Let's say A 300-watt power supply is used. But only a 280 watt constant load was applied to it, in this case of course LED's.Any guesses as to lifespan? in hours or years? Max ambient temp of 90F.The answer of course can be transposed to any switching power supply of this type for other loads. RV converters seem to go years and years without glowing in the dark.Not To Worry Time?

My guess would be "depends on the duty cycle design." If the PS is designed to deliver 300W continuous it should last fairly long. If it is designed to handle 300W "peak" and something less than that continuous, it probably won't last very long. You say "only" 280W but that is running at 93% of rated capacity, so may as well be full load.

Is the fan running? Or does it run cool?

This system is going to light a small supermarket about the same size as a large 7-11.Hours 0600 to 2200 hours every day.I guess I had better plan on blowing some cool air to the unit with a 15 watt 120Vac aux fan.If the power supply should fail, business in the store stops dead. We'll get a backup down the road sometime. Plans are to mount the PS not in the ceiling but run a mains with distribution branches.Prospect is for ONE EIGHTH the power consumption of ice-age model existing fluorescent lighting. How can those fluorescents emit GRAY lighting? It's pathetic.

Mex, Back when I worked a more or less regular job, I did a lot of computer maintenance. One company had many power supply failures. I found that they had a local builder make up the boxes and he was using a POS power supply. (Maybe because he also maintained them, so he got to charge at least twice.) When he was unavailable, they came to me. I put in three power supplies that were real commercial grade devices. When these boxes got left out of the fail/replace cycle. Questions were asked. If I were in your position, I would search up power supplies with a very long published life (TBF). I think you also might consider splitting the system so that you can't loose the entire system with a single point failure. In ATX form factor, I can tell you reliable supplies, but for your installation, I can't be much help.Matt

+1 for splitting the system. Then you know the backup is working too.Store could probably remain open with 50% lighting.

QUESTION Expected Lifespan Of a Power Supply ? | Good Sam Community

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Aug 15, 2014
This system is going to light a small supermarket about the same size as a large 7-11.

Hours 0600 to 2200 hours every day.

I guess I had better plan on blowing some cool air to the unit with a 15 watt 120Vac aux fan.

If the power supply should fail, business in the store stops dead. We'll get a backup down the road sometime. Plans are to mount the PS not in the ceiling but run a mains with distribution branches.

Prospect is for ONE EIGHTH the power consumption of ice-age model existing fluorescent lighting. How can those fluorescents emit GRAY lighting? It's pathetic.
time2roll
Nomad
Aug 15, 2014
Is the fan running? Or does it run cool?
BurbMan
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2014
My guess would be "depends on the duty cycle design." If the PS is designed to deliver 300W continuous it should last fairly long. If it is designed to handle 300W "peak" and something less than that continuous, it probably won't last very long. You say "only" 280W but that is running at 93% of rated capacity, so may as well be full load.

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