Has anyone made an LED driver based on LM3463 6 channel driver IC?

[asid61]

The a6211 has an exposed pad on the bottom so you can use copper traces to heatsink it. The example PCB also has vias to dissipate heat. Why did you not take advantage of this?
Also, many inductors have a maximum frequency, some around 750kHz. Does this effect the frequency of the drivers?

 

[O2Surplus]

The a6211 has an exposed pad on the bottom so you can use copper traces to heatsink it. The example PCB also has vias to dissipate heat. Why did you not take advantage of this?
Also, many inductors have a maximum frequency, some around 750kHz. Does this effect the frequency of the drivers?

Ugh- If you'd looked closely at the PcB design that I posted earlier, you'd have noticed the 6 small vias and 1 additional large via placed under the A6211. I included the large via to facilitate soldering in the thermal pad from the bottom side of the PcB. Spreading out the heat to the rest of the PcB isn't the issue. The issue is- there's not enough real estate on this small of a PcB, for adequate heat sinking to begin with, hence the need for additional heat removal schemes.
I've been testing these drivers all day in 90F+ ambient temperatures. So far the driver without any additional heat sinking has been pushing 1000ma all day, without issue. The driver with the heat sink is pushing 1400ma all day with just a whisper of airflow over the PcB. I'm encouraged by this.
I'm not concerned with the switching frequency of the drivers. According to the manufacturers data sheet, 2Mhz is the frequency that this driver will operate at, given the component values that I've chosen. The driver seems to perform pretty close to the specs that I'd chosen, albeit a little more output current than I'd asked for. I've found that the dimming performance is right where I'd like it to be. Full 8 bit dimming is achievable with 1/255 steps having been seen.

 

[asid61]

That's great! I can't wait till this is done; it will provide higher driver current for the larger Bridgelux arrays.

 

[O2Surplus]

That's great! I can't wait till this is done; it will provide higher driver current for the larger Bridgelux arrays.

I've already tackled that issue with the creation of my LM3409 based driver.
It's capable of driving up to 2900ma and features analog current level adjustment, PWM dimming, and 12V power for cooling fans ect...

 

[asid61]

Dude, you're incredible!
Have you ever made an ac/dc led driver, like the one you linked to in the first post?

 

[O2Surplus]

Dude, you're incredible!
Have you ever made an ac/dc led driver, like the one you linked to in the first post?

Lol- To be honest, A/C kinda scares me. I still bare the scars from being nearly electrocuted as a small child, so I tend to give high voltages a wide berth. I'll be sticking to <50Vdc because of that experience.

 

[rott]

02 hows the testing going with the A6211 boards I have a new led build that is using 6 50w led's and these look perfect to drive them and I have a few extra 4up LDD boards I can use them on

 

[O2Surplus]

02 hows the testing going with the A6211 boards I have a new led build that is using 6 50w led's and these look perfect to drive them and I have a few extra 4up LDD boards I can use them on

I'm still waiting for some copper heat sinks to arrive, before I can continue testing in earnest. My hope is that they'll allow the driver to push at least 2000ma without going into thermal "protection" mode, so dialing them in for a more modest 1400ma will make for a long service life. If I can get that, Ive got enough parts on hand to build 40 of them, so if you'd like to be a Beta tester, let me know and I'll send you a few to play with. Lol

I'm also working on a 5up driver PcB for "007Bond", but it's on hold until I can get the little LDD-H compatible Pcb sorted out. I'm going to apply "lessons learned" from the little driver to help perfect "007's" PcB design.

Here's another version that I'm working on too. I call it "the kitchen sink driver" Lol. It's not completed yet, I'm still trying to figure out what else I can cram in LOL, and then finalize placement of the components.(don't laugh-I'll get it all to fit eventually) :hammer:

Here's a list of what it's got so far-:lol: Let me know what you think?

1.) 5 independent A6211 drivers. Each driver with jumper selectable current settings. ( Don't worry 007, I'm gonna add this to yours too!)

