10 · Circuit design

Maximum Run

Maximum run is set by copper, not by the power supply. Exceed it and the far end of the run is visibly dimmer — a fault you cannot fix with a bigger driver.

Maximum run is the longest continuous length a strip can be powered from one feed point without excessive voltage drop and visible brightness loss.

Push past it and the far end of the line runs dimmer and shifts off-tint — a defect no controller can correct. The limit depends on voltage, power draw per foot, PCB construction, and how the run is fed, so always check the figure on the specific product rather than assuming a rule of thumb.

Long-run models are engineered specifically for this: about 49 ft (15 m), 66 ft (20 m), or 98 ft (30 m) from a single feed — often the difference between one clean feed and a run full of injection points.

Single-feed reach, long-run models

49 ft

15 m

66 ft

20 m

98 ft

30 m

Per-product spec governs — check max run before laying out feed points.

Check your run in the calculator →

Questions on this topic

How long a run can I power from one end of an LED strip?

Maximum run is set by voltage drop along the copper, not by the power supply. A 24V strip typically holds acceptable uniformity to about 32 feet from a single feed, while a 12V strip of the same construction reaches roughly half that. Beyond the limit, either inject power at both ends or from the middle, or split the run into separately fed circuits.