Armacost RibbonFlex LED Accent Lighting Wattage Calculation Guide

Steps

Using the following charts, determine the watts used in each leg of lighting. A straight run is considered one leg. A center feed is two equal lengths of lighting. An array can have many legs. As a best practice, use the next longer length on the chart to determine the approximate wattage per leg. Include only the lengths of the LED tape in your calculation, not the connecting wires.
Add together the watts used for each leg of lighting to get total watts used in your lighting layout. Note that watts shown in the chart represent the approximate watts used when your color RGB LEDs are set at full bright white.

Notes

Watts used is the power consumed by your LED lighting system, not the watt rating of a power supply. Always choose a power supply rated greater than your needs.
The watts used, as shown, are based on 100% full brightness white light. Color changing or dimming of LED lighting will use less power and extend the life of LEDs.
Due to voltage drop, longer lengths of LED tape will use fewer watts per meter than shorter lengths. To accurately measure watts used by your LED lighting system, use a multimeter. Watts are calculated by multiplying volts by amps used in your LED system.

Typical Design Configurations

Straight Run

Only one end of the LED strip is powered. Multiple strips can be connected in a series for a continuous run. LEDs farther away from the power supply may appear dimmer due to voltage drop, especially if longer wires are used in between to connect strips.

[Diagram: A simple line drawing showing a power supply connected to one end of an LED strip.]

Center Feed / Loop Back

Either power two equal legs of tape lighting from the center or loop back and power both ends of the LED tape. These configurations will produce more consistent brightness and color over the length of the strip. A loop back is excellent for room perimeter tray ceiling or cove lighting.

[Diagram: A line drawing showing a power supply connected to both ends of an LED strip, forming two legs (LEG 1, LEG 2).]

Array

An array uses two or more legs of various lengths wired to a power supply in a parallel connection. You will need to calculate total wattage used in an array to guard against overloading the power supply.

[Diagram: A line drawing showing a power supply connected to multiple LED strips (LEG 1, LEG 2, LEG 3) in parallel.]

RibbonFlex PRO White LED Tape Light (12- and 24-volt)

Indoor, Outdoor IP67

Maximum recommended tape length

Config.	30 LEDs/meter		60 LEDs/meter		120 LEDs/meter
Config.	12V tape	24V tape	12V tape	24V tape	12V tape	24V tape
	Length Watts ft. (m) used	Length Watts ft. (m) used	Length Watts ft. (m) used	Length Watts ft. (m) used	Length Watts ft. (m) used	Length Watts ft. (m) used
Straight run	32.8 (10) 23	65.6 (20) 49.63	16.4 (5) 28	32.8 (10) 56	16.4 (5) 48	32.8 (10) 96
Ctr. feed / Loop back	65.6 (20) 46	131.2 (40) 76	32.8 (10) 56	65.6 (20) 113	32.8 (10) 96	65.6 (20) 193
Array	Varies based on layout and max wattage of power supply

Approximate watts used per meter at full brightness

	0.5	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Meters	0.5	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Feet	1.6	3.3	6.6	9.8	13.1	16.4	19.7	23.0	26.2	29.5	32.8
Watts used (12V tape light)	2.3	4.5	8.5	12.0	15.0	17.3	19.2	20.5	21.6	22.3	23.0
Watts used (24V tape light)	2.3	4.6	9.1	13.4	17.6	21.6	25.2	28.7	31.9	34.7	37.3

	0.5	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Meters	0.5	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Feet	1.6	3.3	6.6	9.8	13.1	16.4	19.7	23.0	26.2	29.5	32.8
Watts used (12V tape light)	5	9	16	22	25	28
Watts used (24V tape light)	4.4	8.6	16.9	24.6	31.2	37.5	42.8	47.1	50.9	53.9	56.3

	0.5	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Meters	0.5	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Feet	1.6	3.3	6.6	9.8	13.1	16.4	19.7	23.0	26.2	29.5	32.8
Watts used (12V tape light)	8	15	27	36	43	48
Watts used (24V tape light)	7.2	14.4	28.1	40.1	52.6	63.1	72.4	80	86.4	92	96.3

