What is the most efficient way to drives a 10W LED with a 20V battery

ErnieM

Joined Apr 24, 2011
8,377
Sonoma_Dog: You began this thread by asking "What is the most efficient way to drives a 10W LED with a 20V battery?"

Either way you suggest has an equal efficiency as both are burning off the difference between the battery voltage and the LED voltage. Literally burning it off as heat energy. Thus both are wasting 5.5V out of 19.5V for a 28% power poss.

The only way around that is to use a switching buck regulator. The good news is these are becoming quite common for LED lighting applications and are well supported by several manufacturers.

Here's the LM3404, the first one I found that looks appropriate for your needs.
 
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