LED Driver for High-Power and Mounted LEDs

Overview
Specs
Front & Back Panel
Display
Pin Diagrams
Software
Shipping List
Current vs. Voltage
Feedback
Solis LED Drivers

Key Specifications
Item #		DC2200
LED Terminal		LED1	LED2
LED Current / Max LED Forward Voltage^a		1.0 A / 50.0 V 2.0 A / 35.0 V 4.0 A / 15.0 V 5.0 A / 10.0 V 10.0 A / 5.0 V	1.5 A / 50.0 V 2.0 A / 35.0 V
LED Current Accuracy	0.0 - 2.0 A	-	±(0.1% + 1 mA)
	0.0 - 4.0 A	±(0.1% + 2 mA)	-
	4.0 - 10.0 A	±(0.1% + 4 mA)	-
LED Current Resolution		0.1 mA
Internal Modulation	Waveforms	Sine, Square, Triangle
Internal Modulation	Frequency Range	20 Hz to 100 kHz
External Modulation Small Signal Bandwidth^b		DC - 250 kHz

For drive currents up to 1 A, the DC2200 is guaranteed to support a maximum voltage of 50 V; for drive currents up to 2 A, the DC2200 is guaranteed to support a maximum voltage of 35 V; etc. For more information on how to interpret this specification, see the Current vs. Voltage tab.
Small Signal Bandwidth: Sine wave modulation not exceeding 20% of full scale current. The driver accepts other waveforms, but the maximum frquency will be reduced.

LED Controller Selection Guide
Type	Max Number of LEDs	Max Current	Modulation Mode	USB	Compatible LEDs
Compact T-Cube™ Driver	1	1.2 A	0 - 5 kHz	No	Mounted Collimated Fiber Coupled PCB Mounted^a
4-Channel Driver	4	1 A	0 - 100 kHz	Yes	Mounted Collimated Fiber Coupled PCB Mounted^a
Solis^® LED Driver	1	10 A	0 - 1 kHz	No	High Power
High-Power Touchscreen Driver	1	10.0 A	0 - 250 kHz	Yes	High Power Mounted Collimated Fiber Coupled PCB Mounted^a

Requires the CAB-LEDD1 cable.

Features

Two LED Connection Terminals Support Many of Thorlabs' LEDs
- LED1 Terminal for Solis^® High-Power LEDs
- LED2 Terminal for Mounted, Collimated, and Fiber-Coupled LEDs
- MCPCB-Mounted LEDs Compatible with LED2 Terminal Using the Included CAB-LEDD1B Cable (Details Provided on Pin Diagrams Tab)
Operating Modes for Constant Current and Brightness
Internal Pulse Mode
- Adjustable Frequency, Duty Cycle, and Pulse Count
- Sine, Square, or Triangle Waveforms
External Trigger and Modulation Control
Reads Data Stored in the LED EEPROM
Remote Control via USB Interface
Interlock Circuit Accessible on Back of Housing for Use with User Provided Emergency Switch

The DC2200 LED Driver is designed to power many of Thorlabs' LEDs, including the Solis High-Power LEDs for Microscopy, Thorlabs' Mounted LEDs, and Thorlabs' Fiber Coupled LEDs. The driver can provide a maximum LED current of up to 10 A and maximum forward voltage of up to 50 V. A list of current / forward voltage combinations outlined in the table to the right.

The back panel includes two LED connection terminals for compatibility with all of Thorlabs' high-power and mounted LEDs. The LED1 terminal is a female 12-pin Neutrik MiniCON connector that accommodates high-power LEDs that require drive currents up to 10 A. The LED2 terminal has a female 4-pin M8x1 connector designed for lower-power LEDs that require drive currents of ≤2 A. The two inputs are visible in the back view of the driver housing shown above. LED compatibility information is provided in the LED Options table below. While two LEDs can be connected to the driver, only one LED can be driven at a time. For cases where two LEDs are connected simultaneously, the front panel of the driver can be used to select which LED recieves the drive current.

The driver can either be controlled locally via the device front panel, as shown in the screenshot above, or from a PC using the USB 2.0 port on the back of the device and the included software package (see the Software tab). The main menu of the front panel's touch screen display allows the user to select between operating the LED in constant current mode or brightness mode, internally or externally pulsed modes, and TTL modulation. In addition to reading data stored in the EEPROM memory of LEDs with this feature, the driver can also initiate a test procedure to measure the LED forward voltage, from which it can determine the maximum current limit. More information on the operating modes can be found on the Display tab.

