An adjustable led power supply is a device with a switching regulator for converting rectified electric voltage into predetermined power magnitudes. They use LED drivers and are commonly applied in lighting. This post discusses the basic adjustable LED power supply components.
Basis adjustable LED power supply components and their functions
An adjustable LED power supply features numerous parts. These parts influence the functions of adjustable LED power supplies. It is worth mentioning that the parts are categorized into two primary categories. Each category features multiple components. Below are the two categories and the adjustable LED power supply components in each;
a. The adapter
This is the largest category and the most noticeable. It usually connects the power source and the device. However, it does not get into direct contact with either. Instead, there are cables running from the device to the adapter and the power source. Most components of an LED power supply are found in this category. They are;
1. The transformer
This is the component in charge of converting the incoming electricity voltage to the required level for a specific application. The transformer can increase or decrease the voltage. This depends on the primary power source and the function or device.
2. The rectifier
This adjustable power supply component converts the incoming power supply from AC to DC format. Power sources usually have specific power supply formats. However, most devices are designed for a specific power supply format. Therefore, a rectifier helps convert the supply to an ideal format for a specific application.
3. The filter and voltage regulator
This component only comes into play when the rectifier is applied. When an electricity supply is converted from AC to DC, and vice versa, it typically leads to stability issues. The supply may experience sudden surges or declines. The work of the filter is to stabilize or regulate the supply. While it does not do this 100%, it does help prevent issues stemming from the unregulated power supply.
The filter works hand in hand with the regulator. The role of the voltage regulator helps reduce the current voltages not handled by the filter. This helps eliminate the sudden voltage surges and drops that could damage your devices when connected to a power supply.
4. LED lights
Most LED power supply adapters come with an LED light. The light shows if the power supply is functioning or not. The light will go on if it is working and off if it is not. This way, you can protect your devices and find out if there are issues with the device.
b. The wires
There are many wires connecting the various components of a power supply. However, most of them are found inside the adapter. Only two are visible. They are;
- The wire that connects the adapter to the electrical outlet or power source
- The wire that connects the adapter to the electronic device, like a laptop
Take Away
The most popular application of an LED power supply is charging electrical devices. However, a power supply can also be used for LED lighting. For instance, you can connect the supply to LED light strips to regulate and control their electrical input from power sources.
