Question USB 5v 2A question: What do I need to get the longest continuous fully-powered lighting for this USB product?

[tami]

So I bought these (linking isn't working on my mobile: https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0rClMW/ ) connected USB lights that run on 5v 2A connectors. Problem is when I connect too many consecutively, the further away ones obviously are weaker. While 5V 3A might work, I'll need something stronger due to the length of the lights.

Are there any electrical experts who know what I should be doing to power it up best without necessitating several 5V adapters? Doing that is not only unaesthetically pleasing, it also destroys the effects the lights offer.

 

[Tech Junky]

Well, your ink still doesn't work but, for power you can get a bigger adapter like a 30W which would be twice 5v3a. The issue is resistance when chaining multiple lengths of cable together from the sounds of what you wrote.

Higher Wattage though won't do m much though if the lights aren't chipped in the usb connector to pull more power.

I use my Thunder Bolt port in my server for power sometimes since I installed the PCIE power cables to it there's 100W of power when needed. I've also got power banks / wall chargers / usb-adapter tips to convert cables to different plugs.

One thing to consider is getting a USB power meter to see what the draw is for the lights. I recently did this with my FWA gateway to figure out which V/A I needed to power it off something other than a wall plug since it listed 15W / 30W / 45W and it turned out it just needed 15V / 0.5A or even less since it's running at 5W so 0.3A. Just needs to be 15V to power up as one power bank doesn't use 15V it didn't work on that but does on several other power sources.

 

[tami]

Sweet. I ordered a 30W. A regular cable is fine? That's all I need for testing?

 

[Tech Junky]

Typically they come with a cable but you can use one rated for USB 2 for power unless it needs PD at higher output then you need the cable with a chip.

 

[tami]

I think I have that already. Let's see what happens when Amazon delivers this 30W.

 

[tami]

Hmm I'm not sure. I got the 30W but it seems I would need a USB-A to USB-A which I don't have. I have an A-C but are those bidirectional? It's not working with the C on the charger end and the lighted device having the USB-A side. The standard cable the lights plug in with are still very weak after the first few lights.

 

[Tech Junky]

USB cables aren't directional. You could get a converter to match the A side to connect using the C cable though.

Amazon.com: USB 3.1 A to C Adaptor, RIITOP USB Type C Female to A Male Connector Double-Side 10Gbps(Upgraded)(2-Pack) : Electronics

Amazon.com: USB 3.1 A to C Adaptor, RIITOP USB Type C Female to A Male Connector Double-Side 10Gbps(Upgraded)(2-Pack) : Electronics

www.amazon.com

These are what I use but, they're not currently listed but, there are other options listed below. I have a few sets to convert C to micro/ A / mini / etc. so I don't need to keep accumulating cables. Usually able to get a pair of them for ~$5. Since speed isn't the concern maybe even cheaper for just power.

 

[tami]

Well if the C won't work, do we really think the C-A will?

 

[HutchinsonJC]

With a 1amp load on 20 to 22awg wire, you're going to lose like 0.2v every meter pushing sourced 5v. That jumps closer to 0.4v per meter with a 2amp load. It'll be worse if the wire gauge is thinner. This is why you don't try to run a printer or something on a 12 foot long USB cord, especially a cheap USB cord.

I don't know what your lights are; your link is broken.

 

[tami]

The link works but I guess you're not I'm the US because this is a US link.

Here is where the link takes me:

https://imgur.com/a/wyDanql

Here is a video of the issue:

https://imgur.com/a/bW6d9nD

Is there no way around it?

 

[HutchinsonJC]

I think I was able to google for the product link. I don't know why your link doesn't work.

Assuming I'm on the right page, those lights individually are 3.937 (100mm) to 4.528 (115mm) inches across, depending on how you measure the octagonal lights. You appear to be using 29 of them total. If you were to throw a tape measure up along that, what is that? 5 feet across if you took out all the zig zagging? Plus the length of your USB cord?

Product page says that those things are like 1.5 watts each - no idea how accurate that figure is or if any rounding was done to come up with that figure. That'd be like 43 watts for 29 of them. I'm surprised you have them as functional as you do.

There appears to be a "controller" cord. I assume that's to offer bluetooth app functionality? The image for that cord seems to read that it can output 5v 144 watts, which would be 28.8 amps. Which sounds sketchy to me. Are you using that cord or did you opt for a simple purchase of just the octagonal lights?

My suggestion, assuming you don't use that "controller" cable: You need to kill that USB cord length. You almost need like an extension cord that leads into a USB wall-wart (anker makes some good ones), and then have your first light plugged directly into that wall-wart with zero USB cord length. That should remove a fair amount of voltage loss. Your first octagonal light would be a mere inch or something from the 5v source. You'd have to figure out your appearances having an extension cord running up to your string of lights instead of a USB cord. An extension cord is probably less pretty than a USB cord, idk. Maybe a wall-shelf or something can help conceal the fact that an extension cord runs to the lights.