LED Power Supplies
A Jameco Buyer's GuideBy Robert Cong Copywriter / Product Manager Whether it's magnetic, chemical, or electrical, everything needs some form of energy and power. Your lighting needs are no exception. Applications need a power source other than a regular wall outlet such as in architectural lighting, street lighting, decorative lighting, stage and theater lighting, and electronic billboards. For application that have a special lighting component, there are advantages to choosing LED power supplies. |
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Billboards are a great way to advertise, but they can also be a pain to change and maintain. Those big, bright LED-lit billboard signs you see when driving on the freeway, can't simply be plugged into the wall. They need a constant source that will provide even distribution of power to each section. Unlike traditional power supplies, LED power supplies provide constant current and/or constant voltage so that you can light up your applications with maximum efficiency.
Electronic BillboardsMany of the LED power supplies are also encased in a splash-proof metal or plastic case for a wider range of uses both indoors and out. Other features you are likely to see on LED power supplies include built-in active PFC (Power Factor Correction) for better efficiency, adjustable output voltage/current for exact customization, dimming function for more functionality, and multiple protection (short-circuit, overload, over-voltage, over-temperature) for added safety.
Mean Well HLG-240 Series LED Power Supply (Size: 9.6"L x 2.7"W x 1.5"H)
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 Colorful Lighting at the Bar |
You can have the lighting style you want in a wider variety of locations, all while saving time and space. You can use them in big industrial size applications or your small garage projects at home. Let your imagination run wild and you'll be sure to wow the crowd. When choosing an LED power supply, you should first look for a suitable wattage of the system requirements as well as your application methods. There are 3 common types of LED driving methods: directly driven, driven with a series resistor, and driven with a driver IC. See below for a comparison between the three: |
Gas Station Lighting Making itEasier to Change Pricing |
| Driving method & PSU selection | Features | Advantage/Disadvantage |
| Direct drive Use C.C. power supply  |
Voltage at the output of the power supply will be equal to the total LED VF. IF will be affected by temperature change. |
• Lowest price • Highest efficiency × Uneven current for paralleled LED strips × Uneven brightness for paralleled LED strips × Quick decline in luminance. Short LED lifetime. |
| With series resistor Both C.V. or C.C. can be used  |
Voltage exceeding total LED VF will appear across the series resistor. Moderate IF stability. |
• Low price with additional resistor cost × Lowest efficiency Due to resistor power loss. |
| With driver IC Use C.V. power supply  |
IC automatically limits IF to each LED strip, high IF stability. |
• Slow decline in luminance • Longest LED lifetime. × Low efficiency. × Most expensive |
You should then decide whether the application should have a supply with power factor correction (PFC) function or not. Take a look at the chart below for reference:
| Circuit Topology |
Representative Models |
Advantage & Disadvantage | Limitations on Application |
| Non PFC |
ELN-30 ELN-60 LPLC-18 LPHC-18 LPC-20 LPC-35 LPC-60 LPL-18 LPH-18 LPV-20 LPV-35 LPV-60 LPV-100 |
Advantage: • Low cost • Simple circuit design with reliable electrical performance Disadvantage: • Not correspondent with PFC demand in energy saving • Cannot meet major norms for LED luminaries |
• Not for EU & other major markets of LED luminaries • Cannot meet energy saving requirement • Same electrical charactistic as power supply for general purpose |
| Single stage PFC |
CLG-60 CEN-60 CEN-75 CEN-100 PLN-20 PLN-30 PLN-45 PLN-60 PLC-30 PLC-45 PLC-60 PCD-16 PCD-25 PLP-20 PLP-30 PLP-45 PLP-60 |
Advantage: • Low cost • Simple circuit design • High efficiency performance on small power rating design Disadvantage: • High output ripple voltage (15-20 times of two stage design) • Difficult design of feeback circuit • PF & THD easily affected by design of feedback circuit |
• No holdup time more susceptible to fluctuation of AC mains • High output ripple current - decrease life time of LED module directly powered by power supply • Slow response time of feedback circuit, high effect of load characteristics |
| Two stage PFC+PWM |
CLG-100 CLG-150 PLN-100 LPF-40 LPF-40D LPF-60 LPF-60D LPF-90 LPF-90D PLC-100 ULP-150 HLG Series |
Advantage: • Suitable for high power rating design • Good PFC characteristics • Easy design of feedback circuit • Good load characteristic Disadvantage: • High cost • Complicated circuit design |
• Can be used for most of field applications |
Looking at where the supply will be placed, you need to find a supply with an appropriate housing that will be safe for installation. There are different style enclosures with different IP level ratings, which determine whether the enclosure cases are dust-tight protected, and powerful water-jet protected.
