LED driver lifetime and reliability hold the key to success in LED lighting projects (MAGAZINE)

Sept. 20, 2010
Product lifetime and reliability are two very different but related concepts. Understanding the issues relating to both parameters is a critical aspect of designing a product that will perform as expected in the field, explain George Mao and Marshall Miles.
Due to growing environmental concerns, the world is now replacing billions of conventional incandescent light fixtures. While a large percentage are currently moving to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), concerns over the mercury content of CFLs, as well as the potential for even greater energy savings, are causing more and more users to move to LED lamps. The newest LED lights consume approximately 80% less energy than incandescent lamps and contain no toxic materials.

After electronics-rich CFLs began to replace incandescent bulbs, consumers began seeing the products’ early failures all too frequently. The introduction of electronics into general-purpose lighting creates new failure modes that must be understood.

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This article was published in the September/October 2010 issue of LEDs Magazine. To read the full version of this article, please visit our magazine page, where you can download FREE electronic PDF versions of all issues of LEDs Magazine. You can also request a print copy of LEDs Magazine (available by paid subscription) and sign up for our free weekly email newsletter.