In addition to the USB 2.0 port and LED connection terminals, the back of the housing includes an SMA input for the external modulation signals, an interlock circuit that can be connected to a user-supplied emergency off switch, and grounded jack that can be used with ESD protection equipment. See the Front & Back Panel tab for a diagram of the back of the housing.

Each DC2200 includes two auxiliary cables for connecting custom LEDs for the driver. One cable has a male 12-pin Neutrik MiniCON connector that is compatible with the LED1 terminal. The second cable (Item # CAB-LEDD1) has a male M8x1 connector compatible with the LED2 terminal. Additional CAB-LEDD1 cables are available for purchase separately below.

The DC2200 electronics are contained in a compact 112.0 mm x 85.0 mm x 190.3 mm (4.41" x 3.35" x 7.49") housing which rests on four rubber feet. Each unit includes a universal (100 - 240 V) power supply with a location-specific power cord.

Compatible Thorlabs LEDs
Photo (Click for Link)
LED Description	High Power	Collimated	Mounted	Fiber Coupled	PCB Mounted^a
DC2200 Terminal	LED1	LED2	LED2	LED2	LED2^a

Requires the CAB-LEDD1 cable, included with the DC2200. Additional CAB-LEDD1 cables are available below.

Specifications
LED Terminal		LED1	LED2
Constant Current Mode
LED Current / Max LED Forward Voltage		1.0 A / 50.0 V 2.0 A / 35.0 V 4.0 A / 15.0 V 5.0 A / 10.0 V 10.0 A / 5.0 V	1.5 A / 50.0 V 2.0 A / 35.0 V
Setting and Measurement Resolution		0.1 mA
Accuracy	Current Range: 0.0 to 2.0 A	-	±(0.1% + 1 mA)
	Current Range: 0.0 to 4.0 A	±(0.1% + 2 mA)	-
	Current Range: 4.0 to 10.0 A	±(0.1% + 4 mA)	-
Noise and Ripple (1 Hz to 10 MHz, RMS, Typical)	Current Range: 0.0 to 2.0 A	-	<110 µA
	Current Range: 0.0 to 4.0 A	<100 µA	-
	Current Range: 4.0 to 10.0 A	<200 µA	-
Current Limit
Setting Resolution	Current Range: 0.0 to 2.0 A	-	0.1 mA
	Current Range: 0.0 to 4.0 A	0.1 mA	-
	Current Range: 4.0 to 10.0 A	0.1 mA	-
Accuracy	Current Range: 0.0 to 2.0 A	-	±(0.12% + 1.6 mA)
	Current Range: 0.0 to 4.0 A	±(0.12% + 3 mA)	-
	Current Range: 4.0 to 10.0 A	±(0.12% + 6 mA)	-
Measurement
LED Current Resolution (Display)		0.1 mA
LED Current Accuracy	Current Range: 0.0 to 2.0 A	-	±(0.1% + 1 mA)
	Current Range: 0.0 to 4.0 A	±(0.1% + 2 mA)	-
	Current Range: 4.0 to 10.0 A	±(0.1% + 4 mA)	-
LED Voltage Resolution^a		1 mV
LED Voltage Accuracy^a		±(0.5% + 100 mV)
PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) Mode
Frequency		0.1 Hz to 20 kHz
Duty Cycle		0.1% to 99.9%
Counts		1 to 1000 or Infinite
Pulse Mode
On Time		1 µs to 10 s
Off Time		1 µs to 10 s
Counts		1 to 1000 or Infinite
Internal Modulation Mode
Waveforms		Sine, Square, Triangle
Modulation Frequency Range		20 Hz to 100 kHz
External Modulation Mode
Input Impedance		10 kΩ
Max Input Voltage		5.0 V
Small Signal Bandwidth (Sine)^b		DC - 250 kHz
Modulation Coefficient	Current Range: 0.0 to 2.0 A	-	400 mA / V
	Current Range: 0.0 to 4.0 A	800 mA / V	-
	Current Range: 4.0 to 10.0 A	2000 mA / V	-
TTL Modulation Mode
Input Impedance		10 kΩ
TTL Modulation Bandwidth^c		DC to ≥18 kHz
Low Voltage		0.0 to 0.8 V
High Voltage		2.0 to 5.0 V
SMA Connector
External Modulation Input	Input Impedance	10 kΩ
External Modulation Input	Max Input Voltage	5.0 V (Analog) / TTL Level
Internal Monitor Output	Min Load Impedance	50 Ω
Internal Monitor Output	Output Voltage Level	TTL Level
General
Operating Temperature Range^d		0 to 40 °C
Storage Temperature Range^d		-40 to 70 °C
Warm-Up Time for Rated Accuracy		<10 Minutes
Dimensions (W x H x D) with Operating Elements		112.0 mm x 85.0 mm x 190.3 mm (4.41" x 3.35" x 7.49")
Weight		0.9 kg