2.) 1 MeanWell SCW05-12 Dc/Dc convertor for powering cooling fans, arduinos, ect.. (how cool is that? This alone makes everything else on the list possible )

3.) 1 5V regulator (a must have for the Atmega chip)

4.) 1 AtMega 328-au micro-controller.

5.) 1 DS1307 Real Time Clock

6.) 1 I2C connection w/ 5V and 1.8k Pull Up resistors already installed. ( for future expansion )

7.) 1 FTDI connection for programming access.

 

[rott]

Yup sign me up for beta testing I can use atleast 6 or a few more. I really like that new board

 

[007Bond]

I'm still waiting for some copper heat sinks to arrive, before I can continue testing in earnest. My hope is that they'll allow the driver to push at least 2000ma without going into thermal "protection" mode, so dialing them in for a more modest 1400ma will make for a long service life. If I can get that, Ive got enough parts on hand to build 40 of them, so if you'd like to be a Beta tester, let me know and I'll send you a few to play with. Lol

I'm also working on a 5up driver PcB for "007Bond", but it's on hold until I can get the little LDD-H compatible Pcb sorted out. I'm going to apply "lessons learned" from the little driver to help perfect "007's" PcB design.

YAY!!!!... O2 why don't you put up the pic. of the board, and see what they think of the cat5's :beer:---Rick

 

[O2Surplus]

I'm still waiting for some copper heat sinks to arrive, before I can continue testing in earnest. My hope is that they'll allow the driver to push at least 2000ma without going into thermal "protection" mode, so dialing them in for a more modest 1400ma will make for a long service life. If I can get that, Ive got enough parts on hand to build 40 of them, so if you'd like to be a Beta tester, let me know and I'll send you a few to play with. Lol

I'm also working on a 5up driver PcB for "007Bond", but it's on hold until I can get the little LDD-H compatible Pcb sorted out. I'm going to apply "lessons learned" from the little driver to help perfect "007's" PcB design.

YAY!!!!... O2 why don't you put up the pic. of the board, and see what they think of the cat5's :beer:---Rick

Here's 007's work in progress-

 

[007Bond]

Yep,... looking good!... O2, what size is that board? 4 x 4?

 

[O2Surplus]

Yep,... looking good!... O2, what size is that board? 4 x 4?

Yep- 10cm x 10cm. I try to keep all my PcB designs within that limit, as it helps to keep the cost down.

 

[zachts]

I'm still waiting for some copper heat sinks to arrive, before I can continue testing in earnest. My hope is that they'll allow the driver to push at least 2000ma without going into thermal "protection" mode, so dialing them in for a more modest 1400ma will make for a long service life. If I can get that, Ive got enough parts on hand to build 40 of them, so if you'd like to be a Beta tester, let me know and I'll send you a few to play with. Lol

I'm also working on a 5up driver PcB for "007Bond", but it's on hold until I can get the little LDD-H compatible Pcb sorted out. I'm going to apply "lessons learned" from the little driver to help perfect "007's" PcB design.

Here's another version that I'm working on too. I call it "the kitchen sink driver" Lol. It's not completed yet, I'm still trying to figure out what else I can cram in LOL, and then finalize placement of the components.(don't laugh-I'll get it all to fit eventually) :hammer:

Here's a list of what it's got so far-:lol: Let me know what you think?

1.) 5 independent A6211 drivers. Each driver with jumper selectable current settings. ( Don't worry 007, I'm gonna add this to yours too!)

2.) 1 MeanWell SCW05-12 Dc/Dc convertor for powering cooling fans, arduinos, ect.. (how cool is that? This alone makes everything else on the list possible )

3.) 1 5V regulator (a must have for the Atmega chip)

4.) 1 AtMega 328-au micro-controller.

