Ideally, I will use this circuit to control the brake light and blinkers of my motorcycle (code I wrote seen here: http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,62948.0.html)
Arduino will monitor the switches, each of which triggers one of the three LEDs. The LEDs are controlled via PWM through MOSFETs. MOSFETs are needed because each LED is rated at 3W. The voltage regulators are used to step down the 12v from the battery to the 5v required by the LEDs.
My problem is that the regulators are using way too much power and getting way too hot: Each regulator/LED is drawing nearly 2A, and the regulator climbs to 130F in about 20seconds. Also, the regulators start out producing 5v, but almost instantly jump to over 7v and slowly climb to above 9v before I turn off power to keep the regulator from overheating. In this scenario, the regulator Input-Ground current is 0.002A @12v. These parameters are also replicated when the regulator/LED are wired up directly to the 12v source (independent of the the above illustrated circuit.)
What am I doing wrong? How can I fix this? Is there a better way to drop voltage from 12v to the required 5v? Thanks!
*Edit: I am a bonehead. I was measuring voltage across Input-Output instead of Output-Ground. The regulators work properly, they just get very hot and draw too much power. The solution was to use a resistor. Details below.
What am I doing wrong? How can I fix this? Is there a better way to drop voltage from 12v to the required 5v? Thanks!
What you are doing wrong is running your led with constant voltage (5vdc) rather then with a constant current source. Higher power leds need to have their current flow controlled, your just applying 5vdc to them and letting the current be whatever it might be depending on the specific PWM value.
Now one could with by modified wiring and adding a resistor convert the 7805 voltage regulator to perform as a constant current source maybe.
So bottom line your powering method is not up to speed for powering 3 watt leds. You need to look for 3 watt led driver modules for a proper solution.
What am I doing wrong? How can I fix this? Is there a better way to drop voltage from 12v to the required 5v? Thanks!
What you are doing wrong is running your led with constant voltage (5vdc) rather then with a constant current source. Higher power leds need to have their current flow controlled, your just applying 5vdc to them and letting the current be whatever it might be depending on the specific PWM value.
Now one could with by modified wiring and adding a resistor convert the 7805 voltage regulator to perform as a constant current source maybe.
So bottom line your powering method is not up to speed for powering 3 watt leds. You need to look for 3 watt led driver modules for a proper solution.
Got 'em on there already. That was my first move, but then when I started looking into putting together a thermostat circuit to switch on a fan to help cool the heatsinks, I realized I was going down the wrong path and that what I needed was to solve the problem, not the symptoms. Kind of had to slap myself back on track there.
I'll let you all know how this goes, thanks for setting me straight!
Will still need the heatsinks, 7V across the 7805 & 600mA is a lot of power being dissipated. (4.2W)
Hence the suggestion to use switching power supply vs linear regulator. Bring the 12V down to something closer to 5V for the 7805 to control as a current source.
There's little LED controllers out there on PCBs but they're less reliable and they'll get HOT (although blinkers/brakes aren't on for much time so that might not be a factor).
Alright, Fungus, I followed your advice and it worked! (as math should)
I replaced the voltage regulator with a 10ohm, 10W ceramic resistor (RadioShack.com Official Site - America's Technology Store), and it works beautifully! With a supply of 12v, the circuit now draws 0.8A, with about 4v across the LED. The LED is just as bright as ever. The resistor does get very hot though (165*F).
The new circuit:
The middle and bottom LED can share a resistor because only one can be on at a time (they are the blinkers, and there is no "Hazard" dual flash setting)
Also, I realized that I was having a major bonehead moment when measuring the voltage across my regulators as stated in my first post: I was measuring Output to Input, instead of Output to Ground (d'oh!)
Thanks for the help! As usual, I should remember to K.I.S.S.!
loudboy:
Alright, Fungus, I followed your advice and it worked! (as math should)
Cool. Thanks for letting me know...!
loudboy:
I replaced the voltage regulator with a 10ohm, 10W ceramic resistor (RadioShack.com Official Site - America's Technology Store), and it works beautifully! With a supply of 12v, the circuit now draws 0.8A, with about 4v across the LED. The LED is just as bright as ever. The resistor does get very hot though (165*F).
In my defense, I did say to get 20W resistors
I assume that temperature is for continuous power. It shouldn't get that hot when it's flashing.
What about the LED temperatures? Hope you have a good heatsink for them, too.
They have that little inline transformer there that takes 12v and steps it down to 4v, but it also negates PWM control of the speed that I need. The website says that removing the tranformer lets the LED run at 4v, so that's what I did. The aluminum housing keeps the LEDs plenty cool; I've run then for longer periods of time with no noticeable warmth (The brake/running light will be on whenever the bike is on, but dimmed until the brake is used)
They have that little inline transformer there that takes 12v and steps it down to 4v, but it also negates PWM control of the speed that I need. The website says that removing the tranformer lets the LED run at 4v, so that's what I did. The aluminum housing keeps the LEDs plenty cool; I've run then for longer periods of time with no noticeable warmth (The brake/running light will be on whenever the bike is on, but dimmed until the brake is used)
OK, they look like they're attached to a decent chunk of metal and they're running at design power. Should be fine.
Oh, they do them in UV as well. I've been looking for something like that...
