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What Is An LED Driver?

LED drivers are electrical devices that supply and regulate power to a single or string of LED lights. The way that it operates is similar to a traditional transformer, in that it transforms mains electricity into a voltage that can be used to ‘drive’ the LED lighting.

More technically, an LED driver turns the mains alternating current (universal AC input) voltage of 240V into a lower input voltage, whilst also turning it into a direct current (DC). This allows it to regulate the power to a constant voltage of either 12V DC or 24V DC, adjusting the output voltage according to the electrical properties of the LED strips.

LED drivers are essential for your lighting setup as it stops LEDs from burning out. When LEDs turn on, their temperature increases. As this happens, the forward voltage, or the voltage required to light up the diode, decreases. This causes the LED to draw more current in what is known as the thermal runway, eventually pulling too much current and burning out.

However, a driver has its own power supply, and compensates for the changes in the forward voltage, regulating the power, whilst also delivering a constant current to the LED. This can help to reduce the risk of damage to your LEDs and prolong their lifespan.

How Do I Choose An LED Driver?

As LEDs all require a constant DC of 12 or 24V, all LED systems require an LED driver. The one exception to this is LED systems that have been specifically designed to use mains voltage, like LED bulbs and special types of LED lights, such as our Trade LED DOB Floodlights range. However, if it is not one of the exceptions, you will have to make sure that you get yourself an LED driver.

“But how do you choose the right driver?” I hear you ask. Buying the most suitable driver is very simple when you ask yourself these five basic questions.

What voltage do I require?

As we have mentioned before, most LED strip lights will require either 12V or 24V constant voltage LED drivers. The voltage that they will require will be clearly stated in the product specification or on the packaging. Make sure that you get an LED driver with the same output voltage that your specific LED strips require.

But what happens if you get this wrong? Using 12v constant voltage drivers with 24v lights will mean the LEDs will not be able to light up at all. On the other hand, using 24v constant current LED drivers with 12v lights might make the LEDs shine brighter to begin with, increasing the light output, but the voltage will be too high for it to handle, thus burning it out.

How much wattage do I need?

The wattage that you need is the amount of power that the LED tape consumes per metre of its length. To work this out, multiply the wattage of the tape by the number of metres it is long (or, tape wattage x length in metres = wattage the LED tape requires).

After you have worked out the power level your LED lighting systems consume, you can then look for a driver that is suitable. With LED drivers, the wattage signifies the maximum output capability.

Thus, to ensure the lifespan of your lighting systems, it is recommended that you choose a driver that has at least a 10% higher wattage capability than the LED tape requires. For example, if you had 10 metres of 5W LED tape, the system would require 50W to power, and so you would need a driver upwards of 55W.

Does it need to be water-resistant?

If you are using the LED lights for outdoor lighting, street lighting, or ambient lighting and other lighting applications in your kitchen or bathroom, then you will need to make sure that you have water-resistant light drivers. If you’d like to know more about IP ratings, you can check out our blog to get the guidance that you need.

You can see how water resistant both outdoor LED drivers and indoor LED drivers are by looking for the IP rating. The IP rating will indicate how well the casing of the driver is resistant to water, along with other things such as foreign objects, dust, and bugs. Typically, splash-proof indoor LED drivers for kitchens and bathrooms have an IP rating of 65, and outdoor LED drivers generally have an IP rating of 67 and up.

Does it need to be a dimmable LED driver?

If you want to be able to arrange either a simple or complex dimming design for your residential or commercial property, then make sure that you purchase a driver that has dimming capabilities. The wide dimming range of LED drivers works by reducing the power level supplied to the lights.

There are two types of dimming drivers on the market. These are ELV drivers, or trailing edge dimmable drivers, and TRIAC drivers, or leading-edge dimmable drivers. The ones that work best with your lighting setup largely depend on your complex dimming design.

Do I need a ‘plug and play’ or a ‘professional’ driver?

If you are looking to install your LED lighting yourself, it is best to go for current drivers that have plug and play technology, as opposed to a range of input designs. Often drivers might not include terminals, meaning they require you to directly wire a plug to the end of the cable.

However, plug and play technology is exactly as it sounds, you simply plug it in and voila! Plug and play drivers are not limited to novices, though. You can also purchase a professional terminal LED driver for optimal efficiency in your installation.

Once you have asked yourself these five questions, you will be guaranteed to know which LED drivers will provide the ultimate performance in your lighting system.