Start a power-supply decision with the lights you are using. Their voltage and load set the requirements. The supply, controller, cables, connectors, protection, and enclosure then have to work together.
We sell individual MEAN WELL power supplies, the MD1500 enclosure, and assembled controller options. Here is how to choose the right approach for your display.
Match the DC voltage before comparing wattage
Read the pixel label or exact product specification. A 5V pixel, a 12V pixel, and a 24V fixture need their specified supply arrangement. More voltage is not an upgrade, and a connector adapter does not automatically convert it.
Check the controller's power-input and output arrangement too. Some equipment has separate logic and pixel-power requirements or multiple power banks. Use the documentation for that board and configuration.
Write the voltage on the controller and cable labels so you can recognize the circuit during setup. If you cannot identify a strand, establish what it is before connecting it.
Read the complete model number
A supply family name does not give every variant the same current or power rating. Use the exact suffix, unit label, and manufacturer datasheet.
For example, MEAN WELL's LRS-350 datasheet rates the LRS-350-12 at 12V, 29A, and 348W. Those are manufacturer output ratings under the stated conditions. They are not a promise that every enclosure, cable, controller port, or installation can deliver that load to the pixels.
Use those exact-model ratings when doing the math. A rounded family name or a generic store heading is not the final electrical specification.
Build a load worksheet
List each connected item, its voltage, and its documented maximum demand or the verified demand for your controlled operating conditions. Include the controller and any other equipment powered from the same supply.
On the DC side, watts equal volts multiplied by amps. An example 12V load drawing 10A uses 120W. That arithmetic does not establish the current draw of a particular pixel or the AC input current at the wall.
Use the specifications for your actual lights rather than a universal “amps per hundred pixels” figure. Pixel designs differ. A controller's maximum addressable pixel count is a data limit, not a power-supply sizing calculation.
Leave appropriate operating margin and apply the manufacturer's derating requirements. A blanket percentage cannot replace the datasheet or the limits of the installed system. If your design depends on a brightness limit, document it and account for startup, test patterns, and any other mode that can drive the lights.
Check the rest of the power path
| Part of the system | Question to answer |
|---|---|
| Supply | Is the voltage correct, and is its permitted output sufficient under the installed conditions? |
| Controller or distribution board | What are the bank, terminal, fuse, and individual-output limits? |
| Cables and connectors | Are the load, length, wire, and connector ratings appropriate together? |
| Enclosure | Can the components fit with required clearances, heat management, and weather protection? |
| Complete installation | Are the power arrangement, protection, and mounting method suitable for this location? |
A larger supply does not increase a connector's rating or cure voltage drop in a long cable. It also does not let you increase a fuse beyond the protected circuit's design. Use our pixel power-planning guide for voltage-drop and additional-feed decisions.
Plan for heat and weather together
MEAN WELL's enclosed-supply installation manual requires unobstructed fans and vents, appropriate clearances, and attention to mounting orientation and temperature. These conditions can require reduced output capacity. Use the exact supply's derating curve.
“Enclosed” describes the supply's component housing; it does not make an exposed LRS supply a complete outdoor controller box. The manufacturer's installation instructions also address moisture and electrical protection.
Our MD1500 is sold as a weather-resistant enclosure with internal mounting provisions. Choosing that box is one part of the build. Cable entries, component mounting, terminal protection, airflow, and installation orientation still need a suitable design. An empty enclosure is not a finished power system.
Keep mains wiring and electrical integration with someone qualified for that work. For customers who want to concentrate on props and sequencing, an assembled controller is another option.
Consider the ready-to-run route
Our MD1500 Baldrick8 RTR xConnect controller lists a Baldrick8 board, a 12V MEAN WELL LRS-350-12 supply, an MD1500 enclosure, and installed xConnect outputs. Compare those actual components with your light and connector requirements.
The product requires vertical mounting with cable exits downward for its intended weather-resistant installation. Follow the supplied instructions. Assembled equipment still needs the correct pixel voltage, software configuration, and load plan.
Before you order
- Identify the lights, voltage, and connectors.
- Calculate the expected load and required margin.
- Check the exact supply model and derating conditions.
- Check each controller bank and branch circuit in the DC system.
- Choose the enclosure and installation approach together.
Send Support@Mattosdesigns.com the lights, pixel count, controller, planned cable lengths, and installation location if you want help matching parts. Include photos of equipment you already own so we can work from the actual setup.
Keep learning in the Mattos Designs Learning Center, with guides for your next project and troubleshooting help when you need it.
Reviewed October 29, 2026.
Worked planning example: a Baldrick8 coro zone
Suppose your first zone uses a Mattos MD1500 Baldrick8 xConnect RTR and four compatible 100-node, 12V RGB props. Its listing includes the LRS-350-12 supply, enclosure and fitted outputs, so those are not separate items to buy again. You still need the correct pixels, extensions and mounting for each prop.
Make a load worksheet before deciding how much of the controller to use. For arithmetic only, assume you have established a design current of 0.010A per node for the selected lights and operating condition. This is an illustrative value, not a specification for every EVO or other pixel.
Scroll sideways to see all columns.
| Calculation | Example result | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 100 nodes × 0.010A | 1A per prop | The assumed pixel load on that branch. |
| 4 props × 1A | 4A | The combined assumed pixel load. |
| 12V × 4A | 48W | Pixel power only; add the controller and other loads. |
Compare that result with the exact supply's permitted output at the actual temperature and installation, then check each output, fuse, connector and extension independently. A supply with spare capacity does not eliminate voltage drop at the far end of a cable. The manufacturer's LRS-350 datasheet gives the 12V model's actual 29A/348W rating and operating conditions; the family name is not a substitute for that rating.
Keep a final column for measured results at the installed cable length. If a prop changes from 100 to 200 nodes, update the branch and total calculations before reconnecting. If the controller later gains another supply, design its power banks and separate positive feeds according to the hardware instructions.
See complete project budgeting examples · Compare controller choices
