Are you into energy-saving electronics? If yes, you know LED light bulbs have extraordinary energy-saving abilities and a long life span. But most people don’t know that the LED PCB light bulbs require specific operating devices—called LED drivers. Hence, they resemble the ballasts in low-voltage bulb transformers or fluorescent lamps.
Therefore, they are responsible for the electricity that feeds into the LEDs.
But LED drivers could be a tricky technology because there are various types. And it’s a bit overwhelming most times.
That’s why we’ll discuss LED drivers extensively in this article. Are you interested in finding out more about this topic?
Then, stick around a little while.
What Is an LED Driver?
LED lighting power supply isolated on white background
Simple. It’s an electrical component that controls the power of an LED or multiple-layer LED PCBs. In short, it’s a vital part of an LED circuit. Thus, operating without an LED driver means doom for an LED system.
LED drivers are the ideal go-to if you want your LEDs to last long. How? They help to safeguard LEDs from high-temperature mishaps or high-power faults.
As a self-contained power supply with similar features as LEDs, an LED driver helps to prevent thermal runaway. Plus, it makes up for the forward voltage changes while offering a stable current.
What Are the Benefits of LED Drivers?
Led lights panel
LEDs run on a low voltage between 12 – 24 volts for direct current. So, an LED driver will rectify the current even if you’re running on a high voltage between 120 – 277 volts on AC. In short, it helps to step down alternating current to direct current. Or even balance high voltage to low voltage.
LED drivers keep LEDs from current or voltage instabilities. Voltage changes in LEDs could lead to a fluctuation in the current supply. That’s why the output for LED lights is proportional to their collection. And LEDs have a particular rating to operate within a specific range. Hence, too little or too much current will cause the light output to vary or damage quickly because of higher temperatures in the LED.
Overall, the LED drivers have two main benefits:
1. It helps to translate AC to DC.
2. The drivers help maintain the current or voltage flowing through a circuit without going below its rated level.
When Does an LED Driver Become Necessary?
Lighted diodes on reel LED tape, and voltage converter
Generally, every LED light source needs an LED driver. However, the main question should be; “do I need to buy one separately?” The thing is, some LEDs come with an integrated driver in the bulb. Plus, LEDs created for home use often come with LED drivers. And a great example is bulbs with GU24 / GU10 or E26 / E27 bases—running on 120 volts.
But low voltage LEDs like; tape lights, MR-bulbs, outdoor-rated lights, panels, and certain light fixtures, need an LED driver to perform well.
So, the short answer is that when dealing with low-voltage LEDs, you need LED drivers. But we can’t say the same for household LED bulbs on 120 volts.
Types of LED Drivers
A closeup of the led Strip on the plastic spool attached to the current converter
Every LED driver listed here operates with specific electrical requirements.
Constant-Current
This LED driver only needs a range of output voltages and a fixed amount of output current. Constant current entails a specific output current—labeled in milliamps or amps with an array of voltages that vary on LED’s load/wattage.
Constant-Voltage
Constant-voltage LED drivers to involve a fixed output voltage alongside a max output current. Plus, this LED’s current comes with a regulated system powered by an internal constant-current driver or simple resistors—wrapped in the LED module.
Also, they only need one stable voltage, usually 12- or 24-volts DC.
AC LED Drivers
This type of LED driver technically runs incandescent or low-voltage halogen bulbs. But, the AC LED drivers can’t work with conventional transformers because of their inability to detect low voltage. Hence, they have no-minimum load transformers.
Dimmable LED Drivers
These LED drivers enable you to dim your LED lights. Plus, it permits the dimming of constant voltage LEDs. And it achieves this by reducing the amount of leading current going to the LED bulb.
Applications of LED Drivers
Mounting new technology special led ceiling lamp
Automotive LED Drivers
You can distinguish your vehicle’s interior and exterior lighting system with quality automotive LED drivers in the various areas:
- Infotainment and Cluster
- Anterior Headlights
- Rear light and interior lights
Backlight LED drivers
The backlight LED drivers to tend to use a specific dimming system for LCD panel backlighting.
Illumination LED drivers
With illumination LED drivers, you can establish infrared illumination for your electronics. Plus, it’s achievable with a multi-topology constant-current controller.
RGB LED drivers
RGB LED drivers help add an indication feature or animation to your polychromatic LED arrays. Plus, they are usually compatible with a range of standard interfaces.
LED display drivers
Thanks to the LED display drivers, you can regulate specific LED strings with low and high-power consumption. So, these drivers work whether it’s a sizeable narrow pixel or a matrix solution for micro or mini LED digital display signage applications.
How to Choose the Right LED Driver?
