Burning up buck pucks

[jims]

I having been trying to get a 1 amp buck puck to work with a modified t-5 4 led light using a 12 volt lead/acid battery. I did not change the way the led's are fired, that is 2 sets of 2 in parallel. I thought that using the 1amp buck puck each set of leds would get .5 amps using this regulator. When the first buck puck went I thought it was a random type thing but now i have burned another. These are the buck pucks from LED Supply. Can anybody help?
Thanks

 

[LukeA]

Buckpucks are designed to run LEDs in series. I think the strings of emitters were each pulling 1A from the buckpuck, which fried it. If you want to run 4 emitters at 500mA from a buckpuck, you want to wire them all in series and run them from a 500mA output buckpuck.

 

[jims]

I checked the ledsuppy web site and the information on the buckpuck does allow for parallel strings of emitters. I have sent them pictures of the light and how I have it wired so, hopefully they can help me out. I am just wondering if anybody has had this happen to them ever and what caused it.

 

[evan9162]

Buckpucks are designed to run LEDs in series. I think the strings of emitters were each pulling 1A from the buckpuck, which fried it. If you want to run 4 emitters at 500mA from a buckpuck, you want to wire them all in series and run them from a 500mA output buckpuck.

That's nonsense. The buckpucks are current controlled devices - the 1A ones will never output more than 1A, regardless of what's connected to the output. Connecting a series/parallel arrangement is just fine. What do you think is inside a Luxeon V emitter?

 

[LukeA]

That's nonsense. The buckpucks are current controlled devices - the 1A ones will never output more than 1A, regardless of what's connected to the output. Connecting a series/parallel arrangement is just fine. What do you think is inside a Luxeon V emitter?

The 12th was kind of an off day for me.

 

[TorchBoy]

I hope you're back on form again now Luke. I think that was your only post I've ever gone :thinking: to.

 

[jims]

So, do you guys have any ideas as to what is happening to the buckpuck? What conditions would have to be there for the buck puck to smoke after just a minute or two?

 

[evan9162]

Show us your wiring diagram. You really shouldn't have a problem unless you've wired something wrong. You're not using too high of an input voltage, and your load (S/P LEDs) should be something the buckpuck can handle just fine.

Which model of BuckPuck are you using?

 

[jims]

I would like to be able to post a picture or two but I am not allowed to. I am using the 3023-d-n-1000 buckpuck. The battery is a werker 12v 2.3 amp hour sealed battery from batteries plus. I have the red positive post on the battery wired to the Vin+ on the puck. The black negative wired to the Vin- on the puck. I have the white wire from the puck LED+ wired to the two positive leads going to the LEDs and the blue wire from the puck LED- wired to the negative leads from the LEDs. So, as far as I can tell everything looks right. The reason I stayed with the parallel setup was so I could us the 12 v battery rather than have to get a higher voltage one needed to run the four leds in series. If I had a bad led in one of the parrallel circuits would that cause the puck to blow? Could the battery have to much in rush current for the puck?
Can somebody tell me how I might be able to get approval to post pictures?
Thanks

 

[Gryloc]

That is pretty odd for such a simple driver and setup to go haywire. Hmmm...

Hey, a PM is incoming. I may be able to help you out (with the pictures)...

-Tony