Trace the complete path
List the driver terminals, shared cable, branch connectors and each illuminated section. Include return conductors. The distance from the supply to the first LED is not the only resistance in the circuit.
A connector serving several branches carries their combined current before the split. Check its rating and contact condition as well as the branch cables. Strip conductors have their own limits; a large supply does not remove them.
An illustrative cable calculation
Assume a complete outgoing-and-return cable path has 0.25 ohm resistance and carries 2 A. Ohm’s law gives ΔV = I × R = 0.5V. Relative to 24V, that is approximately 2.1%. This is arithmetic for the assumed path—not a universal allowable percentage, a cable selection or a measured product result.
If two equal loads share that path, calculate the shared current before evaluating a single branch. If the strip itself also loses voltage along its length, the cable-only calculation does not describe the far-end condition.
Diagnose before redesigning
| Observation | Useful next check |
|---|---|
| Every branch appears dim | Rated supply output, total load and controller settings |
| One branch is dim | Its connector, cable path and load |
| One section fades along its length | Actual strip terminal conditions and permitted feed/run arrangement |
| Behaviour changes at a connector | Contact quality, polarity and connector rating |
Measurements and electrical work should be made by a competent person using the equipment instructions. Compare under the same load condition. A no-load voltage reading cannot establish what happens at full output.
Evaluate the proposed remedy
Review shorter feeds, separate branches, conductor changes or additional feeds only where supported by the exact strip and supply design. Do not parallel independent supplies or add feed points without a reviewed arrangement. Update the drawing so the remedy can be reproduced across repeated cabinet units.
