Simple electronics help

[firstborn]

oops

 

[Flukester]

What's a 'driver' for an LED?

A LED is basically a diode that lights up so unless you limit it's current it's a short circuit and you will fry it.

You can either use a passive component like a resistor to limit the current, or some kind of active driver.

Generally if your voltage is fixed and the LED only requires a small current to light it at optimum level a resistor is all you need.

For high power LEDs a resistor is way too inefficient at the high current that needs to be maintained. You would also get crazy swings in current with the slightest voltage change and a very hot resistor... these situations you need an active driver circuit

 

[Diddums x]

A LED is basically a diode that lights up so unless you limit it's current it's a short circuit and you will fry it.

You can either use a passive component like a resistor to limit the current, or some kind of active driver.

Generally if your voltage is fixed and the LED only requires a small current to light it at optimum level a resistor is all you need.

For high power LEDs a resistor is way too inefficient at the high current that needs to be maintained. You would also get crazy swings in current with the slightest voltage change and a very hot resistor... these situations you need an active driver circuit

Thank you, try explaining that on a phone!