Case Studies | Power Supplies
MEAN WELL: Smart LED power supplies for Human Centric Lighting (CCT) and dynamic RGBW lighting systems
Frank Stocker
Field Application Engineer (FAE) Power Supplies
26.03.2025
Light is far more than just illumination. Color, brightness, and contrast can influence well-being, create moods, and change the perception of spaces. Modern lighting systems deliberately use these possibilities, for example in workplaces, public buildings, or hotels. Accordingly, the requirements for lighting installations are high in order to fully realize their wide range of effects.
Figure 1: The SPWM series from MEAN WELL offers flexible control options for modern lighting systems. (Source: MEAN WELL)
What requirements must modern lighting systems meet?
Modern lighting systems have become an integral part of holistic space and workplace concepts and fulfill several functions: they must operate energy-efficiently, be flexibly controllable, and support human well-being. This involves not only functional illumination but also the deliberate design of lighting and spatial effects through dynamic color and accent lighting. Thanks to their high energy efficiency, long service life, and compact design, LEDs have become the first choice for modern lighting concepts. However, despite their high performance, they require specialized control to ensure reliable and efficient operation over the long term. This is where intelligent LED drivers and power supplies come into play. They provide constant voltage or current for one or multiple LEDs, ensuring stable and flicker-free lighting. As a result, they play a crucial role in the reliable operation of modern lighting installations.
How do LED drivers control different lighting concepts?
Intelligent LED drivers enable the targeted implementation of various lighting concepts, ranging from functional lighting to colored lighting scenes. In Human Centric Lighting (HCL), the light is adjusted several times throughout the day to match the natural daylight cycle, positively influencing mood and productivity. This is where the new multi-channel linear SPWM series from MEAN WELL comes into play. These powerful constant-voltage LED drivers are suitable for classic HCL applications and were specifically developed for demanding indoor and architectural lighting projects. Thanks to Tunable White technology, warm-white and cool-white LEDs can be controlled individually, allowing color temperature and brightness to be adjusted independently and continuously. Cool white light supports focused and productive office work, while warmer, yellowish light promotes relaxation. In addition, the switching power supplies are also used in accent, orientation, and effect lighting for colored lighting scenes with RGB or RGBW. With four independently controllable channels, red, green, blue, and white can be adjusted individually, enabling a wide range of creative possibilities. From subtle color accents to intense lighting atmospheres, almost unlimited color environments can be created.
What control and dimming functions do the SPWM series from MEAN WELL offer?
The SPWM series from MEAN WELL covers a wide range of requirements and is available in several versions:
- Single-channel versions with analog dimming (0/1–10 V)
- Single-channel DALI DT6 version
- Four-channel DALI DT8 version
The table shows the output configuration of the four-channel LED drivers depending on the DIP switch settings. Users can choose between monochrome, CCT, or RGBW applications. (Source: MEAN WELL)
In the four-channel versions, users can select between monochrome, CCT, or RGBW output via DIP switches. In addition to digital control through a DALI-2 interface, the DALI versions also support a Push-Dim function for manual control. A PWM output at 3.2 kHz ensures reliable, flicker-free dimming, with a minimum dimming level of just 0.1%. This makes the smart power supplies particularly suitable for demanding applications such as cinemas, where extremely low light levels are required.
Further technical features of the SPWM-series include:
- Power range: 75 W, 150 W, and 240 W
- Input voltage: 100–305 VAC (SPWM-75/150), 180–305 VAC (SPWM-240)
- Output voltage: 12 V, 24 V, or 48 V, depending on the model
- Efficiency: up to 94% efficiency and standby power consumption < 0.5 W, ideal for energy-efficient and low-maintenance installations
- Temperature range (tc): −20 °C to +80 °C (SPWM-150), −20 °C to +90 °C (SPWM-75/240)
- Lifetime: 100,000 hours at a maximum case temperature of 65 °C
- Design: enclosed plastic housing with double insulation, Class II design
- Protection functions: overload, short circuit, overvoltage, and overtemperature protection, as well as active PFC circuitry
- Certifications: EN 55015, EN 61347-1, and UL 8750
The comprehensive protection features and a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty underline the high reliability of these LED power supplies in professional lighting applications.
To what extent are LED drivers crucial for the future of modern lighting?
With the global focus on sustainable development, smart lighting has become a key factor for companies aiming to achieve carbon neutrality and increase efficiency. LED drivers support this goal through their high efficiency and low standby power consumption, helping to reduce overall energy usage. In addition, modern lighting systems must offer features such as system integration, interoperability, and multi-device connectivity. This is particularly important for larger installations where lighting scenes must be synchronized across multiple drivers. All luminaires must simultaneously reach their defined brightness, color temperature, or color values in order to create a harmonious overall lighting effect.
The SPWM series from MEAN WELL meets these requirements. Thanks to the wide range of controllable LED drivers and RGBW power supplies, monochrome functional lighting, Human Centric Lighting, and multicolor RGBW solutions can be flexibly combined and conveniently controlled via digital DALI interfaces. In addition, KNX and Matter versions will soon be available. The SPWM series operates efficiently, integrates easily into modern lighting systems, and offers precise control—creating a future-proof solution for sophisticated lighting concepts.
About us
As a power supply distributor we stock power supplies from various manufacturers such as MEAN WELL, Recom, Self Electronics and others. We keep around 8,000 different types of power supplies in stock in production-ready quantities at our automated central warehouse in Monheim am Rhein. As a reliable supplier we also offer fast and competent support, for example through direct contact persons and a field service for on-site problem solving. Our customers benefit from the rapid processing of their enquiries, the provision of data sheets and samples, and different delivery quantities from samples to series production.
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