RibbonFlex PRO High CRI White Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Configuration	Length	Watts used
Straight run	16.4 ft. (5m)	42
Center feed / Loop back	32.8 ft. (10m)	84
Array	Varies based on layout and max wattage of power supply

Approximate watts used per meter at full brightness

	1	2	3	4	5
Meters	1	2	3	4	5
Feet	3.3	6.6	9.8	13	16.4
Watts used	10	19	28	36	42

RibbonFlex PRO Dim-to-Warm White LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Configuration	Length	Watts used
Straight run	16.4 ft. (5m)	44.8
Center feed / Loop back	32.8 ft. (10m)	89.6
Array	Varies based on layout and max wattage of power supply

Approximate watts used per meter at full brightness

	1	2	3	4	5
Meters	1	2	3	4	5
Feet	3.3	6.6	9.8	13	16.4
Watts used	10.88	20.16	30	38.64	44.8

RibbonFlex PRO Tunable White LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Configuration	Length	Watts used
Straight run	23 ft. (7m)	37.32
Center feed / Loop back	45.9 ft. (14m)	74.64
Array	Varies based on layout and max wattage of power supply

Approximate watts used per meter at full brightness

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Meters	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Feet	3.3	6.6	9.8	13	16.4	19.7	23
Watts used	6	11.76	17.02	22.25	26.59	30.24	37.32

RibbonFlex PRO Multicolor/White RGB+WW LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Configuration	Length	Watts used
Straight run	23 ft. (7m)	~45
Center feed / Loop back	45.9 ft. (14m)	~90
Array	Varies based on layout and max wattage of power supply

Approximate watts used per meter at full brightness

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Meters	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Feet	3.3	6.6	9.8	13	16.4	19.7	23
Watts used	9	17	24	30	36	41	45

RibbonFlex PRO Continuous White LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Indoor, Outdoor IP67

Maximum recommended tape length

Configuration	165 Lumens/Foot Length (ft. / m)	Watts used	315 Lumens/Foot Length (ft. / m)	Watts used	442 Lumens/Foot Length (ft. / m)	Watts used
Straight run	32.8 / 10	34.3	26.2 / 8	58.1	19.6 / 6	64.45
Center feed / Loop back	65.6 / 20	68.6	52.4 / 16	106.2	32.8 / 10	128.9
Array	Varies based on layout and max wattage of power supply

Approximate watts used at full brightness

165 Lumens/Foot

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Meters	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Feet	3.3	6.6	9.8	13	16.4	19.6	23	26.2	29.5	32.8
Watts used	4.8	9.5	13.9	18	21.6	24.9	27.8	30.4	32.3	34.3

315 Lumens/Foot

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Meters	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Feet	3.3	6.6	9.8	13	16.4	19.6	23	26.2
Watts used	10.6	20.4	29.5	37.1	44	50	54.5	58.1

442 Lumens/Foot

	1	2	3	4	5	6
Meters	1	2	3	4	5	6
Feet	3.3	6.6	9.8	13	16.4	19.6
Watts used	14.9	28	40.4	50.4	58.3	64.5

RibbonFlex PRO Continuous Tunable White LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Configuration	Length (ft. / m)	Watts used
Straight run	23 / 7	41.5
Center feed / Loop back	45.9 / 14	83
Array	Varies based on layout and max wattage of power supply

Approximate watts used at full brightness

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Meters	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Feet	3.3	6.6	9.8	13	16.4	19.6	23
Watts used	8.2	16	22.5	28.5	32.5	38.5	41.5

RibbonFlex PRO Continuous Color RGB+W LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Configuration	Length (ft. / m)	Watts used
Straight run	16.4 / 5	69
Center feed / Loop back	32.8 / 10	138
Array	Varies based on layout and max wattage of power supply

Approximate watts used at full brightness

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Meters	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Feet	3.3	6.6	9.8	13	16.4	19.6	23
Watts used	18	35	49	60	69

