Engineering guides

Driver IC or finished power supply?

A constant-current load must fit the driver’s current setting and its regulation-voltage window over temperature.

Methodology & limitations

Source-based engineering guidance; not an LEDPedia laboratory test. Numerical examples are illustrative calculations, not measured product performance.

Scope and starting point

A constant-current load must fit the driver’s current setting and its regulation-voltage window over temperature. A constant-voltage label alone is not enough. In a CV+CC supply, the operating region depends on the load. Do not equate an IC’s maximum current with the rated current of a finished supply.

Selection notes

A driver IC is not a complete, isolated mains power supply. Its maximum current describes the specified circuit capability, not a fixed output setting. Check topology, input range, external parts, thermal limits, dimming and the manufacturer reference design.

Keep a reproducible record

Save the complete part number, source revision, operating point and the reason for each decision. Keep calculated examples separate from observed results. A measurement report needs its sample identifier, instrument and calibration details, stabilization, ambient conditions, raw record and uncertainty statement. Do not replace a missing value with zero or a typical value with a guaranteed limit.

Official source

Sources & disclosures

Official information / original source ↗

This initial article has no paid placement or supplied affiliate link. Product names belong to their owners. Follow the original source for current limits; assess suitability for your installation.

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