LED Strip lighting supply cable

[dlt27]

Hi all, probably being really thick so apologies if I am!
Just wondered why led strip comes with such a thin supply cable?
For eg 10m x 9.6w = 96w \ 12v = 8 A.
So ideally not accounting for volt drop etc a minimum of 1.0mm csa needed.
Why does most led strip come with a supply cable of maximum of 0.5mm ( maybe even less)
I know most lengths of this size come in 24v, just using 12v as example.
Thanks again.

 

[telectrix]

there's no way LED strips draw that much current. wheere did you get 9.6watts from?

 

[dlt27]

9.6w per metre..

 

[HexHex]

there's no way LED strips draw that much current. wheere did you get 9.6watts from?

I have fitted many LEDs ranging from about 4w to 14w a metre (5v,12v,24v), it really depends on how many LEDs per metre there are, eg: 10,20,30,60 per metre

Also colour makes a huge difference and whether they are RGB(W)(A)
eg: a normal 20ma LED in RGB is 60ma because there are 3 colours but that 60ma is a MAX and assumes you have it on white full brightness (R=255,G=255,B=255)

@OP Do you realise you should feed 10m from both ends?

Depending on the voltage and brand of the LED, it should be fed from approx every 5m otherwise you will see the LED getting noticeably dimmer due to voltage drop and also so the load is shared similar to a RFC

 

[dlt27]

Thanks Hex Hex. Suppliers not mentioning any names say anything up to 10m is fine on one strip and vd wouldn’t cause dimming, however in the past like you said I normally split so have 2 lots of 5m.
I have never heard of having it like an rfc though. Do you just double the ends up in the driver?
I have also heard people say they just use the correct sized speaker wire to supply it, but always used 2 core flex myself.

 

[HexHex]

I have never heard of having it like an rfc though. Do you just double the ends up in the driver?

I don't mean actually wire it like a RFC but feed both ends or every 5m, so the load is shared like a RFC

if its 1 x 10m length then I would run a flex from end to start and connect your feed to both at the start or yes you could run 2 from the driver, it really depends where the driver is