I wonder if I could get help with a problem we're having with LED light strips that I installed to replace four (4) dual fluorescent tube light fixtures in our Motor Coach/Recreational Vehicle (RV). The issue is that the water pump is spiking the 12 VDC (see attached O-Scope screenshots*) causing the LEDs to flicker. I curious if this problem can be mitigated at the lights by “active filtering” of the spikes, while raising the Vdc to the LED strips, using an active DC/DC Power Management technique such as a step-up (boost) switching regulator? I realize that I’m attacking the effect and not the cause (the water pump, nom. 8-10A draw). However the pump is not the only potential source of voltage variations in the RV (e.g. exhaust fans, chest refrigerator/freezer, etc.).
The input DC at the LED strips is not good (10.75v) and cannot get closer to 12 Vdc due to RV wiring/switches voltage drops. It is within the LED’s 9-12 Vdc input range. The LED strip pairs (2) have a combined current draw of 1.25A. I’m looking for an inexpensive (home brew) active power mgmt solution, something like the TI TPS40210. However, any selected device must operate with fundamental & harmonic frequencies outside the Amateur Radio spectrum allocations on HF, VHF &UHF. Also, the active device performance needs be fast and robust enough to mitigate the spikes shown in the attachments.
The forum’s ideas and suggestions would be appreciated as this whole field of semiconductor power management is new to me.
* Variations in waveforms are attributed to variations in water flow demand.
Nelson DiGennaro, WB8VUU
