Pre-order Cence HV, our fault-managed power system here
Pre-order Cence HV, our fault-managed power system here
According to a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) accelerated stress test on LED drivers, 64% of devices failed as a result of AC-to-DC conversion circuitry in less than 4,800 hours of testing, with failure times ranging from 1,250 hours to 4,554 hours. This is partly because California Energy Commission (CEC) efficiency requirements do not require loads less than 45 W to have any particular efficiency. Even though drivers regulating power for loads over 45 W need to exhibit at least an 85% efficiency, this results in most traditional low-voltage drivers being inefficient, and wasting energy in the form of heat. This heat causes thermal runaway, which wears down drivers over time, causing them to fail prematurely.
Not only can this wasted energy increase energy bills, but it also means that LED fixtures need to be replaced more often, increasing maintenance fees. To demonstrate just how much these drivers are shortening the lifespan of LEDs, the aforementioned study by the U.S. Department of Energy showed that the longest lasting LED driver that they tested only lasted about 7,500 hours. Seeing as LEDs are advertised to have lifespans upwards of 50,000 hours, this is far below what should be expected of them.
Read our blog to find to learn more about how this problem can be rectified.
