The article explains a simple 1 amp constant current LED driver circuit using the IC MBI6651 from MACROBLOCK. The IC has been specifically designed for operating high power LEDs safely by providing a constant current output. The circuit includes very few external components and therefore becomes very easy to assemble at home.
About the IC MBI6651
The IC MBI6651 is a high efficiency, step down DC to DC converter chip capable of driving high power LEDs at a safe 1 Amp constant current.
The IC requires just four passive external components for making it functional.
The output current of the IC can be externally set by selecting the appropriate resistor value.
The IC also features a PWM controlled dimming control of the connected LEDs.
Some of the other outstanding features of this IC includes UVLO meaning under voltage lockout, over temperature shut down, LED open circuit protection and LED short circuit protection, all these ensure complete safety to the IC from wrongly configured output loads.
Typical Application Areas of this device are:
Automotive decoration and illumination
LED flood lights using high intensity, high power LED.
The IC also can be used as a constant current source in particular circuit applications.
Setting the output Current
The output current of the IC is fixed through an external resistor Rsen. The output current Iout and the adjustment resistor Rsen has the following relation:
Given Vsen=0.1V
Rsen=(Vsen/Iout)=(0.1V/Iout)
Where Rsen is the value of the external resistor. This resistor is connected across the pin outs SEN and Vsen of the IC.
The optimum current with Rsen 0.1 Ohms is 1000 mA or 1 Amp.
Optimizing External Component Selection
Inductor: Two issues specify the inductor type, the switching frequency and the ripple current. The involved calculation can be written as:
L1>{Vin - Vout - Vsen - (Rds(on) * Iout)} * D/fsw * delta.IL
where, Rds(on) is the on-resistance of the IC's internal MOSFET. The value is typically around 0.45 at 12V
D is the duty cycle of the IC, given as D = Vout/Vin
fsw is the switching frequency of the IC
While designing the inductor for the given circuit, along with the inductance the saturation current must also be taken into account,because these are two basic factors which typically affects the overall performance of the circuit.
The rule of thumb, the saturation current of the inductor should be selected 1.5 times greater than the LED current.
Moreover, selecting high values for the inductance provides better line and load regulation.
Selecting the Schottky diode
The diode D1 shown in the circuit diagram basically acts as the flywheel diode for nullifying the inductor back emf during the periods when the LED is switched OFF.
The diode must be selected with the following couple of important characteristics:
It should have a low forward voltage rating and maximum possible reverse voltage tolerance.
Selecting the capacitor
The general rule is always to select a capacitor value with a voltage tolerance 1.5 times higher than the supply voltage.
Preferably, a tantalum capacitor should be selected because these have high capacitance and low ESR characteristics.
The proposed circuit of 1 Amp constant current LED driver circuit is given below:
The basic operating parameters are given below:
Pin Out Specs:
Courtesy: https://homemade-circuits.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/mbi6651.pdf
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Hi Swagatam
Eventually not only did I find the distributor but he had the parts in stock and sent me 12 free of charge! Mnay thnaks for you help Paul
That sounds amazing Paul! glad you could procure the parts finally, wish you all the best!
I’m interested in building your 1amp MB16651 Macroblock constant current circuit but I can’t find where I can buy the part. Checked Digikey and Mouser. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Many thanks Paul
May be the IC is discontinued, but you can find many similar variants, such as the following:
DC to DC Converter Circuits using SG3524 [Buck, Boost Designs]
Hello Swagatam,
I am also an electronic engineer, I want to control LED strip light.
But the brightness is not same through out the strip its brightness is low at the last end. Strip length is 5-10meter.
Please recommend me to achieve the same brightness.
Hello Sayyed, please provide detailed information about the strips, are these separate LED strips, or all the LEDs connected in one single strip, and are the LEDs and the resistors on the strip have same specifications or different??
I’m looking to make a LED device that can be used as photographic flash with a very short duration 0.1 ms or less (ns range would be really cool). I plan to use an arduino uno for the trigger circuit. Could the MBI6651 circuit above be use/modified for this purpose using an appropriate power supply? Thanks for any help you can provide.
If you have an easy access to this IC then definitely you can use it, although any simple LM317 CC/CV circuit would do the job as efficiently
Hello Swagatam, you have a really nice and informative blog there. Thanks for sharing all your learning with the world. It really help us a lot.
I need a little suggestion with constant current circuits. Could you please share the details of other such chips in the market which can take universal AC input and gives a constant current (adjustable) for various voltage requirements (Example : LC5226D). The availability of the components should be considered as finding such chips can be a really tedious job.
Thanks & regards,
SB.
Hello Subrata, thank you very much!
I don't think there are such ICs which might be commonly available in the market, because nowadays SMPS circuits have become an easy alternative for achieving the same, therefore all today depend on SMPS designs which are plentifully available in the market. I too have posted many SMPS design which could be easily built at home.
Regards.
Hi
Can you post a circuit which takes input from user and keeps the current constant as per input? Range is 1 micro amp to 15 micro amp. Volt 10 to 30.
svarbanu
In uamps it could be difficult….not sure.