This is one of the miniature LED lamps that was originally intended as an LED alternative to quartz capsule lamps, but has since found it's way into other bases like the SES one in this video.
The whole thing is potted in silicone to insulate it and help dissipate the heat from the 64 LEDs. The power rating is a surprising 3W for such a small package and it does meter out at 3W.
The circuit layout is minimalist due to the lack of space, with the most notable featured being the two 330nF SMD caps in parallel and the very symmetrical arrangement of the diodes and inrush limiting resistors.
The LEDs are wired as two series circuits of 32 LEDs and a resistor, both wired in parallel across the minimalist capacitive dropper and rectifier.
The whole thing is potted in silicone to insulate it and help dissipate the heat from the 64 LEDs. The power rating is a surprising 3W for such a small package and it does meter out at 3W.
The circuit layout is minimalist due to the lack of space, with the most notable featured being the two 330nF SMD caps in parallel and the very symmetrical arrangement of the diodes and inrush limiting resistors.
The LEDs are wired as two series circuits of 32 LEDs and a resistor, both wired in parallel across the minimalist capacitive dropper and rectifier.
i have 1 of those and it was blowing leds while toasting them with a resirtive dropper.
The question is,…… Did it?
Well that ended suddenly and without a satisfying bang!
It almost looks like the same stuff they use in those silicone caulking guns. A closer look at how the boards are made to cross might have been cool too. Btw, the video stopped prematurely.. 😮 help!
One of my favorite Big Clive phrases: Let's take it to bits!
All this trying to cram imperfect ballasts into tiny housings makes me wonder if there needs to be more externally ballasted lamp options … Especially if power companies start penalising poor power factors.
I think that bulb was producing some electrical noise. When you put it near your camera's microphone I heard a distinct electrical buzz, I could also hear a very fain buzz when you were doing the finger test with the bulb and before you unscrewed it from the socket.
It suddenly stopped
Was terrified you were going to slice yourself to ribbons with that cutter. Great video Clive!
Potting gel is likely Sylgard 184
The texture of that silicone reminds me of those small "super bounce" balls you find in the quarter machines here in the states. I remember it crumbling apart like that.
These things flicker like hell due to the absence of a smoothing capacitor. I find it so uncomfortable that I cannot use them. I've tried several from ebay but they all flicker. I assume they ditch the smoothing capacitor due to the space restrictions. Would be interested if you've come across a standard size G9 LED replacement for halogen capsules which does not have this problem.
I have some g9 leds I bought, and the US supplier sent me 230v bulbs, despite the listing only saying 120v. they total 104 LEDs, two sets of 52. Each set of 52 has a 100ohm resistor on it, and both are connected to the same 330nfx2 capacitive dropper and diode bridge. As I live in the US, is there a way to make them work on 120v? They currently draw about 1 watt, and the listing rated them at (a rather suspicious) 9 watts. Any ideas?
Should have done a bounce test. I bet they do.
Hi Clive, i have these bulbs with G9 base and noticed they still glow when off no matter how long . I assume it is drawing power somehow. The switch for it is not illuminated so can't be b that. I have notice is draws 14v AC and when multi-meter is set to DC or continuity setting on the positive and neutral at the back of the light the led glows is no-more. Do you know what is happening and what can i do so it doesn't glow?