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What LED Driver do I need?
To work out what LED driver you need, you first of all have to ask yourself five simple questions:
Do I need a Constant Current or Constant Voltage LED driver?
This will depend on the type of light fitting or LED you have.
Some LEDs require a constant voltage to prevent flickering; others require a constant current.
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If your 240VAC power supply fluctuates, the LED driver will ensure that either the voltage or current output remains constant.
What is the required output?
This will either be the required voltage or the required current.
12V & 24V are the most common voltage outputs, but they could differ.
Current outputs are usually expressed as milliamps—for example, 350mA or 700mA.
For constant-current LED drivers, you will also need to know the voltage range this has to be delivered within. Typically, you will see something like 350mA (24-48V).
How powerful does the LED driver need to be?
This is the wattage of the LED driver. You don't need to worry too much about this if you are looking for a constant-current LED driver and know the required voltage range at which the current has to be delivered.
For constant-voltage drivers, you need to know how much power the LEDs are likely to draw from the driver.
Is 16W going to be enough, or do you need something as large as a 600W led driver?
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You won't damage the LEDs by using a larger LED driver.
However, if the power supply is too small, you could overload it, which could cause a failure that isn't covered by the warranty.
Where is the LED driver going to be situated?
If it is going in the roof space, a plastic-bodied LED driver will be fine. However, if it is going to be exposed to the elements, you will need a weatherproof LED driver.
Please note: Never mount an LED driver in direct sunlight. This will cause the temperature inside the LED driver to exceed its maximum operating temperature range, which, too, has the potential to cause a failure that the warranty would not cover.
Do you want to dim the LEDs?
If you want to DIM the LEDs, then you will need to know the type of output your dimming controller has. The most common types are:
Resistance
0-10VDC or 1-10VDC
PWM Signal
Push Button
DALI
AC Phase Cut (for leading edge and trailing edge dimmers)
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What next?
Simply contact Power Supplies Australia. Based on your answers, we will be able to advise what suitable LED drivers are available.
