LED fixtures with linear drivers?

overclockwise · Apr 5, 2018

Hi,

I'm looking to get new lights and I'm leaning heavily towards LEDs. However, I'm very sensitive to flickering lights so I want to avoid PWM dimming at all costs.

The only light that has an advertised linear driver is the Phillips Coral Care and they are sadly not available in the USA. Does anyone know which LED fixtures have a linear LED driver?

jenius8477 · Apr 5, 2018

Hmmmm, that's a good question. Most devices wont use a linear driver as there are 2 ways to manage voltage on a DC device. PWM (Switchmode) powersupplies and Linear. PWM devices are much more efficient as instead of burning off the extra power (Generating heat) they chop the output to average the required voltage. Linear voltage regulators for high power systems would have to be huge and well cooled to generate the type of drop that our LED fixtures require. If you go the DIY route, you could always use a standard, dimmable PWM driver and use a couple larger smoothing capacitors on the output to get rid of the flicker. Oh, and choose a driver that has a very high switching frequency. Higher the freq, smaller the caps needed to remove the ripple.

oreo54 · Apr 10, 2018

Almost all output at switching frequencies regardless of PWM or DC "control"
Amp adjustable drivers are out there..just not put in commercial aquarium lights AFAICT..
Surprised about the Coral Care to be honest.
Spectrum generally changes more when amp dimming..
There are IC's that will do both (or just amps) but you're talking "from scratch" drivers..

Fequency out is also controllable so you could find a sweet spot..

It's complicated.....
these might work for a DIY..
http://www.usa.lighting.philips.com/products/oem-components/xitanium-led-drivers#

sorry way out of my wheelhouse..just adding stuff