POWER SUPPLIES
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WHAT FUNCTION DO POWER SUPPLIES HAVE ON LED SCREENS?
Power supplies regulate the electrical current that powers your LED display. They transform the standard 220-110V current to suitable voltage and power levels to operate the screen. In each frame or cabinet, you will find several power supplies that receive and emit electric current through their connection terminals.
WHAT TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS DO POWER SUPPLIES HAVE FOR LED SCREENS?
The electronics of LED panels are delicate, so it is necessary to use specific power supplies so that all its components are protected and last for many years. We choose power supplies according to the power output. This power is reflected in Amperes (A), the higher the value, the more power the supply will have. To know the equivalent in Watts (w), it is necessary to multiply the amperes by the value of the output voltage of the power supply. In other words, if the supply offers 40A for an output voltage of 5 volts, the power that this supply will offer will be 40A x 5V = 200w. In general, a LED screen power supply must meet a series of requirements:
– 5V DC stabilized output
– 110-220V AC input
– 5V DC outputs divided into two or three outputs.
– Total power between 200-450W
– Output amps between 40-60A
– CE manufacturing certifications
There are many power supply manufacturers for LED screens, although in the last 10 years the technical evolution has been marginal, and most manufacturers share the same components in their power supplies, certain brands have been highlighted thanks to their performance in marketing and promotion.
POWER SUPPLY TERMINALS
L (line): phase terminal or alternating current line at 220V – 110V brown power cable according to Spanish standard.
N (neutral): neutral terminal of alternating current at 220V – 110V blue power cable according to Spanish standard.
Ground: Earth connection of the network. Yellow and green cable according to Spanish standard
V-: direct current output (negative pole)
V +: DC output (positive pole)
Note: Depending on the supply model, the terminals may differ in their position and appearance.
HOW TO CONNECT POWER SUPPLIES ON LED SCREENS TO THE ELECTRICAL NETWORK?
Each frame of your LED screen has a pre-installed wiring that links power supplies. So, you only have to connect a power supply from each cabinet to the network and the rest of the supplies will be fed as well. Choose an easily accessible power supply in each of the frames and connect terminals L, N, and ground with the wiring of your installation. We recommend using, whenever possible, a specific electrical panel for the screen, and grouping up to 4 frames for each power supply.
EFFECTIVE VALUE OF A POWER SUPPLY
The power value of a power supply is it´s optimal value, but in truth the power supply’s output tends to be lower, this is what we call the real or effective value. These losses in power are due to various factors, such as fluctuation of the input voltage, parasites and harmonics on the network, environmental temperature, workload, etc. … The manufacturers of power supplies usually include an efficiency graph on their technical specifications.
WHAT IS THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF A POWER SUPPLY?
Energy efficiency is the maximum power that a power supply can output, and it is represented with a percentage. Power supplies experience “losses” during their operation and fail to output full power for technical reasons. This means that a power supply cannot give 100%. This is where we can see the effects of different qualities in the power supply market: a supply marked as 350w can have an efficiency of 80% and another that is also 350w can have an efficiency of 60%. When making a choice between these two supplies, the one that will offer the best performance will be the one that gives 80%, even if the two mark the same power output.
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFICIENCY IN A POWER SUPPLY?
Well, this is the most important number to keep in mind when choosing the right power supply. supplies with poor efficiency are cheaper, so at first it seems a good option, but when the time comes to calculate the feed for LED modules, we will realize that we need more units than if we had stuck to the more efficient option. This means that using highly efficient supplies improves the consumption of our screens while reducing the interior’s temperature.
REFRIGERATION IN THE POWER SUPPLIES
Power supplies emit heat caused by its components during their operation. Remember that the worst enemy of any electronic device is high temperatures; this is what cooling systems and temperature dissipation is designed for. On the one hand, if the supply is low powered, the outside air may keep the interior cooled, these supplies have what we call passive dissipation and are usually used in indoor screens or shops. High power supplies use fans that turn on when the temperature of the supply exceeds a threshold, immediately cooling their components. These are called supplies and have active cooling systems. This type of supply is used in outdoor or high-brightness screens.
REFRIGERATION IN THE POWER SUPPLIES
Power supplies emit heat caused by its components during their operation. Remember that the worst enemy of any electronic device is high temperatures; this is what cooling systems and temperature dissipation is designed for. On the one hand, if the supply is low powered, the outside air may keep the interior cooled, these supplies have what we call passive dissipation and are usually used in indoor screens or shops. High power supplies use fans that turn on when the temperature of the supply exceeds a threshold, immediately cooling their components. These are called supplies and have active cooling systems. This type of supply is used in outdoor or high-brightness screens.
WHY IS A GOOD POWER SUPPLY IMPORTANT?
The electronic components of a LED screen are quite delicate so using quality power supplies is paramount, since they not only convert electricity, but also filter and stabilize it. With quality supplies we achieve greater durability and avoid operation issues.