Two-wire measurement. Note that the current provided to the LED also causes a voltage drop across the LED cable.
Small Signal Bandwidth: Modulation not exceeding 20% of full scale current. The driver accepts other waveforms, but the maximum frequency will be reduced.
Given for an output current at "High" TTL level not exceeding 10% of the selected current range limit.
Non-condensing.

All technical data are valid at 23 ± 5 °C and 45 ± 15% relative humidity (non-condensing).

DC2200 Front Panel

Click to Enlarge

Callout	Description
1	LED On / Off Button
2	Main Menu
3	Status Bar
4	Device Information Button
5	System Settings Button

DC2200 Back Panel

Click to Enlarge

Callout	Description
1	LED1 Terminal for High-Power LEDs
2	LED2 Terminal for Standard LEDs
3	Interlock Connector
4	SMA Connector for External Modulation Input or Monitoring Internal Modulation
5	USB 2.0 Interface
6	DC Supply Input
7	Power-On Switch
8	Ground Jack
9	Ventilation Slots

The DC2200 LED Driver's interface consists of a flat menu hierarchy that makes it easy to find parameters to adjust. The screenshots below provide examples of the main functions supported by the driver, including constant current, brightness, and modulation operating modes.

Main Menu

The main menu includes buttons to access all of the driver's main functions. For LEDs with EEPROM internal data, the LED settings button will display the saved LED information.

LED Settings

LED Settings
This panel displays information saved in the LEDs EEPROM memory. If an LED with no EEPROM memory is connected to the driver, the driver will automatically initiate a test procedure to measure the LED forward voltage, from which it can determine the maximum current limit. LED Name and Serial Number will be set to "Custom", while the LED Color will display N/A. The User Current Limit is set manually by the user.

The "Test Head" button can be used to check the operating parameters of the connected LED; tapping it triggers the driver to read the EEPROM memory, or begin the test procedure if no EEPROM is available. The "Meas" button opens a screen that shows measured LED data including current, voltage, LED temperature (if the LED has a temperature sensor), and console temperature (more information provided below).

Constant Current Mode

Constant Current Mode
This panel allows the LED to be driven at a user-set constant current. The current limit can be either the value recorded in the LEDs EEPROM memory or a lower user-set value. Values can be adjusted by clicking the edit button. The right sidebar will show a plus sign, minus sign, and two arrows, as shown in the brightness mode screnshot to the right. Use the arrows to shift the cursor underneath the digit to be edited and use the plus or minus sign to change the value. Pressing Done saves the changes and returns to the previous menu.

Extra care should be taken by the user to properly adjust the user-set current limit for LEDs that do not have an EEPROM with current limit information. If no user current limit is set in this case, the driver will measure the LED forward voltage and use this determine the maximum drive current that it can support.

Brightness Mode

Brightness Mode
This panel allows the LED to be operated at a user-set brightness from 0 to 100%. The LED is driven with a constant current equal to this fraction of the current limit. 100% brightness corresponds to either the current limit recorded in the LEDs EEPROM memory or a lower user-set current limit. The screenshot above shows the window as it appears when the LED brightness setting is being edited. Use the arrows on the right sidebar to shift the cursor underneath the digit to be edited and use the plus or minus sign to change the value. Pressing Done saves the changes and returns to the previous menu.

Extra care should be taken by the user to properly adjust the user-set current limit for LEDs that do not have an EEPROM with current limit information. If no user current limit is set in this case, the driver will measure the LED forward voltage and use this determine the maximum drive current that it can support.

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Mode

Pulse-Width Mode
This mode generates a train of rectangular pulses to modulate the current supplied to the LED. The driver current when the LED is switched "ON", frequency, duty cycle, and pulse count are all user selectable. Click here for a plot that illustrates how the duty cycle is calculated for a square pulse.

