Discovering the right kind of power source for your LED lights and fixtures is absolutely important, may it be to build a new fixture, or retrofitting an existing one. What you’ll need is a constant current LED driver or a constant voltage power supply, or a combination of both, in order to make your LEDs work properly. Let’s help you know the different factors you need to consider when choosing a power supply for your LED lighting.
Most LEDs require a current-limiting device to prevent them from being over-driven. Such devices are used to regulate the current coming in to the LEDs, keeping them running safe, and maximizing their lifespan. If the current is not regulated, the LEDs may get heated up, thus changing their electrical characteristics to draw too much current, thus resulting in fluctuations or even failure. If your lighting fixture doesn’t have a current-limiting device, your first step should be to find a driver. But, if your LED product already has the current under control, you can move ahead to find a constant voltage power supply.
When the LED products already have current-limiting devices within the system, they call for a constant DC voltage, which is generally not available, and then you’ll need to find a power supply to convert your power to a safe DC voltage. But, in order to be able to effectively convert your AC voltage down to a safe DC voltage, there are many factors you need to consider, some of the most important ones being mentioned below.
Wattage and voltage
Identify the total amount of watts that all your lights combined will consume, and add to it a 20% cushion, or multiply the total wattage by 1.2. You’ll need to find a power supply rated for this calculated amount of wattage. Also, identify the output voltage that is compatible with the voltage of the LEDs. You also need to ensure that the power supply you select should be capable of handling the input power you have.
Temperature and environment
The area and the environment that you need the power supply in is also an important consideration. Power supplies operate efficiently only when they’re used within their temperature parameters. Installing a power system within a tiny enclosure, or where there is no ventilation system, is a bad idea. Rather, you should choose an area where it’s neither to warm, nor too cold, and where the heat produced cannot build up to damaging levels.
IP rating
Every power supply has an ingress protection rating, which is more popularly known as IP rating, consisting of a two-digit code that respectively indicates the size of solids and pressure of liquids that a power supply can resist. You need to ensure a power supply with an IP rating that will protect your source from the environment.
Size
The space that you have for installing the power supply should be well identified, and the right size of power supply device should be chosen. If the power supply is to be installed outside of the application, there should be a mounting possibility.
Using the above considerations, you should be on the right road to choosing the right power supply for your LED lights. There are a multitude of options to choose from, which is why you should take your time to consider every little aspect, so as to find the one that best fits your application, and is highly efficient in regards to how and where it needs to perform. And, when you’re done with all your contemplations, you’ll look for a place to begin your product search. This is where we suggest to you Miracle Electronics, a reputed brand where you can get standard as well as customized programmable power supply for LED light panel in India, each manufactured in dedicated work cells, using lean manufacturing techniques, to maximize efficiency.
