LED Drivers for lighting are an essential component in your systems to ensure that your LED’s perform to their best ability. From regulating wattage to enabling different functions such as timing dimmers or sensors, the list of important uses goes on. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that choosing the right driver for your LED’s can feel like a difficult or complex decision.
So, how exactly do you choose an LED driver for your LED lighting? To make your decision, there are many different aspects that you need to consider, including: voltage, safety, function, power supply, and wattage. Once you’ve determined which factor is the most important, you’ll be able to make an informed decision that supports your lighting systems.
To help you learn more about LED drivers, our experts have put together this guide to ensure that you’re equipped with the knowledge you need to make the right decision. Selecting the right components for your lighting system contributes towards protecting your lights from damage or unexpected maintenance costs, along with maximising their working life. Keep reading to learn more.
The best way to choose an LED driver for your LED lighting
The best way to get started with choosing the right external driver for your systems is to explore the different types of driver and see which is the most suitable for your LEDs. You will need to ensure that it has the right power outage, consider what wattage requirements your system needs and what safety factors need to be reviewed.
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Voltage
The first and most important factor is voltage. If you select the wrong voltage driver for your lights, then your system is unlikely to work properly. For example, if your LED lights require 12 volts, then you need a 12 volt driver. The voltage considered will need to include both input and output voltage. Input means the amount of volts travelling into the driver from its location, while output means the amount of voltage transferred into the light source
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Wattage
Similar to voltage, you will need to determine how much wattage is required to power your lights and pick a driver that is suitable. A watt is the electrical measurement that calculates the rate of energy that is consumed. To ensure the long lifespan of your LED lights, it’s important that you select a driver that can withstand more wattage output than the lights. For example, if your fixture produces 60W, then ideally you would need a driver that requires 75W or 80W to get the best performance for your systems.
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Safety
Once you’ve determined which driver is compatible with your lighting requirements, you’ll then need to consider which option is the safest to use. To do this, you can use the IP rating system, which specifies the level of safety the product provides. Depending on what external factors may damage your systems, you will need to select your driver with the IP score that provides the best protection for specific issues. The IP rating system includes protection for accidents, water and dust.
Choosing your driver based on function
You also have the option of choosing your driver based on function. For example, you may wish for your driver to cater for light dimmers or sensors. This could be useful if you want your lights to switch off when they’re not in use, or to lower their usage to save power. To do this, you will need to select a driver that specifically functions for those features.
Here at Prime Light, all our products come with a specification sheet that details the exact use, features and requirements of the driver. This Dimming Function Driver with an integrated motion sensor works to reduce your electricity use, for example.
Choosing your driver based on power supply
If you’re looking for a more sustainable lighting system, then you may wish to consider your LED drivers for lighting systems based on power supply. The more efficient your driver, the more sustainable your system will be. Power supplies are rated on a scale between -1 and 1. The lower end of the spectrum provides less efficient drivers, while the closer to 1, the better the performance.
Why choose Prime Light?
Not too sure where to start with designing and planning your LED lighting systems? That’s where our expertise can help.
Simply get in touch with one of our expert team members to learn more about how we can help.
