LED Rope Light Question

[testraub]

I have red and green CDI LED (18 foot long) rope light that I'm wrapping on the base of my donation box. Since they are differant colors and rectified, do I need both rectifiers or just use one and splice the wires together behind one rectifier? I ask because I need both rope light colors to bring my show to ALL (but one incandesent bulb) LED lights. BTW this is from the beginning of the 150' spool.

Tom Straub

Edited August 23, 2012 by testraub

[-klb-]

I have red and green CDI LED (18 foot long) rope light that I'm wrapping on the base of my donation box. Since they are differant colors and rectified, do I need both rectifiers or just use one and splice the wires together behind one rectifier? I ask because I need both rope light colors to bring my show to ALL (but one incandesent bulb) LED lights. BTW this is from the beginning of the 150' spool.

Tom Straub

On the rope light I have, the rectifiers are just rectifiers. As long as you keep the polarity straight, you can have different colors spliced end to end, or in parallel off the rectifier. The current limit resistors are in the rope light.

[testraub]

Okay, got that. Now, does the rectifier need to be in "open air" or can I place it in a weatherproof box (like one for receptacles)?

Tom Straub

[-klb-]

Based on the rectifiers I have used, I would feel comfortable going to about half the length they are rated to drive in open air. So if they are rated for 150 feet on one rectifier, I would feel comfortable with up to 75 feet with the rectifier in a secondary enclosure.