user87658: I have written (cobbled together from code snippets) an Arduino program that pushes various patterns down 160 APA102C LED strips (5). I originally was using a 5V 40A power supply and everything worked peachy. That was when the length from the clock and data pins was maybe 6-8 inches. Now I am try to get ready for a XMAS parade and attaching 100 LED strips. I have the power but the data and clock pins aren't getting to the strips. Is there some quick and dirty (not a real electronics guy here, just a code pusher) method to get signals out to the strips, maybe 6 feet? I would greatly appreciate any help I could get and I'm sure the kiddies would have Santa throw some extra goodies your way if I could get this figured out. I've got like 10 days.....YIKES!!!!
Thanks so much!!!!
And Happy Holidays
Joe B

user42015: For a quick and dirty way you could cut a few LEDs from your strip, so that you have a number of single LEDs. Then you can place one LED after X feet of cable. Each LED receives its own data and outputs the signal for the next LED. So the signal after an LED is of the same quality as of the first signal. At least that is what can be done with other similar RGB LED strips. I would bet, that this is also the case for this type.
Before wiring everything up you should probably experiment a bit with the cable length. Test how long you can make the cable until you see problems. Then make the cables inbetween the LEDs shorter than that.
If you don't want these intermediate LEDs to light up, you can set them to off in your program.
Another - not so quick and dirty - way would be to put one microcontroller near the start of each cluster of strips (where one or multiple or all strips start) and let them communicate with a master microcontroller using an interface for longer distances (like RS485).
Depending on your situation the quick and dirty method might be enough.

87658: <p>I have written (cobbled together from code snippets) an Arduino program that pushes various patterns down 160 APA102C LED strips (5). I originally was using a 5V 40A power supply and everything worked peachy. That was when the length from the clock and data pins was maybe 6-8 inches. Now I am try to get ready for a XMAS parade and attaching 100 LED strips. I have the power but the data and clock pins aren't getting to the strips. Is there some quick and dirty (not a real electronics guy here, just a code pusher) method to get signals out to the strips, maybe 6 feet? I would greatly appreciate any help I could get and I'm sure the kiddies would have Santa throw some extra goodies your way if I could get this figured out. I've got like 10 days.....YIKES!!!!</p>
<p>Thanks so much!!!!
And Happy Holidays</p>
<p>Joe B</p>
 42015: <p>For a quick and dirty way you could cut a few LEDs from your strip, so that you have a number of single LEDs. Then you can place one LED after X feet of cable. Each LED receives its own data and outputs the signal for the next LED. So the signal after an LED is of the same quality as of the first signal. At least that is what can be done with other similar RGB LED strips. I would bet, that this is also the case for this type.</p>
<p>Before wiring everything up you should probably experiment a bit with the cable length. Test how long you can make the cable until you see problems. Then make the cables inbetween the LEDs shorter than that.</p>
<p>If you don't want these intermediate LEDs to light up, you can set them to off in your program.</p>
<p>Another - not so quick and dirty - way would be to put one microcontroller near the start of each cluster of strips (where one or multiple or all strips start) and let them communicate with a master microcontroller using an interface for longer distances (like RS485).</p>
<p>Depending on your situation the quick and dirty method might be enough.</p>
