[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":313},["ShallowReactive",2],{"page-\u002F001":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"date":302,"description":303,"extension":304,"keywords":305,"lang":305,"meta":306,"navigation":308,"path":309,"seo":310,"stem":311,"titile":305,"update":305,"__hash__":312},"blogs\u002F001.md","Can a flowing motor use an LED driver power supply?","Kevin",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":295},"minimark",[10,14,30,39,46,49,54,64,73,81,104,112,126,130,156,160,167,189,196,204,211,216,224,229,233,238,255,289],[11,12,5],"h1",{"id":13},"can-a-flowing-motor-use-an-led-driver-power-supply",[15,16,17,18,24,25,29],"p",{},"This is a very interesting and practical question! Indeed, in some specific scenarios, engineers choose to use an LED driver power supply to power small DC motors. As shown in the figure below:\n",[19,20],"img",{"alt":21,"src":22,"title":23},"Application scenarios of LED switching power supply with 895 motor","\u002Fimages\u002Fscenario\u002F001.jpg","Motor Power Supply","\nIn this scenario, the power supply chosen is an LED rainproof power supply. This is a real case. The customer has a grinder that uses an 895 motor, supports 12V and 24V DC input, with speeds of 6000\u002F12000 RPM. At a 12V operating voltage, it runs at 6000 RPM, and at 24V operating voltage, it runs at 12000 RPM. The customer is using a 24V operating voltage. Now this power supply is broken and needs to be replaced. Originally, a JT-400-24RPC rainproof power supply was used. There are some circuit changes in this power supply, and we are not sure if it can still drive this motor, so we tried it ourselves first, but it really didn't work. Finally, we found this power supply to try, as shown in the picture below:\n",[19,26],{"alt":27,"src":28,"title":27},"CC-300-24 LED Lightbox power supply","\u002Fimages\u002Fbox\u002FCC30024.png","\nAlthough this power supply is labeled as 300W, its actual performance is quite good.",[31,32,38],"iframe",{"src":33,"scrolling":34,"border":35,"frameBorder":34,"framespacing":36,"allowFullScreen":37},"\u002F\u002Fplayer.bilibili.com\u002Fplayer.html?bvid=BV1dudqBTEap&page=1","no",0,"0","true"," ",[15,40,41,42],{},"Simply put, ",[43,44,45],"strong",{},"the mainstream LED switching power supply has already become a constant voltage power supply, and DC motors require a stable voltage source. Using an LED switching power supply to power a motor is a \"feasible\" and even \"cost-effective\" option, especially suitable for small power motors with low requirements for speed control and little variation in load.",[15,47,48],{},"Below is a detailed breakdown of its reasons, advantages and disadvantages, and precautions:",[50,51,53],"h3",{"id":52},"why-can-this-be-done-reasons","Why can this be done? (Reasons)",[55,56,57],"ol",{},[58,59,60,63],"li",{},[43,61,62],{},"Cost and availability",":",[65,66,67,70],"ul",{},[58,68,69],{},"LED driver power supplies (especially switch-mode constant current types) have been mass-produced, drastically lowering costs. They come in various types and are easy to buy in the market.",[58,71,72],{},"Compared to DC regulated power supplies specifically designed for motors, LED drivers with the same power are often cheaper and more compact.",[55,74,76],{"start":75},2,[58,77,78,63],{},[43,79,80],{},"Similarity in power supply nature",[65,82,83,93],{},[58,84,85,88,89,92],{},[43,86,87],{},"Many low-power LED drivers are of the “constant voltage \u002F constant current (CV\u002FCC)” type",". When unloaded or lightly loaded, they operate in constant voltage mode, providing a stable output voltage (e.g., nominal 12V or 24V), which perfectly meets the basic requirement of DC motors for ",[43,90,91],{},"stable voltage",", as motor speed is proportional to voltage.",[58,94,95,96,99,100,103],{},"When the motor load increases and the current reaches the driver’s ",[43,97,98],{},"constant current point",", the power supply automatically switches to constant current mode, at which point the voltage drops to maintain a constant current. This acts as a ",[43,101,102],{},"natural overcurrent\u002Fstall protection",". Traditional voltage sources allow current to rise indefinitely during a stall, which can burn out the motor or power supply, whereas a constant current source limits the maximum current.",[55,105,107],{"start":106},3,[58,108,109,63],{},[43,110,111],{},"Suitable for specific working scenarios",[65,113,114,120],{},[58,115,116,119],{},[43,117,118],{},"Motors with relatively stable loads",": such as fans, small pumps, conveyor belts (with constant loads). The current of these devices doesn’t vary much during normal operation, and the motor mostly runs below the constant current point, with the power supply in constant voltage mode, working well.",[58,121,122,125],{},[43,123,124],{},"Situations with low requirements for low-speed torque",": The constant current characteristic causes the voltage to drop during heavy-load start-ups or sudden load changes, reducing motor speed. This is unsuitable for applications needing high starting torque or precise speed control, but acceptable for many simple uses.",[50,127,129],{"id":128},"advantages-of-doing-this","Advantages