SDG #111 RGB LED Tape Driver with PCBs from JLCPCB - Lighting Controller Project Part 9

Part 9 of the lighting controller series shifts from the control side to the output side, with a dedicated RGB LED tape driver board built on newly fabricated prototype PCBs. The goal is a module that can take PWM signals from the main controller and switch high current 12V or 24V analogue RGB tape cleanly, without the flicker, overheating or channel crosstalk common to cheap off the shelf strip controllers.

The build explains the reasoning behind the design choices rather than only the assembly: low side N channel MOSFET switching per colour channel, gate drive considerations so that the devices turn on and off fast enough to keep dissipation low at higher PWM frequencies, and layout decisions such as wide current paths, sensible connector placement and keeping switching noise away from the logic side. Because the board is one piece of a modular system, the interface between this driver and the rest of the controller matters as much as the power stage itself.

Assembly is done at the bench with a temperature controlled iron and microscope work for the smaller passives, which is a good illustration of how a fairly simple driver board still benefits from proper tooling and inspection. Once populated, the board is powered up and driven to confirm that each channel responds correctly and that the MOSFETs stay cool under realistic load.

For anyone planning their own LED lighting project, the useful conclusion is that a custom driver board is inexpensive to fabricate and gives control over PWM behaviour, current capacity and mechanical fit that a generic module cannot match.