Constant Current Vs Constant Voltage Led Strip

Current controlled led tape lighting regulates light output across your run via ic s integrated circuits as compared to constant voltage which utilizes limiting resistors.

Constant current vs constant voltage led strip.

Constant voltage power supplies are used if leds need a different operating voltage than what s supplied by a power source. Constant current drivers are used to regulate the amount of current supplied to an led to maximize led lifetime. An led light that is rated for constant voltage usually specifies the amount of input voltage it needs to operate correctly. The constant voltage led driver can provide constant voltage up to a certain current value.

Even though a constant voltage driver may be slightly less efficient it enables a full flexibility to allow a greater final load size. The question of using a constant voltage or a constant current driver is usually one of the last to be answered. It will be a fixed output. Constant voltage this type of driver will have a fixed voltage output.

This will depend on the led voltage rating. Constant voltage led driver is generally preferred for home users such as led strip and led modules. Let s start with identifying the differences. The current output for the driver will have a max rating.

Below is a list of the major benefits of using the constant voltage and the constant current topologies. Most common constant voltage drivers or power supplies are 12vdc or 24vdc. Switch to a different led strip solution if you want to use the different topology to enjoy the benefits of it. Constant current led driver can output constant current in a certain voltage range.

If the circuit does not draw more that what is required it will work. Constant voltage drivers are designed for a single direct current dc output voltage. The constant current driver changes the voltage across the led allowing for a stable and constant current to the led. On the other hand constant current led drivers are manufactured to only operate constant current devices with specific ratings making them the more efficient of the two drivers.

Constant current drivers unlike constant voltage drivers don t make use of current limiters neither in the form of current limiting resistors nor current regulators which as a result allows for the direct connection to led s. The output of the led drive power supply is mostly a constant current source that can change the voltage with the change of the led forward voltage drop value. Constant current led driver is generally used in industrial led lighting applications.