Products HomeLED Driver for High-Power and Mounted LEDs
- Driver for Solis® High-Power LEDs for Microscopy
- Supports Thorlabs’ Mounted LEDs
- Internal Modulation Modes Support up to 100 kHz Oscillation
- External Modulation and TTL Input for Integration with
Other Lab Equipment
DC2200 Touchscreen Display Main Menu
DC2200
LED DriverBack Panel of the DC2200 Driver
Please Wait
| Table 1.1 Key Specifications | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item # | DC2200 | ||
| LED Terminal | LED1 | LED2 | |
| LED Current / Max LED Forward Voltagea |
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 | |
| Frequency Range | 20 Hz to 100 kHz | ||
| External Modulation Small Signal Bandwidthb |
DC - 250 kHz | ||
| Table 1.2 LED Controller Selection Guide | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Max Number of LEDs |
Max Current |
Modulation Mode |
USB | Remote Operation | Compatible LEDs |
| upLED™ LED Driver | 1 | 1.2 A | - | Yes | Yes | Mounted, Collimated, Fiber Coupled, Diffuse Backlight, and PCB Mounteda |
| Compact T-Cube™ Driver |
1 | 1.2 A | 0 - 5 kHz | No | No | |
| 4-Channel Driver | 4 | 1 A | 0 - 100 kHz | Yes | Yes | |
| 4.0 A LED Driver | 1 | 4.0 A | 0 - 5 kHz | Yes | Yes | |
| Solis® LED Driver | 1 | 10 A | 0 - 1 kHz | No | No | High Power |
| High-Power Touchscreen Driver |
1 | 10.0 A | 0 - 250 kHz | Yes | Yes | High Power, Mounted, Collimated, Fiber Coupled, Diffuse Backlight, and PCB Mounteda |
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, Thorlabs' Fiber Coupled LEDs, and Thorlabs' Diffuse Backlight LED. 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 is outlined in Table 1.1.
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 as shown in the image above. LED compatibility information is provided in Table 1.2. 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 in the image 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) |
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| LED Description | High Power |
Collimated |
Mounted |
Fiber Coupled |
Diffuse Backlight | PCB Mounteda |
| DC2200 Terminal | LED1 | LED2 | LED2 | LED2 | LED2 | LED2a |
| 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 Resolutiona | 1 mV | ||
| LED Voltage Accuracya | ±(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 Bandwidthc | 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 | |
| Max Input Voltage | 5.0 V (Analog) / TTL Level | ||
| Internal Monitor Output | Min Load Impedance | 50 Ω | |
| Output Voltage Level | TTL Level | ||
| General | |||
| Operating Temperature Ranged | 0 to 40 °C | ||
| Storage Temperature Ranged | -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 | ||
DC2200 Front Panel
| Callout | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | LED On / Off Button |
| 2 | Main Menu |
| 3 | Status Bar |
| 4 | Device Information Button |
| 5 | System Settings Button |
DC2200 Back Panel
| 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. Figures 4.1 through 4.10 provide examples of the main functions supported by the driver, including constant current, brightness, and modulation operating modes.
Main Menu
Figure 4.1 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
Figure 4.2 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
Figure 4.3 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 Figure 4.4. 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 to determine the maximum drive current that it can support.
Brightness Mode
Figure 4.4 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. Figure 4.2 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
Figure 4.5 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
Figure 4.6 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
Figure 4.7 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
Figure 4.8 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
Figure 4.9 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
Figure 4.10 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
| 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
| Pin | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | LED Anode |
| 2 | LED Cathode |
| 3 | EEPROM GND |
| 4 | EEPROM I/O |
External Trigger
SMA Female
0 to 5 V, 0 to 250 kHz External Modulation
(See Specs Tab for Details)
Computer Connection
USB Mini-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 |
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 |
Software for the DC2200 Driver
The available software can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.
Software
Software Version 1.7 (June 21, 2022)
Firmware Version 1.4.2 (June 21, 2022)
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
| Table 8.1 Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| LED Terminal | LED1 | LED2 |
| LED Current / Max LED Forward Voltagea |
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 Table 8.1. 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 current 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 current 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. Figures 8.2 through 8.4 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
Figure 8.2 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
Figure 8.3 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
Figure 8.4 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: | |
Zhenyu Sun
(posted 2025-06-24 22:32:32.847) Hello, now we have the LED driver DC2200 and laser controller ITC4001 in our lab. We would like to try the photoluminescence lifetime measurements based on the pulsed LED light/laser. The lifetime is typical in the range 10ns-600ns, do you think it is possible to use the two controllers to modulate the light (internal/ external) for the measurements? I noticed that the rise/fall time for the pulsed light could not be very short. jweimar
(posted 2025-06-25 07:03:11.0) Dear Zhenyu, thank you for your feedback. The rise and fall time of this controller is in general in the µs range. However, it also depends on the settings you use, the modulation mode and the current. I will contact you directly to discuss your application. DASHAN DONG
(posted 2024-09-09 13:02:54.45) Hello, I want to drive and sync two Mounted LED (M265L5 and M275L4) at a frequency up to 100kHz with an ON Time down to 1 micron second. Which driver is the most best choice for my application? DC2200 or DC4100? In the case of using DC2200, is it possible that I drive those two LED with a single DC2200 if I manually wire the 12-pin termainal to the 4-pin LED? hchow
(posted 2024-09-10 07:12:02.0) Dear Mr. Dong, thank you for your feedback. Only the Internal Modulation Mode of the DC2200 is capable of pulsing at 100 kHz but as a sine wave. If you require the LED to be truly off, using this mode will not be possible. Then you would have to use the Pulse Mode on the DC2200, however in this mode, the maximum achievable frequency is only 500 Hz. It is likely possible to pulse two or more normal non SOLIS LEDs by manually wiring the 2 to 4 of the LED cathodes/anodes to the LED and then shorting the rest, but I would strongly advise against doing this, if you don't know how to do it. It would be more advisable to purchase the DC4104 instead, where you have to provide your own signal generator, and in addition, keeping in mind that the DC - 100 kHz modulation bandwidth is only valid for Sine waves, where using any other type of wave would mean a reduced bandwidth. In any case, I will personally reach out to you to provide a solution. Maxime ALEXANDRE
(posted 2023-10-22 19:57:14.857) Hello,
1/ Does the DC2200 is compatible with M3400L1 - 3400 nm, 2.2 mW (Min) Mounted LED, 200 mA ?
