It’s all about conserving energy while having the most reliable luminosity possible. LEDs are already an energy conserving measure. They allow illumination without as much energy output as regular lights have. The thing is, theyare slightly more expensive than regular lighting solutions, so many people have shied away from them. What they don’t realize is that the savings aren’t on the front end, but on the back end. LEDs last longer and use diminished amounts of resources.
REASONS TO USE A CONSTANT CURRENT LED DRIVER
The best way to maximize savings is by using a constant current LED driver. For display back-lighting or illumination that has other applications to it, two primary reasons recommend themselves for using a constant current LED driver. First and foremost, this method makes it possible to keep from transgressing the Absolute Maximum Current Rating (AMCR). If you violate the AMCR, it’ll compromise the integrity of the LED’s function. The second reason for using a constant current LED driver has already been touched on; saving money with a predictable outcome can be difficult, but by using a constant current LED driver, you can get luminous intensity that is predictable. Furthermore, you can match chromaticity between LEDs so that each one used in any application bears the same range of luminosity.
SAVING MONEY WITH CONSTANT CURRENT LEDS
LED savings have a peak to them. If you were to graph it, the cost of the LED would drive down the profitability. But by using constant current, you could measure how well the light met your needs in a constant manner, and always know the amount of energy used in any kind of application. This makes direct quantification possible, eventually the savings curve evens out, and you start to win on the back end, as said before.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
The last reason to jump on the constant current train is safety. If you don’t use constant current, surges and other exigencies could compromise the LED’s temperature ratings, and it’s possible an incident may take place. Just because LEDs use less energy and save money over time doesn’t mean they’re without any kind of electrical hazard. LEDs can get too warm like anything else, and surrounding items may be compromised. If you’ve ever felt an LED, you know they usually have a warm feel to begin with. Constant current will keep that feel safe. Without it, that warmness could turn to burning hotness and even break the material surrounding the LED itself.