Another important concern is the balance of currents that flow in multiple strings. We know that two or three strings of LEDs will have different combined forward voltages. The LED driver will deliver ...

Linear constantcurrent drivers, for instance, offer low EMI, low cost, and use only a few components. Many designers favor them for low-current applications where power loss is a minor concern. If ...

In my previous article on photovoltaic (PV) systems (“The Highs and Lows of Photovoltaic System Calculations” in the July 2012 issue), I went through methods to calculate the changes in voltage due to ...

To improve efficiency in high-power applications, voltage regulators can be used in parallel to double output current capability—if a means of forcing current sharing is provided. One circuit approach ...

It’s often necessary to connect point-of- load (POL) dc/dc power supply modules in parallel to get a sufficiently high-current output for applications such as test instruments, blade servers, and so ...

Automotive, industrial, and FireWire peripherals all call for high-efficiency, space-saving power supplies with high current capabilities at very high voltages. The problem is that high-voltage, ...

Why don't your Christmas lights work? Sadly, in the event of a string of lights going out on your tree, replacing the strand is usually the best option. It's pretty difficult to find that one bulb ...

Typically, a power supply is comprised of a power transformer, which is then followed by a conventional bridge rectifier. The bridge rectifier is constructed using four diodes that are interconnected ...