LED stands for light emitting diode. It’s a semiconductor device, which emits lights of different colors when electricity flows through it. Today, high power LEDs are trending. They are used in many applications. This includes automobile lights, signage, lighting fixtures, and flashlights. And because of this trend, high-powered LED drivers are a necessity.
20mA is the regular LED rating current. LEDs with higher rating current are in the class of high power LED. Generally speaking, rating power is in the ranges of 0.25w, 0.5, 1w, 5w, 8w, 10w and so on. A high power LED’s brightness is measured in 1m and a small power LED is measured in mcd.
Classification Standard
High power LEDs are classified in three ways:
- According to the rating power of the finished product, after it has been packaged. It is then classified as 0.5W, 1W, 3W, 5W, 10W and so on.
- According to packaging techniques where there are classes of large dimension epoxy package, MCPCB package, simulated superflux package, TO package, MCPCB integration package and power SMD package.
- According to luminous decay extent which can be low decay high power LEDs or non-low luminous decay high power LEDs.
Rising popularity of high powered LEDs
High powered LEDs and the high-quality LED drivers that power them have become the trend in countries all around the world. EU members and other countries, such as Brazil, Canada, and Australia passed an agreement to ban incandescent bulbs by 2012.
There has been a transition from traditional lighting to modern technology, such as high powered LEDs, powered by quality LED drivers, which are being used to light up the streets, traffic lights, and other public lighting. They are also being used by design engineers in the fields of signage, medical devices, consumer electronics, appliances, and other lighting applications. Designers are going for LEDs of 1 watt or higher capacity, and LED drivers like those manufactured by ERP are specifically designed to support these needs.
More efficiency and better light with high-quality LED drivers
High power LEDs have become popular for two main reasons: greater efficiency and better light. High power LEDs enabled by high-quality LED drivers are highly energy efficient and have excellent lumens per watt in comparison to alternative technologies. For instance, a standard high power LED can provide 80 lumens per Watt where compact fluorescent light provides 70 lumens per Watt and incandescent lights provide only 15 lumens per Watt.
When it comes to light, high power LEDs are ahead of other technologies. It’s superior color rating is measured on aÊ1 to 100 scale where 100 is a perfect match to sunlight in the visible spectrum. A good color rendering index is one that is over 90. The majority of compact fluorescent bulbs have a rating of 75 to 90, while LEDs have ratings of 90 and above.
Market-leading efficiency
Quality LED drivers enable a higher quality light performance of high power LEDs, allowing them to be used for market-leading efficiency. Significant cost advantage and great performance of these LEDs has taken them into most homes and offices.
In future, high-power LED applications are likely to incorporate sensor technology which will enable automated control, including remotely. ERP LED drivers already enable remote dimming and on-off capabilities. Another anticipated area of future expected growth is infrared LED technology which will greatly improve vision night systems.
HIGH POWERED LED DRIVERS FROM ENERGY RECOVERY PRODUCTS (ERP) POWER
ERP Power offers a diverse range of dimmable constant current LED drivers made to suit various types of needs. Our core technology is constantly evolving with every new product generation packing more power capability into a more compact footprint. Our latest LED driver family has a convection rating of 8 Watts per cubic inch.
Contact us for this and more high power LED drivers.