LEDs currently have a lifetime of about 30,000 to 40,000 hours, but the power supply apparatuses for the lights only have a lifetime of about 10,000 hours, resulting in a gap that could hold back further gains in efficiency in LED technology. That gap in endurance is just what Kaga Components has set out to close.
The Japanese company demonstrated a new power supply apparatus last week that has a lifetime of more than 100,000 hours. The company said the part of the power supply that was limiting lifetime hours was the electrolytic capacitor. The company removed it and downsized the power supply circuit in order to achieve the much longer life.
Because the patent is still pending and the power supply is still under development, the company isn't disclosing the exact details of the circuit configuration. The apparatus is compatible with one to five series-connected LEDs and input powers of 100 and 200V.
