70 amp charger cooking 12v LEDs?
Will using one of the upgraded 70amp Progressive Dynamics charger/converters fry my new 12v LEDs (unregulated version)? I've seen talk of leaving the old converter in place, deck mounting the new o...
Forum Discussion
Gdetrailer wrote:time2roll wrote:
It is voltage not amps that will affect LED lamps.
You really need to check the LED specifications.
Quality LEDs are good from about 9 to 30 volts.
REGULATED LEDs will typically have 9 to 30V range..
UNREGULATED (AND HENCE THE ONES THE OP IS DISCUSSING) DO NOT HAVE 9-30 volt range..
Regulated LEDs use a constant current switching regulator power supply..
UNREGULATED LEDS either use a RESISTOR to "regulate" the current draw OR NO RESISTOR AT ALL (IE LEDS IN SERIES WITHOUT A RESISTOR)..
The unregulated LED modules tend to have a VERY NARROW OPERATING VOLTAGE and may or may not be happy at any voltages above 13.8-14.2V (typical auto CHARGING voltages when engine is running).
There is no way that anyone here on this forum will be able to tell the OP if his selection will be fine or not at 14.4V or higher..
OP will simply have to try them and see for themselves..
As a side note, VOLTAGE DOES AFFECT THE AMOUNT OF CURRENT LEDS DRAW..
Unregulated LEDs are especially vulnerable since they will sharply draw MORE current any time they have MORE VOLTAGE applied than what they were designed to typically operate at.
Regulated LEDs due to the switching regulator are kept at a constant current although the INPUT current can change up or down with the voltage changes.. Feed a regulated LED 9V and it will draw more current at the input than say 15V would..
:B
IMHO
Right
On
The
Money
Answer
GDEtrailer.
I spend hours each day playing with LEDs from 20 milliamp to 500 watt ratings. Trying to outguess and predict P/N junction temperatures (effective heat sinking) versus an absurdly sensitive milliamps tolerance is ummmm... unwise. Volts (in tenths) per degrees reaches a "certain" value, then above that the heating goes nuts. BOINK! Failed LED. I try to maintain a 122F (40c) chip lens temp max limit. For me, this temperature causes me to withdraw my finger rapidly and say HOT!
As I increase volts from say 12.2 to 13.0 I would have to guess many unregulated LED SMDs gain 50% in brilliance. Lumens, brightness, whatever.
