Multiple and Shared Power Supply Issues
The following details information relating to the use of oversize power supplies, or shared power supplies with ILC-xx0 systems.
Case 1. Can I connect a larger (non Class 2) Power Supply Unit (PSU) with wattage >100 watts to one or more ILC-xx0 devices?
According to UL file (UL2108) that regulates low-voltage lighting and which Converging Systems falls under, the maximum power supply that can be used is a Class 2 power supply rated at around 100 watts--24v for our constant linear LEDs and up to 48v for alternative constant current LED fixtures that we support. Some Converging Systems dealers have opted to secure higher wattage supplies (250w to 400w), and then connect those non-Class 2 supplies in parallel to one or more ILC-xx0 devices. For safety they have placed an in-line 4A fuse on each wiring pair to each ILC-xx0 (which is a nice safety touch) but that scheme is not approved by UL for any Low-Voltage Lighting system components.
Warning. Utilizing higher wattage power supplies is not a procedure that Converging Systems' approves. Implementation of this type of design, is at the sole risk of the installing dealer.
Case 2. Can I connect a single Class 2 Power Supply Units (PSU) to more than one ILC-x00 controller?
According to UL file (UL2108) that regulates low-voltage lighting and which Converging Systems falls under, the maximum power supply that can be used is a Class 2 power supply which runs at approximately 100 watts (at 24v for constant linear LEDs and up to 48v for alternative constant current LED fixtures). In some cases, ILC-x00 controller are planned for an installation where their wattage load is quite low but where smaller granularity of control is desired. An example of this is where say 5 feet of LEDs are desired to be controlled from one ILC-xx0 controller (as one zone of control) while another 10 feet of LEDs are desired to be controlled from another ILC-xx0 (as another zone of control). Here since the total load of the two controllers is less than 100 watts, it is quite acceptable to run the power from the single 24v/96 watt power supply in parallel to multiple ILC-xx0 devices (without any additional fuse protection).
Case 3. Can I connect a single non-Class 2 Power Supply Unit (PSU) to a single ILC-x00 controller in order to stretch the number of feet of linears that I can drive per ILC-xx0 controller?
According to UL file (UL2108) that regulates low-voltage lighting and which Converging Systems falls under, the maximum power output of the ILC-xx0 has been set not to exceed 100 watts by the standard. If the load attached to an ILC-xx0 were to significantly exceed the Class 2 limit, certain components on the ILC-xx00 would fail even though the PSU might be able to support that greater load. Therefore, it is the best policy to keep with Class 2 power supplies so if the load being driven by the ILC-xx0 (intentionally or non-intentionally) were to exceed the Class 2 limit, the PSU would trip first with no damage to the ILC-xx0.
Case 4. Can I connect a two Class 2 (or for that matter two non-Class 2) Power Supply Unit (PSU) to a single ILC-x00 controller in order to stretch the number of feet of linears that I can drive per ILC-xx0 controller?
This is a dangerous scenario. Multiple power supplies connected in parallel can present a dangerous situation especially if they were not designed to operate in that manner. Again, as with Case 3 above, the maximum power output of the ILC-xx0 has been set not to exceed 100 watts by the standard. If the load attached to an ILC-xx0 were to significantly exceed the Class 2 limit, certain components on the ILC-xx0 would fail even though the PSU might be able to support that greater load. Therefore, it is the best policy to utilize a single Class 2 PSU so if the load being driven by the ILC-xx0 (intentionally or non-intentionally) were to exceed the Class 2 limit, the PSU would trip first with no damage to the ILC-xx0.