5.) 1 DS1307 Real Time Clock

6.) 1 I2C connection w/ 5V and 1.8k Pull Up resistors already installed. ( for future expansion )

7.) 1 FTDI connection for programming access.

seems to me all that needs fit in yet is a fan connector with options for fan control, and somewhere to plug in a DS18b20

 

[O2Surplus]

seems to me all that needs fit in yet is a fan connector with options for fan control, and somewhere to plug in a DS18b20

Yeah- I just threw that PcB up for a few laughs, but the longer I stare at it, the more I want to make a working example of it. I'll definitely add the fan control circuit and a couple of connections for the Dallas One Wire stuff.

 

[mkj]

Awesome, looks like a TRON racebike course. Who won:inlove:

I'm still waiting for some copper heat sinks to arrive, before I can continue testing in earnest. My hope is that they'll allow the driver to push at least 2000ma without going into thermal "protection" mode, so dialing them in for a more modest 1400ma will make for a long service life. If I can get that, Ive got enough parts on hand to build 40 of them, so if you'd like to be a Beta tester, let me know and I'll send you a few to play with. Lol

I'm also working on a 5up driver PcB for "007Bond", but it's on hold until I can get the little LDD-H compatible Pcb sorted out. I'm going to apply "lessons learned" from the little driver to help perfect "007's" PcB design.

Here's another version that I'm working on too. I call it "the kitchen sink driver" Lol. It's not completed yet, I'm still trying to figure out what else I can cram in LOL, and then finalize placement of the components.(don't laugh-I'll get it all to fit eventually) :hammer:

Here's a list of what it's got so far-:lol: Let me know what you think?

1.) 5 independent A6211 drivers. Each driver with jumper selectable current settings. ( Don't worry 007, I'm gonna add this to yours too!)

2.) 1 MeanWell SCW05-12 Dc/Dc convertor for powering cooling fans, arduinos, ect.. (how cool is that? This alone makes everything else on the list possible )

3.) 1 5V regulator (a must have for the Atmega chip)

4.) 1 AtMega 328-au micro-controller.

5.) 1 DS1307 Real Time Clock

6.) 1 I2C connection w/ 5V and 1.8k Pull Up resistors already installed. ( for future expansion )

7.) 1 FTDI connection for programming access.

 

[Myocardial]

O2, What inductor have you gone with on the boards? Been looking at the suggested Taiyo Yuden as it is a fair amount cheaper in bulk than higher rated components.

I only really need 350-1050mA most of the time but want the flexibility to run higher with certain strings should the need arise and will be keeping the jumpers for this very reason (cheaper than buying multiple sets of LDD) as I will likely need to adjust my current as I'm going with a Bridgelux BXRA-40E0950 or BXRC-40E2000 test build and want to keep driver costs down initially.

 

[O2Surplus]

O2, What inductor have you gone with on the boards? Been looking at the suggested Taiyo Yuden as it is a fair amount cheaper in bulk than higher rated components.

I only really need 350-1050mA most of the time but want the flexibility to run higher with certain strings should the need arise and will be keeping the jumpers for this very reason (cheaper than buying multiple sets of LDD) as I will likely need to adjust my current as I'm going with a Bridgelux BXRA-40E0950 or BXRC-40E2000 test build and want to keep driver costs down initially.

I'm using inductors made by Sumida P/N (CDRH8D43NP-100NC). I bought 20 of them for $.30 each on FleaBay.

 

[tomservo]

Well, guys, I am getting my shop set up. I spent some time today letting the magic smoke out of some MP2483 chips. What I learned is, I'm no good at designing a circuit. It did sort of work, though, and that is a pretty big improvement for me.

I had to spend a bunch of time yesterday replacing my circuit breaker box after I learned the ones that were there were not safe (federal stab-lok). Also, there weren't enough slots anyways, but there are now!

The biggest holdup in this whole project has been my kids, I've got a 3 year old and a 15 month old and they're just terrors these days.

I think I'll be going with O2's allegro based design, and I'll just use a 0-10v/5v pwm converter for the signals.

 

[007Bond]

Hey O2,...Threads been quiet for a while now, any updates? :bounce3: