Wires and Power Supplies

Minnie Mae · Feb 23, 2016

I am following a youtube video to make a LED light panel.

I have made the first part and need to test the lights before I proceed. I bought a power supply (12v 10amp) to test it though I am planning to use LIPO batteries. The power supply powers, green light on and output tests to be 12.3 V.

The wires are twisted pair 12awg. One pair is positive and one pair is negative so they are thick.

I twisted each pair and inserted it under the appropriate screw of the power supply. Should I have separated the pair and inserted them beneath two separate posts of the power supply? When I power on the power supply the green light comes on then goes off. The LED lights never light up.

Should I tin the thick wires and solder a terminal on each one? Is the problem in my solder joints between the LED light strips and the twisted pair wire?

I really want to finish this project but I am a super newbie when it comes to electronics!

Martaine2005 · Feb 23, 2016

You don't need to tin the wires.
If you say each pair is negative and positive.. Do you mean 'both' wires in a single insulation? Or two pairs where each has a positive and negative?
Either way, make sure they are not touching each other when screwed to the power supply.
May be some more pictures would help us help you.. Show us what you mean by two twisted together. Hopefully they will be the right pairs twisted together..

Martin

Minder · Feb 23, 2016

Sounds a s though the P.S. is going into shut down, due to over load?
12Ga is a little excessive for that current.
Make sure you have no shorts and test the resistance across each of the conductors.
M.

Minnie Mae · Feb 23, 2016

Here are some better pictures. One twisted pair is positive and the other is negative. That's a lot of wire to fit under the power supply screws or into a terminal.

The light panel requires 12v 10amps but it builds in a voltage regulator and potentiometer.

I've included a closeup of the led to twisted pair solder joints.

Minder · Feb 23, 2016

12ga is each a 20 ampacity conductor, do you need that much?
You could try it on an automotive battery to see what exactly the current is.
M.

Minnie Mae · Feb 23, 2016

I tried connecting my battery charger but it wouldn't work.

BobK · Feb 23, 2016

Is that picture your final wiring? The + side of the strips are not connected to anything!

Bob

davenn · Feb 24, 2016

BobK said:

Is that picture your final wiring? The + side of the strips are not connected to anything!

Bob
Click to expand...

nicely spotted, Bob

Minder said:

12ga is each a 20 ampacity conductor, do you need that much?
You could try it on an automotive battery to see what exactly the current is.
M.
Click to expand...

that's not really an issue, better too much than too little

Dave

davenn · Feb 24, 2016

Minnie Mae said:

Here are some better pictures. One twisted pair is positive and the other is negative. That's a lot of wire to fit under the power supply screws or into a terminal.

The light panel requires 12v 10amps but it builds in a voltage regulator and potentiometer.

I've included a closeup of the led to twisted pair solder joints. View attachment 25222
Click to expand...

It also looks like these wires are shorting out where you have stripped back the plastic

split the 2 sections more carefully and then restrip the ends

you also show them both aiming for the 2 x V+ terminals .... obviously that isn't going to work either

You have a lot of wiring work to sort out to get this going

1) strip that twin conductor lead back to 2 individual separate leads
2) sort out all your positive lines as commented on by Bob
3) use one busbar line down one side for the positive and one down the other side for the negative connections to the LED strips

Dave

Minder · Feb 24, 2016

davenn said:

that's not really an issue, better too much than too little
Dave
Click to expand...

Can be if the terminal capacity is exceeded for comfortable termination.
Just because it works does not make it optimum.
M.

davenn · Feb 24, 2016

Minder said:

Can be if the terminal capacity is exceeded for comfortable termination.
Just because it works does not make it optimum.
M.
Click to expand...

it's irrelevant to the issues faced by the OP

lets forget about sidelines and concentrate on getting the multiple wiring problems sorted out .... ok

D

Minnie Mae · Mar 7, 2016

davenn said:

It also looks like these wires are shorting out where you have stripped back the plastic

split the 2 sections more carefully and then restrip the ends

you also show them both aiming for the 2 x V+ terminals .... obviously that isn't going to work either

You have a lot of wiring work to sort out to get this going

1) strip that twin conductor lead back to 2 individual separate leads
2) sort out all your positive lines as commented on by Bob
3) use one busbar line down one side for the positive and one down the other side for the negative connections to the LED strips

Dave
Click to expand...

I think this photo will clear up some of the confusion. Each pair of wires is negative or positive which is why there were two wires both going to +V.

davenn · Mar 7, 2016

Minnie Mae said:

I think this photo will clear up some of the confusion. Each pair of wires is negative or positive which is why there were two wires both going to +V.
Click to expand...

OK that looks/sounds better

so what is that PSU you are showing in the last pic

it's different to the one on the earlier pic

Minnie Mae · Mar 7, 2016

Its the wiring recommended by DIY Perks - a voltage regulator and potentiometer. I'll worry about that after I am able to get the lights working and know all my connections are viable.

Wires and Power Supplies

Minnie Mae

Martaine2005

Minder

Minnie Mae

Minder

Minnie Mae

BobK

davenn Moderator

davenn Moderator

Minder

davenn Moderator

Minnie Mae

Attached Files:

twisted pair wiring.jpg

ledstrips.jpg

power1.jpg

davenn Moderator

Minnie Mae

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