If yes:
2/ I want to use DC2200 to generate a single pulse of about 100 µs with a delay of about 100 µs using an external trigger TTL signal.
3/ I also want to use DC2200 to generate a pulse frequency of 1 kHZ and use the internal TTL as a reference signal for a lock-in amplifier. Is it possible?
Thank for your help
Maxime dpossin
(posted 2023-10-24 09:07:18.0) Dear Maxime,
Thank you for your feedback. The proposed components are compatible together and also the suggested pulse pattern can be achieved by the DC2200 driver. The internal modulation can be used in order to trigger a third party device via the mod in/out port in the figure of an TTL signal. I am reaching out to you to further discuss your question. Wenhong Yang
(posted 2022-03-22 19:25:38.253) Hello, recently we bought the DC2200 to modulate the LED. But the maximum modulation time is only 10000 ms. We need at least 10 min. Would you please help me to change this parameter? Thanks a lot. fmortaheb
(posted 2025-03-12 06:12:44.0) Dear Wenhong, thank you for your feedback. Unfortunately, this is part of the intrinsic design of the DC2200 and cannot be changed. You can use an instrument driver to program the device, which allows you to interface with it using LabVIEW or another programming language, and you can create your own unique program to meet your needs. We provide this driver under the software tab on product page. My colleague will contact you directly to discuss your application. Julian K.
(posted 2021-03-31 03:09:48.047) Hello,
can I use the DC2000 to drive Laser Diodes as well?
Best
Julian wskopalik
(posted 2021-04-01 10:15:44.0) Thank you for your inquiry!
The DC2200 is a DC current source similar to usual laser diode drivers. Laser diode drivers usually have less noise on the current, especially those designed for lower current levels. But theoretically the DC2200 can also be used to drive laser diodes.
The DC2200 is however designed for the operation of LEDs and therefore might not have all the necessary laser safety features to comply with the regulations in your country. Therefore I would definitely recommend to get the approval of the laser safety officer in your facility before using it to drive laser diodes.
I will also contact you directly to provide further assistance. maxime babics
(posted 2020-12-14 12:52:21.573) We are using the DC2200 with the M880L3 LED for a publication. What are the rise and decay time of the LED when using the pulse mode?
thank you MKiess
(posted 2020-12-15 07:46:36.0) Thank you very much for your inquiry. Generally, the rise and fall time is in the µs range for this controller. However, it always depends on the settings used, the modulation mode and the current. I have contacted you directly to discuss further details. 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. Table 9.1 provides a comparison of key controller features.
| Table 9.1 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 Va | 1.0 A / 50.0 Vb 2.0 A / 35.0 Vb 4.0 A / 15.0 Vb 5.0 A / 10.0 Vb 10.0 A / 5.0 Vb |
| 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 (PWMc 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, PWMc) | DC to ≥18 kHze |
| 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 Mountedf |
Zoom
 Figure 790A Male M8x1 Connector |
Pin | Description | Wire Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LED Anode | Brown | |
| 2 | LED Cathode | White | |
| 3 | EEPROM GND | Black | |
| 4 | EEPROM IO | Blue |
- 4-Pin M8 Connector on One Side
- 4 Bare Wires on Other Side
- 2 m Long, 24 AWG Wires
The 4-Pin M8 connection cable can be used to connect the high-power LEDs on metal core PCB or other custom LEDs to the following Thorlabs LED drivers: LEDD1B, DC40, DC2200, DC4100, and DC4104 (the latter two require the DC4100-HUB).
Pin Connection - Male
Figure 790A shows the male connector for use with the above Thorlabs LED drivers. The connector is a standard M8x1 sensor circular connector. Pins 1 and 2 are the connection to the LED. If using this cable with a non-Thorlabs LED, do not connect anything to the black and blue wires, as this can damage the LED driver. Please note that the pin connection diagram shown here may not be valid for third-party LED drivers.
 High-Power LED Driver |