I dunno the gauge, but these are 12 v leds and connectors. So the wires must be up to snuff.

I checked the problem wire's connector and it didn't SEEM like there were loose connections. I am thinking maybe the little prongs that hold the strip could be bad somehow.

Regardless, I strung the six strips together as one line and tested it. There was a negligible amount of voltage drop, heck it could have even been from me not putting the plug for the wire all the way into its connector on the PCB board. So I will be fine.

I have to be as I already decided to go with the idea after the test and have the dorsal wired and glued up.