LED drivers

mkr10 · 2010-01-11T15:41:11+00:00

I have an LM317 set up as a constant current regulator that supplies350ma to a couple of series connected power leds.All is fine -- it had a nice heat sink which gets pretty hot, but sowhat? They're still leds and the whole thing only consumes about 8watts (120vac). Just a transformer, bridge rect, cap and theregulator.By the time I were to go with an LED driver and it's associatedcomponents, I don't get the advantage.I haven't breadboarded anything yet but doesn't the typical LED driverchip get hot as well?(Like an LM3407) Do they need to be heatsinked? (I don't see it inthe datasheet). I know the process is moreefficient but I don't see the point for what I'm doing. Even the inputcurrent needs to be as high as the output so there isn't a savingswith a transformer from what I see.Plus -- no RF.When you design an LED driver circuit does FCC certification getinvolved?I see the need for led drivers in low voltage or automobileenvironments etc but my thing is more "household use".