of Doing This",[65,131,132,138,144,150],{},[58,133,134,137],{},[43,135,136],{},"Low Cost",": As mentioned earlier, the most attractive point.",[58,139,140,143],{},[43,141,142],{},"Current Limiting Protection",": Prevents the motor from burning out immediately when stalled.",[58,145,146,149],{},[43,147,148],{},"Simplified Design",": No need to design additional complex overcurrent protection circuits.",[58,151,152,155],{},[43,153,154],{},"Easy to Implement Parallel Power Supply",": If you need to drive multiple small motors, you can directly take power in parallel from a sufficiently powerful LED driver, as long as the total current does not exceed the current limit.",[50,157,159],{"id":158},"major-disadvantages-and-risks-of-doing-this","Major Disadvantages and Risks of Doing This",[55,161,162],{},[58,163,164,63],{},[43,165,166],{},"Startup Issues (Highest Risk)",[65,168,169,172,179],{},[58,170,171],{},"The \"stall current\" of a DC motor at startup (when the rotor is not moving) is very high, usually 5-10 times the rated current.",[58,173,174,175,178],{},"An LED driver with insufficient design margin may enter protection mode (hiccup or shutdown) when faced with this huge startup current surge, causing the ",[43,176,177],{},"motor to fail to start",".",[58,180,181,184,185,188],{},[43,182,183],{},"Solution",": When choosing an LED driver, its ",[43,186,187],{},"constant current value (maximum output current) must be significantly higher than the motor's rated operating current"," (it is recommended to leave a 3-5 times margin) to ensure that the power supply does not enter continuous constant current protection at startup, the voltage can hold, and the motor can start smoothly.",[55,190,191],{"start":75},[58,192,193,63],{},[43,194,195],{},"Back-EMF Issue",[65,197,198],{},[58,199,200,201,178],{},"When the motor is running, it generates back electromotive force (equivalent to a generator). The LED driver circuit may not be designed to absorb this reverse energy, which can create voltage spikes during frequent start-stop or PWM speed control, ",[43,202,203],{},"damaging the LED driver power supply",[55,205,206],{"start":106},[58,207,208,63],{},[43,209,210],{},"Poor Dynamic Response",[65,212,213],{},[58,214,215],{},"The feedback loop of LED drivers is designed for slowly changing LEDs and responds very slowly to rapid changes in motor load. When the load suddenly increases, the voltage will drop and recover gradually, causing motor speed fluctuations.",[55,217,219],{"start":218},4,[58,220,221,63],{},[43,222,223],{},"Inconvenient Speed Control",[65,225,226],{},[58,227,228],{},"The most common way to control the speed of a DC motor is PWM (Pulse Width Modulation). However, applying a PWM signal directly to the motor terminal causes intermittent high currents that stress the LED driver. The best method is to use PWM to control the dimming input of the LED driver itself (if available), but this increases complexity.",[50,230,232],{"id":231},"conclusion-and-recommendations","Conclusion and Recommendations",[15,234,235],{},[43,236,237],{},"Yes, but with conditions.",[65,239,240,250],{},[58,241,242,245,246,249],{},[43,243,244],{},"Applicable scenarios",": DC motor applications that are ",[43,247,248],{},"low power (within tens of watts), with a stable load, and do not require high speed accuracy or dynamic response",". For example: small exhaust fans, display cabinet fans, small aquarium pumps, simple model setups, etc.",[58,251,252,63],{},[43,253,254],{},"How to choose an LED driver",[55,256,257,263,277,283],{},[58,258,259,262],{},[43,260,261],{},"Voltage matching",": The rated voltage should match the motor voltage (e.g., choose a 12V output for a 12V motor).",[58,264,265,268,269,272,273,276],{},[43,266,267],{},"Sufficient current margin",": The ",[43,270,271],{},"maximum output current (constant current point)"," of the driver should be at least ",[43,274,275],{},"three times the motor's rated current"," to ensure smooth startup.",[58,278,279,282],{},[43,280,281],{},"Prefer to choose the \"constant voltage\u002Fconstant current (CV\u002FCC)\" type",", and confirm its constant voltage operating range in the product datasheet.",[58,284,285,288],{},[43,286,287],{},"Sufficient power",": The total power (voltage × current) should be greater than the motor's rated power.",[15,290,291,294],{},[43,292,293],{},"If your application has requirements for motor startup performance, speed stability, or torque, or if the motor is relatively high power, be sure to use a DC regulated power supply or motor driver specifically designed for motors."," LED drivers are an \"economical and practical\" alternative and can be used in suitable low-cost projects as long as their limitations are clearly understood.",{"title":296,"searchDepth":75,"depth":75,"links":297},"",[298,299,300,301],{"id":52,"depth":106,"text":53},{"id":128,"depth":106,"text":129},{"id":158,"depth":106,"text":159},{"id":231,"depth":106,"text":232},"2026-04-01","This 300W 24V light box power supply is a carefully selected power supply that can drive an 895 DC motor.","md",null,{"style":307},"practical-guide",true,"\u002F001",{"title":5,"description":303},"001","6DvRA3FGNsemRP_2GVzAMMYZ7vtN60awdW7q0vram34",1780216618888]