High Power PWM LED Driver Board
Driver for 1 watt or 3 watt High Power LEDs
What Is An LED Driver?
A LED driver is an electrical device which regulates power to an LED or a string of LEDs. Using one is very important in preventing damage to your LEDs. The forward voltage (Vf) of a high-power LED changes with temperature. Forward Voltage is the voltage the LED requires to light up. As the temperature increases, the forward voltage of the LED decreases. This causes the LED to draw more current. The LED will continue to get hotter and draw more current until the LED burns itself out. This is also known as Thermal Runaway.
A LED driver acts as a power controller with outputs matched to the electrical characteristics of the LED(s). This helps avoid thermal runaway. The LED driver compensates for changes in forward voltage while delivering a constant current to the LED.
High Power LED Lighting
High Power LED Driver
Our exclusive High Power LED Driver Board can hold three LED Drivers and deliver power to up to 12 high power LEDs (four per channel). The drivers used on the board are our High Power PWM Driver modules available in either 1 watt or 3 watt models.
Driver Board Design
High Power LED Driver Board – Bare with No Components Installed
High Power LED Driver Board – With All Components Installed
We have designed a high power LED driver solution. The design utilizes three independent driver modules. Each model can drive up to four high power LEDs for a total of 12 LEDs.
The board has provisions to install up to three drivers (located at Driver 1, Driver 2 and Driver 3). The board also has six terminal blocks to provide power and connection to the outputs.
The driver board measures only 3.5″ x 2″ (89mm x 51mm) yet provides space for all components.
The Most Common Basic Connection
Connection to the driver board for the basic and most common operation is simple. Only a single power input and up to three outputs from the drivers. The rising clamp terminal blocks provide easy access for connections.
The terminals labelled In show where the power connects to the board. Each channel (labelled Channel 1, Channel 2 and Channel 3) have power input points. The power connections are common between each channel. For this reason, only one set of power connections will be required to power the board. Do not reverse the polarity of the power input or damage to the components will occur.
Power input should be DC voltages between 12v to 20v. Current requirements for running the LEDs is based on the LEDs in use.
Output from the drivers is to the three terminal blocks. Channels 1 to 3 labels identify each output along with positive and negative connections.
With input and output connections to the board complete, apply power. The LEDs will illuminate to full intensity. Power to the strings is either 350mA for 1 watt LEDs or 700ma for 3 watt LED models.
The control board accommodates up to three current limiting modules. These can be of either the 1 watt or 3 watt drivers. Drivers can also be mixed on the board to supply power to a mixture of 1 and 3 watt LED modules.
Advanced PWM Connection
The High Power PWM LED Driver Board is also microcontroller friendly. Each input supports PWM dimming of the connected LEDs.
On the Input terminal blocks, there is a separate PWM signal connection. This is where a 0-5v DC signal from a microcontroller can is applied to the circuit. In addition to the microcontroller signal, one common ground connection is needed between the microcontroller and the driver board.
The PWM capabilities are compatible with Arduino products like the Nano, ATTiny85, PIC microcontroller and more.