Check out an interesting feature article we have uploaded to the site, concerning High-brightness LED lifetimes - HB-LED lifetimes affected by weak links
The main points to note are:
The main points to note are:
- Properly chosen capacitors can support the long life and reliability that SSL (solid-state-lighting) products require.
- Heat is the main culprit in decreasing capacitor life.
- Aluminum electrolytic, ceramic, and film capacitors all have their place in HB-LED (high-brightness-light-emitting-diode)-driver designs.
The trendy nature of consumer electronics and the rapid advances in IC features and capacity have led to a culture of products that need not outlast the next wave of devices: When an iPod or a cell phone fails after a year or two, many consumers are willing to dispose of it and buy the next version with its cool new features (Reference 1, below).Read the full article >>
However, electronics are finding their way into not only solid-state lighting but also automobiles, home appliances, and energy management and monitoring, and for these applications customers expect lifetimes of 10 years and beyond. Not all electronic components are unreliable. It's difficult to think that a microprocessor would simply wear out, for example.
