12V, 24V or 36V Permanent Roofline Lighting? C5204 Test Results for Installers

For professional installers, the cost of a permanent lighting project includes more than fixtures. Power-feed locations, extension cables, connectors and time spent working at height all influence installation effort.

A 36V system can provide a useful advantage on longer roofline sections: lower current at the same power demand, with greater flexibility when planning power distribution. G&D SMART’s C5204 test results provide a practical reference for evaluating that opportunity.

C5204-C 36V Test Results — Animated Video Guide

This 26-second silent data animation walks through measured current and last-light voltage for the 50–250-module C5204-C setup described below. It is a visualization of the supplied electrical report, not filmed laboratory testing or a certified maximum installation length.

The tested configuration

The wire, connector and spacing details supplement the electrical report. The report does not document the complete power-feed layout, ambient temperature or test duration. Final installation limits require validation of the actual configuration.

Why higher voltage can help with longer runs

At an equal 150W power demand, the theoretical supply current is 12.50A at 12V, 6.25A at 24V and approximately 4.17A at 36V. Lower current reduces voltage drop and resistive loss in a power path with the same resistance.

For an installer, this can create opportunities to simplify power distribution and reduce additional feed wiring. Those benefits must be verified for the selected lights, cable and layout; they are not guaranteed by voltage alone.

C5204-C 36V RGBW Electrical Test Report — Measured Results

RGBW mixed mode produced the highest recorded current among the tested operating modes at each light count. First-light voltage was 36.3V throughout the multi-light tests.

*Planning coverage uses light count × 9 inches. Actual first-to-last center span is (light count − 1) × 9 inches, excluding lead cables and extensions.
**First-light voltage × total current, following the report. Not AC wall power or LED optical output.

What the results mean on a job site

100–150 lights: a useful starting point for branch validation

At 100 lights, nominal coverage was 75ft, measured current was 2.57A and last-light voltage was 34.7V. At 150 lights, nominal coverage increased to 112.5ft, with 3.80A current and 32.7V at the last light.

These measurements make the 100–150-light range a useful starting point for evaluating repeatable branch configurations. The 150-light result is a test reference, not a certified maximum. Its approximately 138W calculated input also requires an output with adequate continuous capacity and operating margin; it should not automatically be assigned to every 150W port.

200 lights: evaluate the complete power path

At 200 lights, the measured current was 5.36A and last-light voltage was 29.9V. The report notes slight far-end dimming in the 200–250-light configurations, without noticeable color difference. These are visual observations, not photometric measurements.

Before adopting this longer configuration, validate extensions, cable and connector temperatures, output capacity and acceptable brightness uniformity.

250 lights: understand the boundary before extending the run

At 250 lights, current increased to 7.61A and last-light voltage fell to 24.0V. This demonstrates operation in the tested setup, but does not support an unconditional “187.5ft without power injection” claim. Evaluate separate branches or an engineered power-injection arrangement for a project of this scale.

How to choose 12V, 24V or 36V

This table is selection guidance, not a comparative test result. The report tests C5204 at 36V only. A 36V supply must not be connected to lights rated only for 12V or 24V.

Wire, connectors and installation conditions

The tested configuration uses 18AWG wire and a nominally 10A M12B connector. A current below the connector’s rating does not by itself confirm a suitable continuous branch load. The complete path must satisfy the requirements of the wire, contacts, terminations, controller output and protection devices.

UL AWM Style 2468 identifies a wire construction; it does not independently establish a Wet Location rating for the lighting system. Follow the specific product certification and installation instructions for environmental suitability.

Keep signal distance separate from lighting-run length

The report describes normal controller-to-first-light operation within 13m (approximately 43ft), with slight first-light flicker between 13m and 23m. Although the table marks 23m “OK,” that observation does not support a flicker-free 23m specification. The light-to-light gap test records 7.5m as successful and 9m as unsuccessful. These results depend on the tested controller and wiring.

Build the installation around measured performance

The practical value of 36V is the opportunity to combine lower equal-power current with a well-planned distribution layout. For C5204, the 150-light test provides a concrete reference: approximately 112.5ft nominal coverage at 9-inch spacing, 3.80A current and 32.7V at the last light.

Contact G&D SMART with your roofline length, light spacing, control-box location, extension distances and installation environment. We can help evaluate a suitable 12V, 24V or 36V configuration and define the sample testing needed for your project.

Turn the C5204 test results into an installation plan

The 36V measurements are a reference for the tested configuration, not a universal maximum run length. Use the permanent lighting calculator for a preliminary load and branch estimate, compare the 36V system options, and review the C5204 product family. For an installer- or OEM-specific wiring review, share your project details.

Source: SHLED-5204-C Electrical Test Report, supplied for this article, plus supplier-confirmed wiring, connector and spacing details. General AWM guidance: UL Solutions Wire and Cable Application Guide.

Discuss your C5204 installation or request samples