Heat, handling/vibration, electrostatic discharge (ESD), electrical fast transients (EFT), lightning-induced surges and ageing threaten the reliability of LED lighting designs. High-brightness LEDs are fragile electronic components and these events can damage wire bonds, causing LEDs to fail open-circuit.
If an LED fails open-circuit, then all of the LEDs in that string will go dark. In applications where reliability is critical for safety, or where replacement is costly or difficult, this degree of failure may prove unacceptable. Other costly consequences may include lost sales due to product returns, warranty repair/replacement expenses and negative product reviews.
A Littelfuse PLED series LED protector shunts current around a failed open LED to keep the string lit. The protector automatically resets if the LED heals itself or is replaced. In addition, PLED protectors are available that also provide ESD, surge and reverse power protection. The PLED series is suitable for any outdoor LED lighting application that requires high reliability and low maintenance, such as street lighting, tunnel lighting, traffic signal lights, outdoor signage and runway markers.
The PLED 6/9/13/18 series feature open LED protection and are compatible with 1 W, 2 W and 3 W LEDs that have nominal 3 V characteristic with currents up to 1 A. They are available in a 3x3 QFN package or DO-214AA SMB, while their low on-state voltage reduces power dissipation. Four voltage options (6 V, 9 V, 13 V, 18 V) allow cost savings, since one PLED can protect up to five LEDs.
The PLED 5 series features pen LED, ESD (±15 kV air discharge), EFT (±40 A 5/50ns) and reverse polarity protection. It is compatible with 1 W and 2 W LEDs that have nominal 3 V characteristic with currents of 350 mA and 700 mA, respectively. The protectors are housed in a 2x2 QFN package or SOT-89.
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