Pulse Mode

Pulse Mode
This mode operates using rectangular pulses to modulate the drive current, but allows the user to set the LED parameters in a different way. The pulse characteristics are controlled by a user-selected LED Brightness, ON Time, OFF Time, and Pulse Count.

Internal Modulation Mode

Internal Modulation
For applications requiring more than simply switching the LED on and off, this mode allows the LED current to be modulated using either a sine, square, or triangle waveform. Both the minimum and maximum LED currents can be set. Modulation frequencies from 20 Hz to 100 kHz are supported in this mode.

External Modulation Mode

For more demanding applications, an external modulation signal can be applied via the SMA connector on the rear panel of the driver, which accepts input from 0 to 5 V. This terminal supports modulation of the LED current up to 250 kHz for a sine wave modulation that does not exceed 20% of the full current scale. Other waveforms can also be used, although the maximum modulation frequency will be reduced.

TTL Modulation

TTL Modulation
This mode allows simple ON/OFF modulation of the LED to be integrated with signals from other equipment in the lab via the SMA connector on the rear panel of the DC2200. The LED Current, suplied when the TTL signal is "High", can be set by the user. The Low Voltage, High Voltage, and Input Impedance are displayed for reference, but cannot be edited.

System Settings

The System Settings menu can be accessed via the green "SYST" button on the lower right of the Main Menu screen. The menu allows display and audio settings to be adjusted and units to be set. The "more..." button leads to additional settings that include firmware updates to be performed (see the Software tab) and the LED Safety Mode, which prevents users from exiting an LED operation panel while the LED is on, to be disabled or enabled.

DC2200 Pin Diagrams

LED1 Terminal
12 Pin Neutrik MiniCON Female Connector

LED2 Terminal Connector

Pin	Connection	Pin	Connection
1	LED Cathode	7	LED Anode
2	LED Cathode	8	LED Cathode
3	Not Used	9	LED Cathode
4	LED Anode	10	Not Used
5	LED Anode	11	EEPROM (Data) I/O
6	LED Anode	12	EEPROM (Data) Ground

LED2 Terminal
M8x1 Female Connector

PINout details for LED connector

Pin	Description
1	LED Anode
2	LED Cathode
3	EEPROM GND
4	EEPROM I/O

External Trigger
SMA Female

SMA Female

0 to 5 V, 0 to 250 kHz External Modulation
(See Specs Tab for Details)

Computer Connection
USB Mini-B*

USB Type B

*USB type A to mini-B cable included.

Auxiliary Cable for LED1 Terminal

A custom high-power LED that draws up to 10 A of current can be connected to the LED1 Terminal using the CAB-DC2200 cable, which is included with the DC2200. When wiring the cable to a custom LED, all four cathode wires should be attached to the LED Cathode and all four anode wires should be attached to the LED anode in order to take advantage of the driver's maximum supported current of 10.0 A.

Auxiliary Cable Pin Out
12 Pin Neutrik MiniCON Male Connector

Pin	Wire Color	Description
1	Green	LED Cathode
2	Yellow	LED Cathode
3	Gray	6 V - 13 V for Fan Power Supply
4	Orange	LED Anode
5	Blue	LED Anode
6	Red	LED Anode
7	Black	LED Anode
8	White	LED Cathode
9	Brown	LED Cathode
10	Violet	Ground for Fan Power Supply
11	White and Black Striped	DO NOT CONNECT
12	White and Brown Striped	DO NOT CONNECT

Note: Do not connect anything to the bi-colored wires (White/Black and White/Brown), as this can damage the DC2200 LED Driver.

Auxiliary Cable for LED2 Terminal

A custom LED that draws up to 2 A of current can be connected to the LED2 Terminal using the CAB-LEDD1B cable.

CAB-LEDD1 Cable Pin Out
M8x1 Male Connector

Pin	Wire Color	Description
1	Brown	LED Anode
2	White	LED Cathode
3	Black	DO NOT CONNECT
4	Blue	DO NOT CONNECT

Note: Do not connect anything to the black and blue wires, as this can damage the DC2200 LED Driver.

Software for the DC2200 Driver

The available software can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.

Software

Software Version 1.6 (September 28, 2020)
Firmware Version 1.3.0 (August 26, 2020)

GUI software, firmware, and firmware upgrade wizard downloads for the DC2200.

