Electronics: Building a Constant Current LED Driver
Driving High-Power LEDs Safely High-power LEDs (1W+) will draw more and more current as they heat up, leading to 'thermal runaway' and failure. 1. The LM317 Method Use an LM317 voltage regulator in 'Current Mode'. 2. Calculate the Resistor R = 1.25 / Desired Current. For a 350mA LED, use a 3.6 Ohm resistor. 3. Wiring Connect the output pin of the LM317 to the resistor, then to the LED. The adjustment pin also connects to the LED side of the resistor. 4. Heat Management Both the LM317 and the LED will get hot. Mount both to a heatsink using thermal paste to ensure long-term stability.
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