5 Must-Have Features in a LED emergency driver power supply

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LEDdynamics, Inc. powers LEDs.  In LED drivers like the MicroPuck, PowerPuck and BuckPuck emerged into the LED industry helping to increase the efficiency of LEDs.  LED manufacturers, at the time, were so focused on increasing light output that efficiency was all but ignored.  Before LEDdynamics, the approach to powering LEDs was as if you glue the gas pedal to the floor of a car and use the brake to regulate the speed; products were commonly wasting half of the battery’s energy.  LEDdynamics’ LUXdrive line of LED drivers added value by maximizing LED energy potential by utilizing more of the battery power.

A LED driver is an electrical device that regulates the power to an LED or string(s) of LEDs. What makes a driver different from conventional power supplies, is that an LED driver responds to the ever-changing needs of the LED, or circuit of LEDs, by supplying a constant amount of power to the LED, as its electrical properties change with temperature.

Think of an LED driver as ‘Cruise Control’ (like in a car) for the LED, and the temperature changes of the LED are the hills and valleys it is ‘driving’ over. The power level (or ‘Speed’) of the LED is maintained constant by the driver as the electrical properties change (amount of ‘gas’ or power needed) throughout the temperature increases and decreases (or ‘hills and valleys’) seen by the LED(s). Without the proper driver, the LED may become too hot (driving too fast) and become unstable (out of control), causing poor performance (engine problems) or complete Thermal Runaway (crash!).

In most cases, YES! The semiconductor junctions in an LED (which produce the light) require very specific electrical power to operate properly. If the voltage (electrical force) supplied to the LED is lower than required, very little current (electricity) flows through the junction, resulting in low light output and poor performance. If the voltage is too great, too much current flows and the LED can overheat and be severely damaged or fail completely (thermal runaway). Configuring an appropriate LED driver for each application is essential for maintaining the optimum performance and reliability of the LED(s).

Also, different types and models of LEDs have different voltage requirements even though they may share the same current rating. Beyond that, the voltage required to achieve the proper current can vary with temperature, composition of chemicals in the LED, etc. Therefore, LEDs with the same part number may have variations in the precise level of voltage required for proper operation. Generally, it is desirable to regulate the current flowing through each LED to the rated current to maximize the illumination and life of each costly little LED. To do this, some type of true power regulation is required. A resistor can be used as a cheap solution to restrict the current flow, but since a resistor turns power into heat to do its job, the resistor often wastes more power than the LED saves while adding to the heat that needs to be removed.

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There are a few applications in portable lighting where a driver is not completely necessary and a simple resistor is used (however, this is not recommended!). This is the case for many multi-cell flashlights using LEDs since it is a very cheap solution. By placing the correct resistor in line with the LED, the available rate of power from the batteries is restricted to a level low enough to be tolerated by the LED. Since the available power from the battery will decrease as it is consumed by the LED, the light level will begin to drop as soon as the unit is turned on and power is taken from the batteries. The major disadvantages to using a resistor on an LED are linear light drop-off (light level begins decreasing as soon as power is switched on), poor efficiency (the resistor is consuming much of the power), and no thermal protection (the LED may overheat and there is nothing there to stop it!). A dynamic resistor, like the DynaOhm™ from LuxDrive, can be substituted for the resistor to improve light output and provide thermal protection.

Choosing the right LED driver is like choosing the right tool for the job. First, you need to know what that job is! Here are the main questions you should have the answers to before choosing a driver:

1. What type of LEDs are being used and how many?
2. What type of power will be used? (batteries, automotive, household, etc)
3. What are the size limitations, if any?
4. What are the main design goals? (size, cost, efficiency, performance, etc)
5. What features are desired? (dimming, pulsing, microprocessor control, etc)

Once these questions have been answered, choosing the correct driver is a matter is finding what is currently available and determining if it is suitable for your application. Use the following table or this LED Driver Selector Tool to help in determining if a driver is available for your application. Select the part number to find out more about the selected driver.

ProductTypeTopologyInput Output Dimming PDF QuadPuck DC:DCBuck12 to 24 VDC to mAPWMData Sheet QuadBlock F017DC:DCBuck12 to 24 VDC to mAPWMData Sheet PowerPuck BDC:DCBuck5 to 32 VDC350 to mANoneData Sheet MiniPuck F004DC:DCBuck6.5 to 30 VDC 350 to 700 mAPWMData Sheet MicroPuck DC:DCBuck0.8 to 3 VDC350 to 600 mANoneData Sheet FlexBlock A011DC:DCBuck-Boost, Boost10 to 32 VDC350 to 700 mA0 - 10 VData Sheet DynaOhm DC:DCLinear(2.6V + Vf) to 52 VDC20 to 30 mANoneData Sheet BuckToot DC:DCBuck5 to 28 VDC350 mANoneData Sheet BuckPuck 302xDDC:DCBuck5 to 32 VDC350 to mA0 - 10 VData Sheet BuckBlock A009DC:DCBuck10 to 32 VDC to mA0 - 10 VData Sheet BuckTitan N009DC:DCBuck6 to 30 VDC to mA5V PWM Data Sheet MultiBlock N022DC:DCBoost12 to 24 VDC120 to mANone Data Sheet BoostPuck DC:DCBoost5 to 28 VDC350 mA0 - 10 VData Sheet

If you cannot locate a driver suitable for your application, you may consider contacting a driver engineering company (like LEDdynamics, Inc.) to have a driver designed for your specific application. Many of the LuxDrive line of LED drivers can be redesigned for fit your application at little or no additional cost. Contact LuxDrive Support for more information.

NOTE: Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions before making any connections!

In most cases, an LED driver has (4) connections: (2) for the power input and (2) for the LED. Drivers with dimming capabilities will often have (2) additional connections for a dimming pot or control connection. If you are connecting a circuit or string of LEDs, be sure the circuit is configured for the driver to be used. Incorrectly wiring the LED(s) may damage the LED(s) and/or the driver. Also, many driver manufacturers require connection of the LED(s) before power is applied.

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