!
VegasWinner
Well-Known Member
So my rule of thumb proved out. than-you. not surprised.. I was an electrician when I was 16, and an engineer at 21. I am retired now.
VegasWinner
Well-Known Member
Just to be accurate. If you already volts DC and amps than teh rest is history as V=i/r so amp does not need to be known, but it helps. but not necessary. So you are wrong, but that s OK you are NOT an electrician, I am an Engineer,.
Slinging PAR
Well-Known Member
Ever consider using cat5 for under 50w? You can bond 2 pairs together and run them out a fair distance. PoE is good for 37w using 1 pair I think.
CobKits
Well-Known Member
its 100% proportional to current
nc208
Well-Known Member
You were an electrician at 16? What did you start your apprenticeship when you were 11?
Then prove me wrong! Show us your math to calculate the voltage drop or power loss for 25 ft of 18 gauge wire without knowing the current, voltage or power!