40W Led Driver Board With PWM Control

If you've ever dreamt of controlling light with the precision of an artist wielding a brush, you're in the right place. In this tutorial, we'll guide you through the creation of a custom LED driver, perfect for your next lighting project. Our secret weapon? The reliable and powerful AL8861. And our partnership with JLCPCB made all of this possible!

Our project was born out of the need to control an LED lamp using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), all orchestrated by an ESP32. We scoured the market for an LED driver that met our needs, but nothing seemed up to the challenge. That's why we decided to create a custom LED control board.

The primary component that made our project possible is the AL8861, a high-quality LED driver. With its support for PWM control and energy efficiency, the AL8861 was the ideal choice for our custom LED driver. This component allowed us to achieve impeccable brightness control and an extremely long lamp lifespan, with an output of 40W.

The AL8861 is the beating heart of our LED driver project, and its technical specifications make it an exceptional choice:

1. PWM Control: The AL8861 features precise PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control, allowing us to adjust the LED's brightness with remarkable accuracy. With a wide dimming range, it's perfect for creating dynamic lighting effects.
2. High Efficiency: Efficiency matters, and the AL8861 excels in this department. It boasts an impressive efficiency of over 90%, minimizing energy waste and conserving power for lighting applications.
3. Wide Input Voltage Range: This LED driver can handle a broad input voltage range, typically spanning from 4V to 40V, making it versatile and suitable for various power supply configurations.
4. Output Current Regulation: The AL8861 provides consistent output current regulation, ensuring stable and flicker-free illumination even in challenging conditions. It can deliver, for example, up to 1.5A of constant current.
5. Over-Temperature Protection: To guarantee long-term reliability, the AL8861 includes over-temperature protection. It actively monitors its temperature and adjusts its operation to prevent overheating, with a temperature threshold typically set around 150°C.
6. Wide Temperature Range: It can operate across a wide temperature range, typically from -40°C to 85°C, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor lighting projects, where temperature fluctuations are common.
7. Long Lifespan: With its robust design and protection features, the AL8861 contributes to the long lifespan of your LED lighting system. LEDs powered by the AL8861 can last tens of thousands of hours, reducing maintenance and replacement costs significantly.

These numerical values demonstrate why the AL8861 is at the core of our project. It provides not only precise control over the LED but also ensures high efficiency, reliability, and versatility—essential qualities for any successful LED lighting endeavor.

No project is truly complete without the right collaboration. Thanks to our partnership with JLCPCB, we achieved the quality and precision we needed to create our LED driver. Their custom PCB production services made it possible to create the control board where we mounted the AL8861. The result? A professional and high-quality finished product.

Now that you have an overview of the project, let's dive into the details. Here's how we created our PWM LED driver:

Step 1: Gather Materials

• AL8861 LED Driver
• ESP32
• Custom PCB from JLCPCB
• Other electronic components

Step 2: Circuit Design

• Using electronic design software, we created a schematic of our circuit, including the AL8861 and ESP32.
• 5 total Pins:

1. VCC = Upto 40V
2. GND
3. PWM
4. LED+
5. LED-

Step 3: PCB Production

• We sent our project to JLCPCB for custom PCB production.

Step 4: Assembly

• We assembled the components onto the PCB, ensuring we followed the AL8861 specifications.

Step 5: Programming

• We wrote code for the ESP32, allowing us to precisely control the LED driver through PWM for testing purpose.

Step 6: Testing and Refinement

• We tested the LED driver and made necessary adjustments to ensure maximum performance.

Thanks to the combination of the powerful AL8861 and collaboration with JLCPCB, we successfully created a custom PWM LED driver that exceeded our expectations. Now, we can control light with the mastery of an artist and illuminate the future with innovation and style.

We can't wait to see what you can create with your custom LED driver. Leave us a comment with your ideas and questions, and be sure to share your project on Instructables to inspire other makers like yourself!

Note: Be sure to adhere to all local electrical regulations when building your LED driver and installing the lamp.

Ready-Made Solutions

If you prefer a hassle-free option or would like to support the creator of this project directly, you can purchase a pre-assembled version of the PWM LED driver board from official online stores. These ready-made solutions ensure that you can jump straight into your lighting project without worrying about assembly. The seller for these products is none other than the project creator (that's me!).

Tindie Store

Visit my official Tindie store to explore and purchase the pre-assembled PWM LED driver board. Each board is meticulously crafted, thoroughly tested, and ready for use in your projects. You'll also find detailed product descriptions and specifications to help you make an informed choice.

https://www.tindie.com/products/saveriop/40w-led-driver-board-with-pwm-control/

Etsy Shop

For those who appreciate the convenience of Etsy, you can also find the PWM LED driver board in my official Etsy shop. Each board is hand-assembled with care, and you can expect the same high-quality performance as in the DIY version.

https://www.etsy.com/it/listing/1557349704/40w-led-driver-board-with-pwm-control

By purchasing from these official stores, you not only acquire a top-notch LED driver but also directly support the project's creator. Your support enables the development of more exciting and innovative projects in the future. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or customization requests; I'm here to assist you on your journey to perfect lighting control!