Driver: Difference between revisions

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===Linear Regulator===

Though people call this type of driver a linear regulator, linear regulators regulate the voltage. However these drivers have a number of AMC7135 current regulating chips installed. Each chip allows 350mA of current through and when wired in parallel, the current adds, so 700mA from 2 chips, 1050mA from 3 chips, and 1400mA from 4. Wiring 2 boards with 4 chips each gives 2800mA which is ideal for P7 ~~and~~ MC-E LED's. Constrained to a particular current, the LED will settle in at its [[Terminology#Vf|Vf]] for that current and the rest of the voltage from the battery will be converted to heat by the regulator chips. Because any voltage beyond the required amount is wasted as heat, supplying a higher voltage is less efficient and the board becomes more efficient as the input voltage approaches the output voltage. As the voltage supplied drops below the Vf of the LED plus some overhead for the chips, the driver drops out of regulation and goes into direct drive and the light will start to dim. These drivers can also have modes by using a microcontroller utilizing [[Terminology#PWM|PWM]] for lower modes and flashing modes.

Though people call this type of driver a linear regulator, linear regulators regulate the voltage. However these drivers have a number of AMC7135 current regulating chips installed. Each chip allows 350mA of current through and when wired in parallel, the current adds, so 700mA from 2 chips, 1050mA from 3 chips, and 1400mA from 4. Wiring 2 boards with 4 chips each gives 2800mA which is ideal for P7, MC-E, and XM-L LED's. Constrained to a particular current, the LED will settle in at its [[Terminology#Vf|Vf]] for that current and the rest of the voltage from the battery will be converted to heat by the regulator chips. Because any voltage beyond the required amount is wasted as heat, supplying a higher voltage is less efficient and the board becomes more efficient as the input voltage approaches the output voltage. As the voltage supplied drops below the Vf of the LED plus some overhead for the chips, the driver drops out of regulation and goes into direct drive and the light will start to dim. These drivers can also have modes by using a microcontroller utilizing [[Terminology#PWM|PWM]] for lower modes and flashing modes.

===Boost Circuit===

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===Buck-Boost Circuit===

The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck-boost_converter Buck/Boost Converter] provides the greatest flexibility in input voltage and will boost or buck the voltage as appropriate.

The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck-boost_converter Buck/Boost Converter] provides the greatest flexibility in input voltage and will boost or buck the voltage as appropriate. Good luck finding one at a reasonable price though.

==Other Driver Features==

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 ===Linear Regulator===
-Though people call this type of driver a linear regulator, linear regulators regulate the voltage. However these drivers have a number of AMC7135 current regulating chips installed. Each chip allows 350mA of current through and when wired in parallel, the current adds, so 700mA from 2 chips, 1050mA from 3 chips, and 1400mA from 4. Wiring 2 boards with 4 chips each gives 2800mA which is ideal for P7 and MC-E LED's. Constrained to a particular current, the LED will settle in at its [[Terminology#Vf|Vf]] for that current and the rest of the voltage from the battery will be converted to heat by the regulator chips. Because any voltage beyond the required amount is wasted as heat, supplying a higher voltage is less efficient and the board becomes more efficient as the input voltage approaches the output voltage. As the voltage supplied drops below the Vf of the LED plus some overhead for the chips, the driver drops out of regulation and goes into direct drive and the light will start to dim. These drivers can also have modes by using a microcontroller utilizing [[Terminology#PWM|PWM]] for lower modes and flashing modes.
+Though people call this type of driver a linear regulator, linear regulators regulate the voltage. However these drivers have a number of AMC7135 current regulating chips installed. Each chip allows 350mA of current through and when wired in parallel, the current adds, so 700mA from 2 chips, 1050mA from 3 chips, and 1400mA from 4. Wiring 2 boards with 4 chips each gives 2800mA which is ideal for P7, MC-E, and XM-L LED's. Constrained to a particular current, the LED will settle in at its [[Terminology#Vf|Vf]] for that current and the rest of the voltage from the battery will be converted to heat by the regulator chips. Because any voltage beyond the required amount is wasted as heat, supplying a higher voltage is less efficient and the board becomes more efficient as the input voltage approaches the output voltage. As the voltage supplied drops below the Vf of the LED plus some overhead for the chips, the driver drops out of regulation and goes into direct drive and the light will start to dim. These drivers can also have modes by using a microcontroller utilizing [[Terminology#PWM|PWM]] for lower modes and flashing modes.
 ===Boost Circuit===
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 ===Buck-Boost Circuit===
-The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck-boost_converter Buck/Boost Converter] provides the greatest flexibility in input voltage and will boost or buck the voltage as appropriate.
+The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck-boost_converter Buck/Boost Converter] provides the greatest flexibility in input voltage and will boost or buck the voltage as appropriate. Good luck finding one at a reasonable price though.
 ==Other Driver Features==

Driver: Difference between revisions

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