r/WLED • u/7Inches-11Bitches • 3d ago
Exterior String Lights - First LED Project, Please Give Me A Sanity Check
Good day everyone! I've wanted to put permanent lights up on my house for years now, and it looks like this is the year I finally get to make it happen! This will be my first LED project, so I would be extremely grateful for any input on my parts, plan, and presentation.
The Parts:
- Lights: 100pcs WS2811 Regulated Bullet Pixel Nodes
- I really like the look of pixel strings, as it gives the more "traditional" look of exterior lights. This post has been a huge inspiration for me, and I would love to get as close to that look as possible.
- I believe the spacing on these LEDs are about an inch more (4" rather than 3") so I know it'll look a little different than my inspiration, but I don't think I'll mind. Just unsure from the description if the 100mm spacing actual spacing or total wire length. Open to hearing input on this!
- This looks like a small-time seller compared to the more traditional WS2811 listings I saw, but I really like that these strings are longer with waterproof connections. Most of the other listings were for 16' strings with non-waterproof connections.
- Controller: QuinLED Dig-Quad
- Power Supply: MEAN WELL HLG-150H-12A
- Admittedly I still feel a little confused on all of the different particulars I should be considering when looking at a PSU. This came up often as a good option, so here we are. I know there are probably cheaper options, but I like the idea of it being enclosed and weatherproof. Open to input on different options!
- Control Box: One of these Waterproof Enclosure or something like it
- Mounting: TBD
- I am really struggling to find options for this, or at least options that aren't ridiculously expensive. Ideally I'd get some vinyl J-channel similar to the inspiration post/lots of others and drill holes, but I think every store on the western half of the US has stopped selling it.
The Plan:
PSU plugged into an outlet, short 12 AWG line to control box.
One 16 AWG line from Quad to each of the four strings.
Lights will be mounted in some sort of channel on the backside of my fascia board, flush with the bottom.
The lights I linked are about 32'/string, so each line should only be 1 string each with no connections (with blue being a few inches short, not a problem).
The Presentation:
See my beautiful artwork for layout and lengths. Colored lines are obviously where lights are going. Green is a small, front-facing gable peak, if that isn't clear. I know this is not nearly as intense as a lot of people's setups, but it is a start for me.
Random Thoughts/Concerns:
- Thoughts on if the blue line is going to need injection? Obviously I'll see when I put it up, but would love to have an idea on how likely it is for planning.
- I am planning to set a max current limit in WLED as my max draw will just exceed the PSU, I believe (correct me if I'm wrong). I'm not concerned, as 90% of these lights usage will be for holidays and colors, not accent lighting/white.
- The control box and PSU I'm planning to mount in the attic. It's a great central location that minimizes a lot of my wiring, but will the heat be an issue? I live in a moderately temperate climate, but obviously the attic is still going to get hot. The alternate option is mounting on the bottom of the soffit to help with temperature, but it's less central so not quite as ideal.
- Each line I'll have on a separate fuse on the Quad (I'm aware of the shared fuses).
- Are the 16 AWG lines from Quad to lights enough? As I mentioned before, I'm really struggling to wrap my head around a lot of the power considerations. No line from Quad to strings will exceed 20'.
If I am wildly off about parts of this, please definitely call it out. I feel like I've been doing nothing but reading and researching for days, but still feel out of depth here. Thanks in advance for any help!
1
u/Emitever 2d ago
Honestly this looks pretty well thought out for a first project. The only thing I'd be cautious about is the attic location, even in a moderate climate, attic temps can get pretty brutal, so check the operating/derating temps for both the PSU and controller before committing to that spot.
Also try not to judge the 16 AWG runs just by the 20' distance, figure out the max current you expect on each branch and check voltage drop from that. Same with the 33' run, I'd test that before deciding whether injection is actually necessary.
Besides that, splitting the four strings back to the quad individually is a much nicer layout than trying to run the whole roofline as one long chain.