Should I specify a 65.6 ft or a 100 ft LED strip run?
65.6 ft (20 m) is the practical ceiling for a 24V constant-current board with 2 oz copper fed from one end — it covers most cove, perimeter and corridor jobs with a single driver. 100 ft (30 m) crosses into 36V or 48V territory with 3 oz copper, a larger driver and, usually, a mid-point feed. Both ship as one continuous board; the choice is decided by driver availability and by how much current the copper must carry.
Power budget decides more than length does
A 20 m run at 14.4 W/m draws 288 W; the same board at 30 m draws 432 W. The driver, the cable from driver to strip and the local circuit all have to absorb that, and at 24V it means 12 A and 18 A respectively — currents where cable resistance stops being negligible. Raising the strip voltage to 48V halves the current for the same output and is usually cheaper than upsizing the feed cable.
Efficacy matters here too. A 200 lm/W board delivers the same lux for roughly a third less current than a 130 lm/W one, which can be what keeps a 100 ft run on a single driver.
Practical comparison
Same board family, two lengths, different engineering:
- 65.6 ft / 20 m — 24V, 2 oz copper, single-end feed, one mid-size driver
- 100 ft / 30 m — 36V or 48V, 3 oz copper, mid-feed or both-ends recommended
- Cut unit grows with voltage: 50 mm at 24V, 100 mm at 36V, up to 166.6 mm at 48V
- Both lengths are supplied uncut, with factory-fitted lead wires
- Dimming: check the driver's minimum load at the longer length
Industry references and standards
- Metrology & laboratories — International Commission on Illumination (CIE) — Source of the colorimetry, CRI and chromaticity standards behind SDCM binning.
- Metrology & laboratories — ANSI/IES TM-30 Colour Rendition Method — Rf / Rg fidelity and gamut metrics quoted throughout our spectral data.
- Engineering standards — IEC 62717 — LED Modules for General Lighting — Performance and lumen-maintenance requirements for LED modules.
More long run answers
- How long can a long LED strip run be on a single power feed?
- What are the longest LED light strips DENO manufactures?
- Can you get LED strip lights longer than 32 feet in one run?
- Can a long RGB or RGBIC strip run stay colour-consistent?
- When is a long RGBW LED strip better than RGB on a long run?
- Is 36V or 48V better for a long LED strip installation?
Published by DENO LED Lighting — denoled.com, a custom long run LED strip manufacturer serving EU, Americas and Middle East projects.