Bill Porter Power Injection Application

[akakfreeman]

I watched a YouTube video by Bill Port on Power Injection (). Now I'm applying his concepts to my layout and want confirmation that I'm doing it correctly.

Instead of running 3 separate lines from a power supply to 3 different power point injection points, it looks like Bill recommends a single line wired in what I think of as parallel, which reduces the amount of wiring. So, take a look at my proposed wiring in the attached PDF.

Also, the first 100+ lights are powered by the controller, then I'm adding power from a 2nd power supply. So I need to terminate the + positive line at some point 100+ lights in from the controller. So, can I just cut the + line in my string and waterproof it? I've also thought about taking out the + pin from one of the connectors. Will either solution separate the + positive lines from multiple power supplies? Recommendations?

[k6ccc]

If it's strings, just cut the positive wire.  If you are using connectors (I don't), yes, you could remove a positive pin.

The parallel approach will work fine, but does require larger wire.  It also could potentially cause problems if there is a short circuit somewhere in the string.  Because you are feeding a larger number of pixels, you may need (for example) to fuse the feed from the second supply with a 20 amp fuse instead of a 5 amp fuse.  That means if there is a short in a pixel string, pixel wiring will burn up before the fuse blows.

[Poporacer]

Your thought process is correct and if you want, Ray Wu makes a T connector that has the V+ wire terminated inside https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001299617348.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.26.1b733c0a73hqc9

[akakfreeman]

The parallel approach will work fine, but does require larger wire. 

Is 18 gauge thick enough or should I go with 16 or 14?

[Poporacer]

Is 18 gauge thick enough or should I go with 16 or 14?

The size of the wire is going to depend on how much current you are going to push through the wire

[k6ccc]

Is 18 gauge thick enough or should I go with 16 or 14?

The size of the wire is going to depend on how much current you are going to push through the wire

And the length of wire from the power source.