So I am building a project that needs some pretty substantial power to run all of the LEDs.
I have constructed a control unit using standalone Arduio's and a computer to run all the different faucets of the displays.
Total, I need to make sure I can pull a max 60 amps @ 5V.
The control unit will be approx 50 ft from the displays. What gauge wire should I be using to make sure I can run all the power through it when needed. The power cable will run in to a terminal block for distribution to the different displays.
Additionally, I have a lot of interactive sensors that control LEDs, the majority of which are TCRT5000 Optical Sensors. What gauge wire should I use to ensure I do not get any signal scrambling? The control unit to these sensors will also be approx 50 ft from the displays.
Lastly, what gauge wire should be used to send data from the Arduino to the LED displays at 50 ft?
Thanks for the input! I generally would just wing it and go with trial and error, but I want to make sure I get this all nailed down before I order a few hundred feet of wire.
If you want that length at low voltage with minimal loss then I'd suggest you visit your local welding supply shop and buy some arc welding cable. Been there, done it, but that was for a gas turbine starter motor that was further away from the cranking batteries than common sense dictated.
Also be aware that if you do go for such cables and they are run as separate cores, because of their flexibility, the magnetic field they produce may tend to force them apart.
I went through a redesign on how I am going to work this. I was hoping to have a single unit that housed all power and data outputs, but I have opted to have a standalone power source at the displays.
I know I will need to make sure I have a common ground with the controllers, and LEDs, so I will have to run a ground connection back to my control unit.
Do I need to go with a very beefy ground, or can I use 16 AWG to run the 20+ ft back to the control unit?
Also, I have a 30 x 15 ws2812b matrix and I will be running this with a "divide and conquer" power input. I plan to have 8 power inputs (new input every 60 LEDs) with 16 AWG wire to the strips so I don't have power loss toward the end of my display.
I can run a single ground at the start of the display and have all the grounds linked and still run 8 power inputs, correct?
I am a few years out of my electrical classes, so I want to make sure I am approaching everything correctly.
Use opto-isolated signalling between controller and power section is probably needed - you may not
have the same ground voltage.
Or failing that RS485 signalling is differential and copes with 5 or 10V of ground difference.
Have you considered wireless control too?
You'll have now figured out why electrical power is distributed at 375,000V between cities and not
at 240 or 110V!!