Certain locations also require certain safety certificates. Many lighting applications can be distracting to drivers or obstructive to residential neighborhoods. Whatever the case may be, make sure the power supply you choose conforms to safety laws within your area.
Finally, decide if your application needs to have output voltage adjustment, output current adjustment, or dimming function. You may want to manually change the brightness or adjust the distribution of lighting. This all depends on your certain application. See below for a quick selection map:
Quick Selection MapHLG Series |
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HLG-80H HLG-100 HLG-100H HLG-120 HLG-120H HLG-150 HLG-150H HLG-185 HLG-185H HLG-240 HLG-240H HLG-320H |
• High efficiency up to 94% • Adjustable output voltage and current level (A TYPE-IP65) • UL/CUL/TUV/ CE certified • Withstand 4KV surge, suitable for LED street lighting • General TYPE: 90~264VAC Input H-TYPE: 90~305VAC input • 3 in 1 dimming function (1~10VDC, PWM signal or resister) • Suitable for LED street lighting, outdoor LED lighting, and general outdoor applications with high IP requirement |
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CLG Series |
 | CLG-60 CLG-100 CLG-150 |
• Adjustable output voltage and current level • (CLG-150A-IP65) • Fully potted for CLG-60/100 (IP67) • UL/CUL/TUV/CE certified • Withstand 4KV surge, suitable for LED street lighting • 90~295VAC/277VAC input available • Suitable for LED street lighting, outdoor LED lighting,and general outdoor applications with high IP requirement (CLG-100/150) |
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CEN Series |
 | CEN-60 CEN-75 CEN-100 |
• High efficiency up to 91% • Economic Class 2 LED power with metal enclosure • Adjustable output voltage and current level • UL/CUL/TUV/CE certified • Withstand 4KV surge, suitable for LED street lighting • 90~295VAC/277VAC input available • Suitable for LED street lighting and outdoor lighting |
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ULP Series |
 | ULP-150 |
U bracket |
50% |
• High efficiency up to 93% • Screw terminal type I/O connection, cable length can be adjusted by users • Withstand 4KV surge, suitable for LED street lighting • Suitable for LED street lighting (built-in type) |
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PLN Series |
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PLN-20 PLN-30 PLN-45 PLN-60 PLN-100 |
• UL/CUL/TUV/CE certified • Adjustable output voltage and current level (PLN-20: current only) • 90~295VAC/277VAC input available • Suitable for LED lighting and LED electrical display applications |
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PLC Series |
 | PLC-30 PLC-45 PLC-60 PLC-100 |
• Screw terminal type I/O connection, cable length can be adjusted by users • UL/CUL/TUV/CE certified • Adjustable output voltage and current level • Suitable for indoor LED lighting and LED electrical display applications |
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LPF Series |
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LPF-40 LPF-40D LPF-60 LPF-60D LPF-90/90D |
• High efficiency up to 91% • 90~305VAC/277VAC input available • D type: 3 in 1 dimming function (1~10VDC, PWM signal or resister) • Suitable for LED street lighting, LED electrical displayand indoor LED lighting |
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PLP Series |
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PLP-20 PLP-30 PLP-45 PLP-60 |
• Economical LED power, low cost • Adjustable output current level • Suitable for built-in type LED lighting applications |
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ELN Series |
 | ELN-30 ELN-60 |
• With optional dimming function • UL/CUL/CE certified • Adjustable output voltage and current level • Suitable for indoor LED lighting, LED electrical display and general applications with high IP requirement |
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LPC Series LPV Series |
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LPC-20 LPC-35 LPC-60 LPV-20 LPV-35 LPV-60 LPV-100 |
• LPC: constant current model
LPV: constant voltage model • Economical Class 2 LED power, low cost • UL/CUL/CE certified • Suitable for LED-based decorative lighting, outdoor architectural lighting and LED electrical displayapplications |
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LPL Series LPH Series |
 | LPL-18 LPH-18 LPLC-18 LPHC-18 |
• LPL/LPH: constant voltage model, LPLC/LPHC: constant current model • Economical Class 2 LED power, low cost • LPL/LPLC: 115VAC input ; LPH/LPHC: 230VAC input • Suitable for LED-based decorative lighting, outdoorarchitectural lighting and LED electrical display applicationsand general applications with high IP requirement |
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PCD Series |
 | PCD-16 PCD-25 |
50% |
• AC phase-cut dimming • Work with leading edge & trailing edge dimmers • Suitable for indoor LED lighting (AC dimmable) |
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Have more questions? Send an email to: Tech@Jameco.com for answer.
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