RibbonFlex PRO Multicolor/White RGB+W LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Indoor, Outdoor IP67

Maximum recommended tape length

Configuration	RGB+W 30+30 LEDs/m Length	Watts used	RGB+W 60+60 LEDs/m Length	Watts used
Straight run	16.4 ft. (5m)	~47	16.4 ft. (5m)	~75
Center feed / Loop back	32.8 ft. (10m)	~94	32.8 ft. (10m)	~150
Array	Varies based on layout and max wattage of power supply

Approximate watts used per meter

RGB+W 30+30 LEDs/meter

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Meters	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Feet	3.3	6.6	9.8	13	16.4	19.7	23	26.2	29.5	32.8
Watts used	11	21	30	39	47

RGB+W 60+60 LEDs/meter

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Meters	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Feet	3.3	6.6	9.8	13	16.4	19.6	23	26.2	29.5	32.8
Watts used	18	35	50	65	75

RibbonFlex home White LED Tape Light (12-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Configuration	Length	Watts used
Straight run	32.8 ft. / 10m	21.47
Center feed / Loop back	65.6 ft. / 20m	42.94
Array	Varies based on layout and max wattage of power supply

Approximate watts used per meter at full brightness

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Meters	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Feet	3.3	6.6	9.8	13.1	16.4	19.7	23.0	26.2	29.5	32.8
Watts used	4.08	7.93	11.1	13.65	15.56	17.22	18.95	19.82	20.73	21.47

RibbonFlex home Multicolor RGB LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Configuration	RGB 30 LEDs/m Length	Watts used	RGB 60 LEDs/m Length	Watts used
Straight run	32.8 ft. (10m)	~40	16.4 ft. (5m)	~48
Center feed / Loop back	65.6 ft. (20m)	~80	32.8 ft. (10m)	~96
Array	Varies based on layout and max wattage of power supply

Approximate watts used per meter

RGB 30 LEDs/meter

	0.5	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	10
Meters	0.5	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	10
Feet	1.6	3.3	6.6	9.8	13	16.4	19.7	23	26.2	32.8
Watts used	4	8	15	21	25	29	32	35	38	40

RGB 60 LEDs/meter

	0.5	1	1.5	2	2.5	3	3.5	4	4.5	5
Meters	0.5	1	1.5	2	2.5	3	3.5	4	4.5	5
Feet	1.6	3.3	4.9	6.6	8.2	9.8	11.5	13	14.8	16.4
Watts used	8	15	22	28	33	37	41	44	46	48

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Armacost RibbonFlex LED Accent Lighting Wattage Calculation Guide

Steps

Notes

Typical Design Configurations

Straight Run

Center Feed / Loop Back

Array

RibbonFlex PRO White LED Tape Light (12- and 24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Approximate watts used per meter at full brightness

RibbonFlex PRO High CRI White Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Approximate watts used per meter at full brightness

RibbonFlex PRO Dim-to-Warm White LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Approximate watts used per meter at full brightness

RibbonFlex PRO Tunable White LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Approximate watts used per meter at full brightness

RibbonFlex PRO Multicolor/White RGB+WW LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Approximate watts used per meter at full brightness

RibbonFlex PRO Continuous White LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Approximate watts used at full brightness

165 Lumens/Foot

315 Lumens/Foot

442 Lumens/Foot

RibbonFlex PRO Continuous Tunable White LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Approximate watts used at full brightness

RibbonFlex PRO Continuous Color RGB+W LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Approximate watts used at full brightness

RibbonFlex PRO Multicolor/White RGB+W LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Approximate watts used per meter

RGB+W 30+30 LEDs/meter

RGB+W 60+60 LEDs/meter

RibbonFlex home White LED Tape Light (12-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Approximate watts used per meter at full brightness

RibbonFlex home Multicolor RGB LED Tape Light (24-volt)

Maximum recommended tape length

Approximate watts used per meter

RGB 30 LEDs/meter

RGB 60 LEDs/meter

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