# Source: https://learn.adafruit.com/rgb-led-strips/current-draw.md

# RGB LED Strips

## Current Draw

Because there are three LEDs in series, you cannot drive these LEDs from a 5V supply. The LED strips say "+12V" on them to mark the anode and that's the maximum voltage we suggest. We've found that if you're ok with them being a little dimmer, even 9VDC works very well.  
  
Each segment of 3 LEDs draws **approximately** 20 milliAmperes from a 12V supply, per string of LEDs. So for each segment, there is a maximum 20mA draw from the red LEDs, 20mA draw from the green and 20mA from the blue. If you have the LED strip on full white (all LEDs lit) that would be 60mA per segment.  
  
To find the total maximum current draw per meter, we would multiply **60mA x 10** (ten segments per meter for the 30/LED per meter strip) = **0.6 Amps per meter** OR **60mA x 20** (twenty segments per meter for the 60/LED per meter strip) = **1.2 Amps per meter**. Again, that's assuming you would have all the LEDs on at once and that you are powering it from 12V. If you're going to be PWM-fading between colors, maybe 1/2 of that is what you'll be drawing. Still, you do need to have a fairly decent power supply to run this strip, all those LEDs add up!

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