Stand alone adalight-like power supply

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

Hello everybody

I've done the Overview | Adalight Project Pack | Adafruit Learning System project for my PC
I got a spare LED strip and i plan to make a stand alone version for a mood lighting in my house
LED strip is this one 12mm Diffused Flat Digital RGB LED Pixels (Strand of 25) [WS2801] : ID 738 : $39.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits 25 LED, 5 V, 60 mA per LED (1.5 A total max)

My questions is what kind of power supply wiring should I do :

  1. use a 5 V, 2 A power supply to the arduino and then use the Vin and GND pin to supply the LED strip
  2. use a 12 V, 2 A power supply to the arduino and then use the +5 V and GND pin to supply the LED strip
  3. use a 5 V, 2 A power supply the breadboard and from it supply the LED strip and the arduino (with Vin / GND pin)

thanks for your advices

2
  1. use a 5 V, 2 A power supply to the arduino and then use the Vin and GND pin to supply the LED strip

Yes this way you will have the leftover current @ 5v from a 5v 2amp wallwart in VIN ,leftover current because very small value in mA's is utilised by the Arduino itself which consumption becomes somewhat high as the Voltage regulator's are there.
BUT I don't remember the track traces width over the UNO Arduino that whether it can handle 1.5 amps @ 5v of load.

Step 3 will also work and is essentially the same!

Never Step2 because the output of the voltage regulators will be at complete saturation point @ 1.5 amp need.

3

thanks

I'll go for 3. to avoid burning the arduino track in case they can't handle the current

I'll post the rest of my project in the coming days