A free, browser-based tool for designing safe, properly-specified WLED LED installations.
WLED System Architect was built to solve a recurring problem in the addressable LED community: people were under-specifying their power supplies, skipping fuses, and using wire gauges that created real safety hazards — not from carelessness, but because calculating these values correctly is genuinely tedious.
This tool handles the maths. Enter your strip type, length, and a few system parameters and you get a complete set of recommendations: power supply rating, fuse size, wire gauge, data resistor, level shifter requirements, and a power injection strategy — all in one place.
The dynamic wiring diagram and exportable PDF report make it easy to plan builds of any complexity.
Accurate Power Calculations
Current draw estimates are based on real manufacturer specifications for each LED strip type, not generic approximations.
Safety-First Design
Every output — fuse rating, wire gauge, injection points — is calibrated with safety margins to protect your equipment and home.
Dynamic Topology Diagram
The wiring diagram updates in real-time as you configure your system, showing exactly how power injection points should be placed.
PDF Report Export
Generate a complete installation report including your system diagram, parts list, and power injection strategy.
Is this tool affiliated with the WLED project?
No. This is an independent tool built by enthusiasts to help the WLED community. WLED is an open-source project by Aircookie.
How accurate are the power calculations?
The calculations use published mA/LED specifications for each supported strip type. Real-world draw varies slightly between manufacturers. Always add headroom to your power supply.
Why does the tool recommend power injection for my setup?
Long LED strips experience voltage drop across their length. Injecting power at intervals compensates for this effect.
Can I use this for non-WLED setups?
Absolutely. The power calculations, wire sizing, and fuse recommendations apply to any addressable LED installation regardless of firmware.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. All calculations happen entirely in your browser. No configuration data or personal information is transmitted to any server.
WLED by Aircookie
The extraordinary open-source firmware this tool is built around. kno.wled.ge
Open source ecosystem
Built with React, Vite, Tailwind CSS, shadcn/ui, Framer Motion, and the broader open-source community.
WLED System Architect was built to solve a recurring problem in the addressable LED community. People were under-specifying their power supplies, skipping fuses, using wire gauges that created real safety hazards, and connecting LED strips to controllers without level shifters — not from carelessness, but because correctly calculating these values is genuinely tedious when done by hand. A single 5-metre WS2812B installation requires at least four separate calculations: total current, PSU rating with safety margin, fuse value, and wire gauge. A longer installation with power injection points requires voltage drop modelling on top of that.
Forums are full of posts from people who connected 300 LEDs to a 5V 1A phone charger, or who ran 16 amps through 24AWG wire, or who had fires in LED installations. These are not edge cases — they are predictable outcomes of underspecification. A proper calculator, applied at the design stage, prevents all of them.
WLED System Architect provides three calculation tools — the Power Calculator, Voltage Drop Calculator, and Running Cost Estimator — plus a complete library of installation guides, hardware reference material, chipset comparisons, and a comprehensive glossary of LED and WLED terminology. Every tool is free, browser-based, and requires no account or sign-up.
The Power Calculator uses actual manufacturer-specified current draw figures for each supported chipset, not rough estimates. Results include PSU rating with appropriate derating, fuse value, wire gauge, data resistor specification, level shifter requirement, and a power injection plan. The Voltage Drop Calculator models both the feed wire resistance and the strip copper trace resistance, and generates a concrete injection point schedule. The Running Cost Estimator uses your actual electricity tariff and a configurable usage profile.
Every recommendation from the Power Calculator includes an explicit safety margin: the fuse is rated 25% above the real-world current draw, the wire gauge recommendation keeps conductor temperature rise within safe limits, and the PSU recommendation assumes 80% derating from the rated output. These margins are not arbitrary — they reflect standard electrical engineering practice for continuous-duty low-voltage DC installations.
The site is not a substitute for professional electrical advice for large, permanent, or mains-connected installations. For high-current installations (over 30A), mains-connected switchmode supplies in enclosed spaces, or any installation in a commercial or rental property, consult a qualified electrician.
If you find an error in a calculation, want to suggest a new feature, or have a hardware addition to propose for the database, use the Feedback button in the site footer. The site is actively maintained and calculation errors are taken seriously — the whole point is accuracy.
Support the continued development and hosting costs of this free tool via the Buy Me a Coffee link in the footer.