The following items are included in the DC2200 package:

DC2200 LED Current Controller
Power Supply for 100 - 240 VAC / 48 V, 2.08 A DC
Cable for Connecting a Custom LED to the LED1 Terminal
Cable for Connecting a Custom LED to the LED2 Terminal (Item # CAB-LEDD1)
USB 2.0 Cable
CA2806 SMA to BNC Cable
Quick Start Manual

LED Terminal	LED1	LED2
LED Current / Max LED Forward Voltage^a	1.0 A / 50.0 V 2.0 A / 35.0 V 4.0 A / 15.0 V 5.0 A / 10.0 V 10.0 A / 5.0 V	1.5 A / 50.0 V 2.0 A / 35.0 V

Determining LED Compatibility: LED Current and Max LED Forward Voltage

LED drivers are current sources, meaning that they supply a user-set current at the specified forward voltage of the LED being driven. In addition to a maximum current, these drivers also have a corresponding maximum voltage that they are capable of supporting, so both specifications must be taken into account when determining driver compatibility with a given LED.

The DC2200 is designed to use one of five current ranges for LEDs connected to terminal LED1 or one of two current ranges for LEDs connected to terminal LED2 in order to maximize the forward voltage available for driving the LED. Preset current ranges and the associated maximum available forward voltage are given in the table to the right. When determining LED compatibility, the LED Current / Max LED Forward Voltage can be interpreted as follows:

1.0 A / 50.0 V means that LEDs driven with a current below 1.0 A should have a specified forward voltage of 50.0 V or less.
2.0 A / 35.0 V means that LEDs driven with a current above 1.0 A and no greater than 2.0 A should have a specified forward voltage of 35.0 V or less.
4.0 V / 15.0 V means that LEDs driven with a current above 2.0 A and no greater than 4.0 A should have a specified forward voltage of 15.0 V or less.

and so on. Therefore, LED compatibility should be determined by choosing the smallest LED Current value that is larger than the LED operating current and comparing the corresponding Max Forward Voltage value to that specified for the LED. LEDs with a forward voltage smaller than the stated maximum voltage for the drive current are compatible.

Example 1 - Compatible LED: An LED with a connector compatible with the LED1 terminal is going to be driven with a forward voltage of 8 A and has a forward voltage of 4.8 V. Therefore, the 10.0 A current rating for the DC2200 driver should be used to determine compatibility. The corresponding Max LED Forward Voltage for the DC2200 is 5.0 V, so an LED driven at 8 A with a forward voltage of 4.8 V is compatible.

Example 2 - Incompatible LED: An LED with a connector compatible with the LED1 terminal is going to be driven with a forward voltage of 4.2 A and has a forward voltage of 11 V. Therefore, the 5.0 A current rating for the DC2200 driver should be used to determine compatibility. The corresponding Max LED Forward Voltage for the DC2200 is 10.0 V, so an LED driven at 4.2 A with a forward voltage of 11 V is incompatible.

Driver Design: Setting the Current / Forward Voltage Specification

In actuality, the maximum possible forward voltage will scale inversely with the amount of current supplied by the driver: higher currents result in lower maximum forward voltage values that the driver can support before being damaged. The specified LED Current / Max Forward Voltage pairs are set so that the driver can support at least the specified forward voltage at the upper limit of the current range. The three graphs below provide examples of the actual measured maximum voltage provided by a DC2200 driver for three of the preset current ranges on the LED1 terminal: 2 A, 4 A, and 10 A. The exact performance will show some variation between drivers, but will always be within the specifications stated above.

Click to Enlarge
The relationship between the supplied current and max forward voltage for a sample DC2200 that is set for the 0 to 2 A range. This plot is provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be used to determine LED compatibility, as performance will vary from unit to unit within the stated specifications.

Click to Enlarge
The relationship between the supplied current and max forward voltage for a sample DC2200 that is set for the 0 to 4 A range. This plot is provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be used to determine LED compatibility, as performance will vary from unit to unit within the stated specifications.

Click to Enlarge
The relationship between the supplied current and max forward voltage for a sample DC2200 that is set for the 0 to 10 A range. This plot is provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be used to determine LED compatibility, as performance will vary from unit to unit within the stated specifications.

Posted Comments:

Selimen BENAHMED (posted 2020-10-13 15:12:21.837)

Hello I got a DC2200 power supply loaned. I want to test it for my application. I connect an output load of 8.7 ohm and check that I can generate 1A on my loads (pulse mode or PWm mode). My problem is that the max forward voltage is reached for a current value lower than 300mA. Is there a procedure to allow this Limit voltage to be changed (forward Voltage). I studied your manuals but it is not explained I searched in the different parameters of the current driver and I did not find anything Kind regards

MKiess (posted 2020-10-15 10:49:28.0)

Dear Selimen, thank you very much for your inquiry. I have contacted you directly to discuss the details with you.

