Drivers and THD

gotta love Meanwell

always updating their datasheets with useful info

saw this new chart on a HLG-185 datasheet today


recall that conventional wisdom is to feed drivers higher AC voltage for better efficiency, but note that depending on driver load, we can have up to twice the distortion at higher input voltages.

What are the practical repercussions of distortion for our application? I know that in an HID application, distortion will affect luminosity and shorten bulb life, i wonder if diodes are affected in the same way?

The TDH affects the temperature of the driver in your light system. Output Ripple and Noise are driver specifications that your plants will notice, because Ripple and noise is added or subtracted from the driver output voltage and COB current.

The AC input voltage might be sinusoidal but the AC input current waveform is distorted (rectified) and has a much faster rise time than the voltage waveform. Increase the input line voltage and the Ac current distortion will increase along with driver temperature.