Developing power systems for lighting applications

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) allow large structures to be illuminated using minimal energy. These LED lights require power chains that convert an AC utility supply to a constant current DC supply.

Efficiency is an obvious concern in lighting applications. Perhaps less obviously, designers of these lighting systems also want solutions that are small, light and therefore easy to install.

Although the structures being lit are large, and there is little physical constraint on space needed, people want to see the building and not the power supply. Therefore, small size is a key criterion for designing lighting power chains that can be installed without being seen. Power engineers don’t only need to consider electrical requirements.

The installation of the lighting system creates additional requirements to ease the challenges involved by climbing on buildings in various weather conditions. These activities are dangerous, making installation expensive in both time and liability. By developing solutions that are smaller and lighter, and thus faster and easier to install, power engineers can make the lighting system cheaper and safer to deploy.

Vicor’s Power Component Design Methodology is a flexible approach to the development of power systems, using power components to produce designs that are optimised for your application.

Figure 1 (below) shows a power chain created by using the Power Component Design Methodology to combine ZVS Buck Converters with a PFM to produce a compact, lightweight and efficient constant current power source for the LEDs from an AC input. The solution is also easy to install, reducing the time spent working at height, which cuts the cost of installation and improves safety.

Figure 1.