Simon Walker (posted 2020-09-29 05:06:06.127)

Can the DC2200 operate so that it receives a 5V ttl pulse (from an attached high-speed camera), but the duration of the output pulse to the LED is independent from the duration of the input ttl pulse. In my case, I want the camera to have a long exposure (1/frame rate) while running at ~4kHz, but for the LED to only turn on for 5us in each exposure. Looking at the manual online, it appears this functionality isn't available but I wanted to check. Thanks

MKiess (posted 2020-09-29 09:52:35.0)

Dear Simon, thank you very much for your inquiry. When the DC2200 is operated in TTL modulation mode, it works with standard TTL level signals. This means that for TTL high level the LED is on and for TTL low level the LED is off. So it is not possible to control the LED independent of the TTL pulse by using the modulation input with a TTL signal. In order to discuss the possibilities to realize this with the DC2200 and your camera, I contacted you directly.

Luis Baute (posted 2020-04-07 10:02:40.94)

DC2200 when used in PWM mode, it feedbacks with an error, would you mind helping solve this please Thanks

nreusch (posted 2020-04-07 11:17:08.0)

This is a response from Nicola at Thorlabs. The additional information you provided via email indicate that this is most likely a software issue. I will contact you directly to discuss possible solutions.

Lee Aspitarte (posted 2019-12-09 21:00:04.45)

Hi, I am attempting to switch a M590F3 LED with a DC2200 driver with a TTL signal. I am noticing that there is a decay of the LED brightness when switching on the order of a few milliseconds. i.e. I still register a small signal when acquiring with my spectrometer (for 5 ms) a few ms after sending the TTL low signal, while the following acquisition ~10ms is totally dark. I am switching between 0 and 12 mA. This does not make sense to me with the cited modulation rates of ~100kHz which I take to mean the LED should be off ~10 microseconds after the TTL low pulse. It's possible that what is going on is something else within my setup but I want to confirm that the LED turning off ~10us after the off TTL pulse is the expected behavior. Is there anything I can do with the DC2200 to make the LED turn off faster? I notice that the 'dark' state of the LED in TTL mode corresponds to ~1V forward bias, which I assume is to reduce the turn on time.

dpossin (posted 2019-12-12 08:29:35.0)

Hello Lee Thank you for your feedback. In TTL mode the modulation frequency of the DC2200 is limited to 18kHz which corresponds to ~ 0.05ms. The instrument is only able to provide modulation frequencies up to 100kHz for analog modulation. The Low and High TTL level can be adjusted in the TTL Modulation Mode menu of the DC2200 (see in the manual page 19 for further information). The maximum possible modulation frequency also depends on the fall and rise time of the diode itself and can be even lower than 18kHz.

Paul Alvarez (posted 2019-07-24 21:07:51.853)

Recently bought DC2200 and installed the software as mentioned but the remote connection is not working.

MKiess (posted 2019-07-29 08:31:01.0)

This is a response from Michael at Thorlabs. Thank you for your inquiry. You seem to have the same issue as described in Tommy Ringuette's feedback. I have contacted you directly for further assistance.

Bruno Bernardo Alfonso (posted 2019-07-15 16:24:41.81)

Just wanted to write because of a bug that is probably in the newest driver version. I have bought the dc2200 driver and installed the newest software version and when I try to connect it to my computer and click to the "Connect" green button, TMC-ID starts flashing and it doesn't connect. I talked to one of your agents and told me it is a bug and you are already working on it. Hope it works soon! Please, I really need the software! Thanks a lot!

MKiess (posted 2019-07-29 08:38:37.0)

This is a response from Michael at Thorlabs. Thank you so much for contacting Thorlabs. If the LED is not connected or not connected correctly, the device will not be switched to the remote state. Please check the LED connection at the controller. I contacted you directly to continue our discussion.

Tommy Ringuette (posted 2019-07-03 11:31:50.497)

Hi, I updated the firmware of our DC2200 to 1.2.0 and the remote control stop working. When I try to connect, the screen the button “local” flash once and then TMC-ID flash a few times.

