Could I use old telephone wire to run 24VDC for LED lighting use?

[Timbo]

300 LED's per run @ 0.1A per LED Gives me a 3A load per run. I am planning a run of 3.5 strips.
Max Watts would be 120W per run.

420W/24v=17.5A
Could get the phone wires buzzing!

 

[Moley]

And there was me thinking just a few LEDs ?

 

[7029 dave]

The cable in question is for telephony only, it is not designed to take that amount of current.

 

[Mark42]

300 LED's per run @ 0.1A per LED Gives me a 3A load per run. I am planning a run of 3.5 strips.
Max Watts would be 120W per run.

If those figures are right (and I’m not convinced they are as that’s very bright) using phone cable would be absolutely fine.
For about 20 seconds.
After which time the cable would melt and catch fire, quite likely setting fire to your daughter’s bedroom.

 

[UKMeterman]

That is a 500W supply that MUST BE ENCLOSED it has exposed screw terminals. 500W is also very bright for LED!! It would be like inside a lighthouse, 25W LED would be more reasonable design load, but still overkill.

 

[linearlumiled]

It is quite chanlleging job when you decide to use the phone cable to do the project.
First thing you have to check on the data sheet of the phone cable, and find out the biggest watt it can tolerate.
Suppose it can support 1A DC24V, you will have to customized the LED strip light to lesser than 4.8W per meter, while you have to make the consideration of the brightness of the strip light, it is very professional and expensive design.

Before doing the projects, you have to use the customized led strip light to do a test outside, and make sure that it can be done successfully.

Quite difficult job and time-costing for most of the un-professionals.

 

[littlespark]

First thing you have to check on the data sheet of the phone cable, and find out the biggest watt it can tolerate.

It’s already been stated earlier in the thread that telephone cables are not suitable for this application.

And at 5 months old, I’m sure the OP has found an alternative solution.