Led panels driver
Consider these factors before choosing an LED driver:
DC Dimming
Do you prefer dimmable LEDs? Or do you plan to change its brightness? Then, opt for a dimmable power supply or driver. Why? It’s easy to spot them from the specifications of the power sources. Plus, you’ll find other things on the specification table, like the drivers’ compatible dimmer control types.
Power Requirements
The voltage needs of your light are one of the first things to consider. So, if your LED needs 20 volts to operate, get a 20-volt driver.
In summary, the goal is to ensure that your driver obtains the correct power output. And the rule of thumb is; that your work should be within the specified range of your light.
Also, for a constant-voltage driver, you can consider the voltage range. But if you have a constant-current driver, you can feel both current and voltage ranges.
In short, take note of the voltage supply of the proposed LED light. Hence, ensure the LED driver accepts the input voltage of the LED. That way, it’s easy to step down to the adequate output voltage.
Also, it would help if you consider the wattage. While you’re at it, ensure to get a driver with a higher max wattage compared to the light’s wattage.
Power Factor
The power factor helps to deduce the power load of the driver placed on the electrical network. And it usually ranges between -1 and 1. So, the standard for power factor is about 0.9 or above. In other words, the driver’s efficiency is higher when it’s closer to one.
Safety
There are different standards to look out for with your LED drivers. For instance, we have UL classes 1 and 2. The UL Class 1 is for drivers with high-voltage output. Drivers in this category need safety precautions within the fixture. Plus, it can accommodate more LEDs—which makes it more efficient.
The UL Class 2 drivers don’t need significant safety protection at the LED level. Plus, it meets the terms of standard UL1310. Even though this class is a safer option, it has limitations with the number of LEDs it can operate.
The IP rating is another type of safety that shows you what a driver’s enclosure offers. For example, if you see an IP67 rating, the driver is safe from dust and temporary immersion in water.
Efficiency
This factor is essential as it tells you how much input power the driver has to power the LED. The value expresses in percentages. So, you should expect efficiencies between 80-85%.
LED Driver Calculator
Calculating an LED driver is easy. Multiply the wattage by 1.2.
In essence, if you have 10 LED lights that use 5 watts each, the combined wattage usage is 50.
So, to calculate the LED driver, you’ll multiply the total wattage by 1.2.
It looks like this:
50 x 1.2 = 60.
As you can see, for the above example, the calculated LED driver is 60v–the essential power supply needed to handle the 10 LED lights.
How Does an LED Driver Circuit Work?
led driver Board with connection wires without housing
The LED driver circuit starts with an AC capacitor. Thus, the capacitor connects with the main supply in a line. Afterward, a resistor of 390KΩ connects with the capacitor in parallel.
This arrangement helps to discharge the capacitor when there’s no supply. After that, another resistor of 10KΩ connects the rectifier and the main store. When this happens, the full-wave bridge rectifier helps to change the current. Next, the LED converts incoming AC voltage to DC. Then, a capacitor of 4.7µF filters the bridge rectifier output. A Zener diode helps to control the work of the full-wave bridge rectifier. Then, a capacitor of 47µF filters the Zener creation. So, the filtered Zener output moves to the LED.
LED Driver Troubleshooting
LED driver troubleshooting occurs when it fails prematurely. When this happens, you may need to replace the LED driver.
LED Driver Replacement
Before you replace an LED driver, ensure the driver is serviceable. Then, confirm that the new driver functions precisely like the original. In other words, it should have the same characteristics as the original.
That way, it will fit into the same space and function perfectly. This step is necessary because a mismatch can result in safety or performance issues.
How to Test an LED Driver?
You can test an LED driver in the following ways:
With resistors for loading
With electronic loads in CV (Constant Voltage) mode
Using LEDs
Regardless of your chosen method, it’s ideal to note that each process has different cons.
FAQs
How long do LED drivers last?
Typically, LED drivers last for three years.
Is an LED driver the same as a transformer?
No. An LED driver is different from a transformer. And it’s due to their load and output compatibility. For instance, the LED drivers output DC. While transformers output AC.
Can you use an LED driver as a power supply?
Yes. You can if you get an LED driver whose output voltage gives a constant voltage.
How can you connect an LED driver to power?
Ensure the LED light has the same power as the transformer. Then connect the red and black wires on the led driver to the power source.
What is the difference between the LED driver and the power supply?
An LED driver helps to control the current output. In contrast, the power supply offers a constant voltage.
Closing Words
LED drivers are a thing now. And it’s no surprise because the controlling circuit helps LED lights operate correctly.
But, before you get an LED driver, consider the factors mentioned in this article. That way, you’ll be free from safety hazards.
Do you have any questions to ask concerning LED drivers? Contact us now!