MKiess (posted 2019-07-09 05:08:13.0)

This is a response from Michael at Thorlabs. Thank you for your inquiry. When the DC2200 is in remote mode, some additional information appears in the status bar of the display. The information LOCAL appears, when the LOCAL button was pressed during the remote operation. The unit is then operable locally but returns to remote mode with the first received remote command. TMC-ID flashes a few times when a remote identification request is received. After receiving the first remote command, the device is set to the remote state.

Jim Jacob (posted 2019-03-16 17:00:18.943)

I ordered a DC2200 a few weeks ago. When it works, it is great for my application. The problem is that the touch screen is intermittent. The unit comes up in the Int Mod mode, and is difficult to switch out to another mode. The touch screen seems to have a problem.

nreusch (posted 2019-03-22 09:48:50.0)

This is a response from Nicola at Thorlabs. Thank you for reporting this issue. I will contact you directly for further assistance.

jimjacob (posted 2019-02-09 19:04:13.22)

Can the DC2200 be externally triggered to provide pulsed light pulses? I want to generate a 20 microsecond long pulse on demand, at a pule rate up to 30Hz.

nreusch (posted 2019-02-15 10:45:03.0)

This is a response from Nicola at Thorlabs. Thank you for your inquiry. Yes, you can trigger DC2200 externally by using the external trigger SMA input. The bandwidth of this port is DC to 250 kHz, so you will be able to use it at rates of 30 Hz.

hiqoqo (posted 2018-01-22 17:04:14.56)

Dear I am reading the manual to buy DC2200 and I want to know how to operate TTL and external modulation. I don't understand their principle. In manual, there have not detailed information. Please give me the detail information of TTL and external modulation. Thank you.

swick (posted 2018-01-26 05:48:02.0)

This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. With external modulation it is possible to modulate the signal in triangle, sinusoidal and further waveforms. In TTL modulation mode only rectangular shaped pulses are possible. I contacted you directly for further assistance.

massimo (posted 2017-07-26 16:00:43.17)

Is it possible to find information about operating this unit in Linux with the NI-VISA back-end and PyVISA? I'm using CentOS 7 with NI-VISA 17.0 for Linux, but PyVISA seems to say that no instrument has been found on the USB. I've been able to correctly communicate with the DC2200 with PyVISA in Windows10, with installed NI-VISA 17.0 for Windows, but thus far I couldn't do the same in CentOS. Any hint would be really useful.

wskopalik (posted 2017-07-27 10:22:07.0)

This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. Unfortunately, we have no experience with operating the DC2200 on a Linux system. The software as well as the drivers are only available for Windows. Your approach however sounds promising. Basically you could use the NI-VISA interface to build up a connection to the DC2200. Then you could send SCPI commands to the DC2200 and control it that way. I will contact you directly to discuss the issues you have with PyVISA in more detail.

charmlee (posted 2017-05-25 17:41:27.36)

Could I use external trig to turn on/off Pulse mode? ie. When TTL high, DC2200 continue output Pulse (1 us on follow by 5 us off) and when TTL low, DC2200 stop output.

swick (posted 2017-05-30 03:06:25.0)

This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. At DC2200 the SMA connector (MOD IN/OUT) at the rear panel accepts TTL signals but TTL Low Level corresponds to LED OFF and TTL High Level to LED ON. I will contact you directly to provide further assistance.

raphael (posted 2017-04-10 09:21:36.587)

Hello. Does the DC2200 show ripples in the LED drive current? Thanks

swick (posted 2017-04-18 04:02:55.0)

This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. For DC2200 the Noise and Ripple (1 Hz to 10 MHz, RMS, Typical) is specified with Current Range: 0.0 to 2.0 A<110 µA (LED2 Terminal) Current Range: 0.0 to 4.0 A<100 µA (LED1 Terminal) Current Range: 4.0 to 10.0 A<200 µA (LED1 Terminal)

user (posted 2016-10-28 12:53:26.977)

Can I use the DC2200 to drive non-Thorlabs LEDs?

swick (posted 2016-10-31 04:08:54.0)

This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. Yes, it is possible to drive non-Thorlabs LEDs with DC2200. Each DC2200 includes two auxiliary cables for connecting custom LEDs to the driver. One cable has a male 12-pin Neutrik MiniCON connector that is compatible with the LED1 terminal. The second cable (Item # CAB-LEDD1) has a male connector compatible with the LED2 terminal.

reynolds.gw.2 (posted 2016-09-30 07:58:02.04)

