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Do LED strips need constant current?
The main type of LED lighting that uses constant voltage is LED strip but some LED lamps and LED downlights also require constant voltage so it is important to check. Although many of these power supplies will work perfectly well they are not designed for use in lighting applications and don’t meet EN61347-2-13.
Is LED strip constant current or voltage?
There are two common architectures used in the manufacturing of LED strip. Most low cost LED strip is manufactured using a simple constant voltage architecture, as shown in the diagram below. Although it has a low level of complexity and is a low cost solution, it has poor current regulation and low efficiency.
What is constant current LED strip?
Constant-Current Drivers LEDs typically have a power-limiting device (either driver or resistors) in order to prevent LEDs from being overdriven. A constant-current driver is used to regulate the amount of current that is supplied to an LED or LED array to maximize LED lifetime.
What safety device is required when connecting a LED?
For LED ‘light bulb’ format light sources, these are generally designed to be as cost effective as possible, but for safety, a fuse and an MOV are still necessary at the input.
Can a constant voltage power supply be used for LEDs?
If you don’t have a current limiting device, finding a driver is your first step; but if your LED product already has current under control, you can follow this post in finding a constant voltage power supply. A constant voltage power supply can be used to power LED lights that have resistors or constant current drivers already within the system.
How are LED strips designed for constant current?
The most common LED strips are designed with a group of LEDs in series with a current-limiting resistor in line with them. The manufacturers make sure the resistors are of the right value and in the right position so that the LEDs on the strips will be less prone to the variation of the voltage source as we talked of with the XP-G2.
Why do LEDs have a constant voltage drop?
LEDs are constant current devices with a forward voltage drop. This means the voltage supply must exceed that drop in order to allow current to flow, and by controlling the current, you control the intensity. Too much or too little current can cause the light output to vary or degrade at a faster rate due to higher temperatures within the LED.
How does a constant current LED driver work?
A constant current LED driver varies the voltage across the electronic circuit in order to maintain a constant electrical current. This guarantees that no matter the fluctuation in voltage, the current driven to the LED will be maintained at the specified level.