LED Driver Inrush Currents - Technical paper

1 of 5

https://adlt.com.au/technology/%uFEFFled-driver-inrush-currents/

products

application

case studies

latest new s

lighting design se

A Light Em itting Diode (LED),also referred to as SSL (Solid State

Lighting),is an electronic device (chip)that produces light w hen an
electricalcurrent is passed through it.LED chips are inherently
low -voltage devices that need additionalelectronic com ponents to
convert the line-voltage 240V AC to the low DC voltage needed for
the LEDs.These electronics units also interpret controlsignals and
dim the LEDs accordingly.These devices are referred to as LED
drivers.
The lam p inrush current on sw itching LEDs has becom e an area of
concern in the lighting industry.Inrush currentof the LED drivers
refers to the input current of short duration that flow s into the LED
driver,during the initialstart-up,to charge the capacitors on the
input side.Typically,this is a short duration current,w hose
am plitude is m uch greater than the operating or steady-state
current.The inrush current is due to the EM C filter on the input
and bulk capacitor on the boost circuit this is inherent to the LED
technology.
The figure show s the nature of the inrush current and its peak,
IM AX.T50 is the tim e duration in w hich the inrush current pulse is
equalto 50% of IM AX.It show s an exam ple of inrush current (IM AX)
and T50 tim es for a typicalLED driver.
If there are a num ber of LED drivers in an LED Lum inaire,and if there are a num ber of such LED Lum in
inrush current and its duration m ay be additive.How ever,it is not an exact m athem aticalcalculation;i
paralleldoes not equalexact Ntim es the inrush current for one driver or N tim es the T50 tim e for on
im pedance of each driver and the line im pedance.

30/04/2016 09:16

LED Driver Inrush Currents - Technical paper

2 of 5

https://adlt.com.au/technology/%uFEFFled-driver-inrush-currents/

The line im pedance has a significant effect on the peak and duration of the inrush current.Transform e
runs,and other devices in the circuit path are a few things that could lead to high im pedance.
The inrush current and the duration of the LED driver differs from m anufacturer to m anufacturer and
duration is very sm all,sophisticated instrum ents w ith very high sam pling rates need to be used for exa
also depends on the exact m om ent of sw itching,during the alternating cycle.
For a typical150W ,0.7A LED driver,Philips M odel9137012116,used in various CREE lum inaires,the inrus
165 M icro Seconds.It is suggested that up to 7 -10 of these drivers be used /per 20A C curve M CB,h
individualcircuit im pedance.
For a typical220W ,1.05A LED driver,CREE M odelLE098X01 used in CREE High Output Edge lum inaires
Am p for 1000uS (1m S).It is suggested that up to 6 8 of these drivers be used /per 20A C curve M CB
individualcircuit im pedance.
A generalrecom m endation is to use C curve circuit breaker w ith the highest current rating that is allow
M CB used needs to have sufficient clearing tim e for the inrush current to clear,w ithout creating the n
w illgive protection from a short circuit and prevent overheating of w iring and connections.M CBs opera
an overload or short circuit condition.The tripping point relates to the m agnitude of electricalenergy be
depends significantly on both the inrush current peak value and its tim e duration.Accordingly,an M CB
peak of short duration,or a low er peak of longer duration.In either case,the objective is to ensure tha
excessive energy,yet does not trip and cause lighting blackouts,w hen it does not need to.
Please see below ,a typicalM CB tripping curve show ing the am ount of tim e required for a circuit breake
These curves differ from m anufacturer to m anufacturer and from type to type.Typically,the B type M C
3 to 5 In,C type has 5 to 10In and D type has 10-14 In.

30/04/2016 09:16

LED Driver Inrush Currents - Technical paper

3 of 5

https://adlt.com.au/technology/%uFEFFled-driver-inrush-currents/

Note:M any low -end relay system s in the lighting controls industry are designed for low inrush current
of high inrush LED technology.The high inrush on LEDs can cause these products to fail,by w elding t
be taken that the photocells and occupancy sensors are rated suitably to handle the LED inrush curr
solution.Advanced Lighting suggests using high quality photocellproducts able to handle the inrush c
A typicalexam ple of the inrush current event has been presented below for easier understanding.This
inrush current captured at the tim e of test and not as absolute proof of correct values.

30/04/2016 09:16

LED Driver Inrush Currents - Technical paper

4 of 5

https://adlt.com.au/technology/%uFEFFled-driver-inrush-currents/

30/04/2016 09:16

LED Driver Inrush Currents - Technical paper

5 of 5

https://adlt.com.au/technology/%uFEFFled-driver-inrush-currents/

Disclaim er:The inform ation provided in this docum ent has been provided in good faith by ADLTA.It is in
ADLTA w elcom es any com m ents or feedback on this subject.
Professionaladvice should be sought before relying on the inform ation provided.ADLTA does not w arra
disclaim s any legalresponsibility for any loss or dam age w hich m ay be suffered directly or indirectly,by
provided.

Privacy Policy
Claim s Policy
W arranty
Term s & Conditions
Contact Us

Copyright 2012 Advanced Lighting Technologies Australia inc.Allrights reserved.

30/04/2016 09:16