Mean Well CLG-60-12 LED Power Supply - Load Test & Output Ripple Investigation - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: metalphreak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2013, 02:42:54 pm
content: So I have a couple of these Mean Well CLG-60-12 power supplies. Decided to finally get around to installing some white LED strip lighting around my workbench. My plan is to make a little PCB with some Molex Mini-fit Jr plugs on them, mount it in a box, and then plug this supply into it. Then I can mount it all up under my desk and connect various sections of LED strip with switches/PWM control PCBs.Specsheet:http://www.meanwell.com/search/clg-60/CLG-60-spec.pdfIt's a 12V 5A supply. I have no idea what the datasheet means by "fixed. can be modified between 3% ~ -25% rated output current" for the constant current. There is no accessible pot like some of bigger CLG series supplies. As you'll see at the end of the video, it's entirely potted.What piqued my interest, was the Ripple & Noise value of 2Vp-p. Doesn't sound like a very well regulated supply, but then again, the datasheet says it is suitable for LED lighting and moving signs with a reference to note 2, which is all about the ripple and noise. Connected to some LED strip lighting, I didn't notice any pulsing or strobing, so it works fine for its intended application.Loaded it up, and had a look at the output waveform on my shiny new Rigol DS1074Z-S scope (so much better than the old DS1052E!). Turns out the datasheet is pretty accurate. Waveform is interesting at low loads, looks like a switcher. At the full 5A though, there is 1.8V p-p of 100hz sine wave ripple.IP67 rating is awesome, I'm going to use a second one to put some LED lighting in the covered area outside.

author: nowlan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2013, 03:16:06 pm
content: I have some ELN-60-48p constant current power supplies.I was using them to light my fish tank using cree leds.The cover says 1.3 amp, which is adjustable via pot on pcb.ELN-60-48P (60watt 48v pwm dimming)Internals.UndersideI also have a LPC-35w-700 that I used to drive the blue leds at 700ma.It is fully potted, and no screws to open.I have another ELN-60-48 (non dimming) but cant find it at the moment, to compare differences.I dont understand how yours can be 12v 5amp. Is it 12v regulated upto 5 amp?Because I was under the impression these leds were constant current.So should be getting 5amps cooking them.

author: metalphreak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2013, 03:40:38 pm
content: Yeah that's the part I didn't really get. It outputs 12V constant voltage, but if you try to pull more than 5A, it drops the voltage to regulate the current.I have a CLG-150-36A here, and it has two rubber bungs covering up access to two pots, one for adjusting max current, and one for adjusting max voltage. Some of the others (PLN series) have adjustment pots on the inside. I was a bit surprised opening it and finding it completely potted.Maybe they meant you can custom order the CLG-60-12 to whatever current limit you want from the factory?It works fine for this application, because the LED strip is designed for 12V with inbuilt current limiting resistors.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2013, 03:51:00 pm
content: The CLG and HLG PSUs are in general very good, and are fully potted so good for heat transfer in non fan-cooled indoor apps and outdoor use. I've used quite a few of them in various, mostly outdoor installations.They come in a few flavours, specified by the suffix (A to D and blank I think, depending on model) , including no adjust ( no suffix), internal pots, and adjust via extra cores in the output cable. Note the IP ratings are different- anything with internal adjustments has a lower IP rating.HOWEVER, The CLG60 (and only this model) has a terrible ripple spec (and performance) - this is explicitly pointed out in some later datasheets. Fine for simple LED lighting, but can cause issues with other applications, and also lighting where PWM is used, which can cause beat effects.my guess is they found that they couldn't fit a big enough reservoir cap after they'd tooled the case.The only other thing to watch on the higher power models is the actual current rating - the figure in the model number is NOT necessarily the output wattage, especially at the lower voltages.Mean Well PSUs are also subject to fake copies, so buy from a reputable source.