5050 SMD 3 Light Strips

Typically it's .02A @ 12VDC for one led. so, 3 x .02A should be .06A  @  12VDC. That assumes constant voltage driving the led's.

They'll shine like the sun.

The 3 LEDs are in series so the current draw for 3 LEDs will be

.02 amps not .06 amps.

pa,

Thanks, wasn't sure on these strips. I use the sticky back rolls. Series wired also.

5050 leds have 3 led chips in each package. They are connected in parallel. Each individual led draws 20 ma, so each 5050 chip draws 60 ma. If you look at the series resistor, it's 150 ohm. Assuming 12 volt supply and 3 volts across each led chip, 12-3 = 9volts--- 9 volts divided by 150 = 60 ma. As to brightness, the usual minimum is 6,000 mcd per chip.

Just measured one for you, 44.8mA for one 3 light strip at 12vdc constant voltage. That was measured using my 'deluxe' Harbor Freight meter (the big one). The cheapie one was fluctuating .04-.05 amps, or about the same.

I may have the warm white ones, can't remember which ones I got?

Thanks. I need to get my brain checked. I just looked and my digital will do amps. I get .05 at 12 VDC constant. I might recheck with my Simpson as well. I spent 30 min's looking at data trying to figure it out. So I thought I'd ask some of you who have used them. I didn't even know my meters would read Amps. I had the answer in front of me and didn't even realize it.............D'OH!...............

There are 3 LED strips with the LEDs in series with the resistor.

The strips with the LEDs in series require only 17ma which is a lot less

than that required for the strip with the LEDs in parallel.

With the LEDs in parallel the 150 ohm resistor will become hot

from the 9volt drop across the resistor.

No problem, happens to all of us at one time or another. At least you discovered you have an amp reading meter now, so something good came of it. I am sure we have all had similar experiences, I know I sure have, and more times that I would like to admit to. Probably won't be our last either.

I did a bit more digging last night. I was right about the 3 led chips in each carrier, but wrong in how they were connected. The 5050 strips I have 3 carriers per section, and are connected in series parallel. That is the individual leds (call them A, B, C)in each carrier are connected in series: A1 to A2 to A3 with a 150 ohm resistor in series with them. The B and C leds are connected the same way, with all 3 sets connected in parallel to the 12V supply. Thus, the resistor only sees 3 volts, not 9 as I previously posted. Each set (A, B, C) draws 20 ma, so the whole section draws 60 ma.

        I have built several LED room lights using the 5050 led strips, and found that to get the stated lumens per meter I had to raise the 12V to 12.6V--12.8v(so that each chip got 3.2V) . hope this helps clear up any confusion-----