Can you supply me the command set for integrating this LED driver into custom software? Thanks, Geoff

swick (posted 2016-09-30 08:29:03.0)

This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. You can find information on how to write your own application for DC2200 in the manual at page 37 and following. I have contacted you directly for providing assistance.

bruce (posted 2016-09-20 12:56:30.61)

Hi, I'd like to ask for the Trigger Latency. I want to drive the SMA modulation input connector with a TTL signal, and I'd like to know how long it will take, following a rising edge on the TTL input, for a ThorLabs M470L3-C5 LED source to reach full output illumination. Please reply by email. Thank you, Bruce

swick (posted 2016-09-22 03:22:43.0)

This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. I will contact you directly to provide requested information.

avinashiiser1042 (posted 2015-11-16 11:22:06.227)

Hi, I am a graduate student at Simon Fraser University. We are planning to buy an LED source for illumination for one of our projects. We want an LED source that should flash with really short exposure (~ 100 KHz). I found DC2200 very interesting and relevant. Can we operate it at around 100 KHz with pulse width around 1 microsecond? Avinash Kumar

shallwig (posted 2015-11-17 04:13:36.0)

This is a response from Stefan at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. Depending on the needed waveform 100 kHz might be out of the specifications the driver has. If you need for example square pulses the cutoff frequency for sharp square signals lies at about 20 kHz as stated for the PWM mode in the spesc:http://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=9117&pn=DC2200#9171 The modulation capabilities may also be limited by the LED you want to modulate. I will contact you directly to check which LED at which current and waveform you need to modulate and we will check if the DC2200 can fulfill your needs.

Thorlabs offers two options for driving our Solis^® LEDs. The DC20 is a basic option that allows users to control the intensity of their LED using a control knob on the top or via an external TTL signal for modulation. For more advanced applications, our DC2200 drivers provides a touchscreen interface that allows users to control the LED current, select internal or external modulation modes, and more. The table below provides a comparison of key controller features.

Solis^® LED Driver Selection Guide
Item #	DC20	DC2200
Photo (Click to Enlarge)
LED Current / Forward Voltage (Max)	1 to 10 A / 5.0 to 14.0 V^a	1.0 A / 50.0 V^b 2.0 A / 35.0 V^b 4.0 A / 15.0 V^b 5.0 A / 10.0 V^b 10.0 A / 5.0 V^b
Noise and Ripple (1 Hz to 10 MHz, RMS, Typical)	<400 µA	<100 µA from 0.0 to 4.0 A <200 µA from 4.0 to 10.0 A
Internal Modulation Modes	-	0.1 Hz to 20 kHz (PWM^c Mode) 1 µs to 10 s On or Off Time (Pulse Mode) 20 Hz to 100 kHz (Internal Modulation Mode with Sine, Square, Triangle Waveforms)
External Modulation (Arbitrary Waveform)	-	DC - 250 kHz [Small Signal Bandwidth (Sine)]^d
TTL Modulation (External)	DC to 1 kHz (Square Wave, PWM^c)	DC to ≥18 kHz^e
LED Control Interface	Knob to Control LED Current, BNC Port for TTL Modulation	Easy-to-Navigate Touchscreen Interface, Brightness and Constant Current Operating Modes, Internal and External Modulation Modes, SMA Port for External Modulation Accepts TTL Signal or Waveform from a Function Generator, USB Interface for Remote Control
Current Limit	Automatically Read and Set from the Solis LED's Internal Memory to Protect the LED from Overdriving
External Software Interface	No	DC2200 GUI
Other Compatible LEDs	-	Mounted Collimated Fiber Coupled MCPCB Mounted^f

The maximum LED current and forward voltage are dependent on each other: the DC20 cannot drive an LED with a 14 V forward voltage at 10 A. The DC20 is compatible with all Solis LEDs and will automatically select the appropriate current/voltage combination for the connected Solis LED.
For Solis LEDs connected using Terminal 1. The DC2200 can also be used to drive Thorlabs' mounted, collimated and fiber-coupled LEDs, which use a separate terminal and are subject to different current and voltage limitations. See the complete web presentation for details.
PWM = Pulse Width Modulation
Small Signal Bandwidth: Modulation not exceeding 20% of full scale current. The driver accepts other waveforms, but the maximum frequency will be reduced.
Given for an output current at "High" TTL level not exceeding 10% of the selected current range limit.
Requires the CAB-LEDD1 cable.

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