In our last Tech Talk, we covered the proper ways to bend LED Neon Flex. This week, we’re going to take a look at the difference between running a fixture at full load or dynamic load.
You will see these terms on our Vivid Pixel spec sheets. “Full load” and “dynamic load” refer to the current draw of the fixture. A dynamic load is when the LEDs in a fixture are all running at different capacities, but no more than one of them at a time is running at 100%. Full load, on the other hand, is when all LEDs are running at 100%. Typically, this happens when you need to have the fixture emit a white light.
The main difference between running a fixture at full load or dynamic load is the maximum run length. Running all the fixture’s channels at 100% at all times requires more power to avoid voltage drop, and therefore shortens the maximum length of fixture that can be safely powered. Another effect of running a fixture at full load is excess heat. With all channels at 100%, LEDs generate more heat. This can cause the lifespan of the LEDs to become shorter.
GLLS offers Vivid Pixel with 3 channels (R, G, B) or 4 channels (R, G, B, W). If your project’s primary requirement is extended periods of white, we recommend you use the RGBW. This way, only one channel is at 100% and the loading remains dynamic. That isn’t to say, however, that you can’t ever run your RGB fixture white. The important part is that it isn’t at full load for extended periods of time, such as if the primary function you wish the fixture to perform is static white. It is perfectly acceptable to create white on an RGB fixture within an animated sequence or on a short rotation.
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