POWER INTEGRATIONS has launched a compact ballast unit for the use of LEDs in T8 tubes in the form of the DER287. Based on the LinkSwitch™-PH the design produces 25W with an efficiency rate of 91%.

A series of challenges must be overcome before existing fluorescent tubes can be replaced with LEDs. On the one hand the control unit must be small enough to fit into the existing lights and on the other the requirements of the regulation authorities in terms of efficiency and power factor must also be satisfied.
An efficiency rate of over 88% is extremely difficult in the current form factor and can only be achieved by a single-stage solution for the PFC level and voltage conversion. The LinkSwitch™-PH is ideal for this application since in addition to its high efficiency level it also has a low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) value (<25%) and a high power factor correction (PF greater than 0.9 over the entire load range).

The reference design is available now from CODICO with all data, measurements and the layout.

If you require more information, please contact us!

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