Can I run 24v LED strip lights over 14ga wire?

Question

I want to wire up some LED strip lights.

Assuming I properly go through a transformer to the apropriate 24v the strip lights require (that is, the transformer these particular strip lights come with), is there any harm in me using 14ga wire, rather than 22ga, to bridge gaps of the LEDs?

e.g. the setup would look like:

    120v 15amp lightswitch
              V
  120v 15amp switched outlet
              V
24v strip light plug-in transformer
              V
strip light dimmer that comes with it
              V
14ga wire, branching four directions
              V

~3ft strips of LEDs (per branch)

I'm not talking about running LEDs off 120v AC current.

Can I run 24v current over 14ga wire for 8ft to power LEDs? Will the LEDs receive the power I'm trying to send them, or will they be too dim?

Answer 1

Yes, that's fine.

You can go down in gauge, as this means a thicker wire with less resistance.

If the manufacturer recommends 22Ga, and deems it sufficient, then you can use 14Ga.

A 14Ga wire is rated for 15A. This is independent from the voltage applied. The higher the voltage used, the more power can be delivered at 15A. At 24V (as in the LED example in the question), the wire can deliver 15A * 24V = 360W. At 120V (as for electrical house wiring), such wire can deliver 15A * 120V = 1800W.

In both cases the current through the wire is the same, and so are any heat losses due to the resistance of the wire. The wire will produce heat due to the current running through it.

14Ga electrical wire is rated for 15A per NEC. That number takes many factors into consideration including heat dissipation in a cable/wire bundle, location of installation, and thermal endurance of the jacket.

The OP's LEDs draw probably a fraction of that. We don't know from the question how much, but we know it's less because the LEDs come with 22Ga wire. 1 amp would be a good guess.

Answer 2

Yes you can use 14ga

14ga can handle 15 Amp load, or 1800 Watts at 120 Volt

However at 24 Volt it can only handle 360 Watt at same 15 Amp capacity

or 18 LED with 20 watt each

Also the 14ga will have less voltage drop over 8 foot length than the 24ga, so that is good for your 24 Volt line.