The fourth LM3466 benefit is increased system reliability that results from its fault handling and reporting. It handles both LED open- and short-circuit faults. If an LED string fails as an open-circuit, the fault is recognized and the system current is automatically redistributed and rebalanced throughout the remaining active channels since each LM3466 communicates with each other. This ensures that the fixture lumen output remains nearly constant, even if one string is not illuminated. If an LED fails as a short-circuit, the forward voltage of that string will also drop. In a system using a ballast resistor, this would cause the current through each string to adjust and become further out of balance. The LM3466, however, is able to ride through a single LED short fault by continuing to ensure that the current through each string is not impacted and stays in balance. The COMM pin of the LM3466 is also used for fault reporting. With some simple additional circuitry, as shown on the LM3466 evaluation board, a lighting designer could easily create an individual string fault alert that, for example, illuminates a small low-power LED.