NEW DELHI: LED drivers are fluorescent lamps or transformers for low voltage bulbs. They provide the correct amount of power to LED bulbs to function without any problem. However, we have already covered LED drivers’ topic so today we are going to cover whether you need an external driver and how to get a perfect driver for your LED lights.
There are two main types of LED drivers available – constant current and constant voltage. Now, if your LED lights don’t have inbuilt drivers, then you need to get the driver separately. And, if you don’t know which LED driver will go with your lights, then you should get the driver on the following grounds –
1. Power Requirements:
You need to consider the power requirement of your LED drivers on the three basic pointers –
- First, consider the voltage requirements of your lighting like if your LED light needs 12 volts to work, then you should get a 12-volt driver.
- Secondly, check whether the voltage supply of your home or office is supported by an LED driver or not. Generally, homes voltage supply is 120 volts and commercial places of 277 volts, but you can check with your electrician to be sure.
- Lastly, you should consider the wattage requirement of your lights and always select the driver’s higher wattage than your lights.
2. Check Dimming Status Both types of external LED drivers come with the dimming capabilities, but it is important to check while ordering the driver that dimming capabilities are mentioned on the box. If the specification of the driver dimming isn’t mentioned at all, then you can’t expect the product to perform any dimmable activities. Dimmable external drivers further required an external dimmer or any other sort of device to control dimmer.
3. Check IP Ratings
The IP rating of the driver tells the environment protection criteria. The first number of IP rating defines the protection against solid objects and the second number describes the protection against water components. Like, if the IP rating of the driver is 0, then the product isn’t protected against water or solid elements, but when the IP rating is 68, then the product is fully protected against water and solid objects.
4. High efficiency
Another important aspect that you have to consider while purchasing LED drivers would be checking the efficiency of the product. The efficiency factor of the driver is expressed in the percentages and shows how much of the input power the driver can actually use to power the LED. Generally, the efficiency of an LED driver is ranked between 80-85%, however, UL Class 1 drivers that have the potential to run multiple LED bulbs are considered as the most effective.
5. Think over the power factor
Lastly, you need to consider the power factor of a driver before getting it. The power factor defines how much real power loads to put the driver on the work. The range of power factor falls between -1 and 1 which means the driver with power factor near to 1 will be more efficient. The most conventional power factor in Led drivers is 0.9 or above.
Now, you are ready to make your LED lights efficient by purchasing suitable LED drivers. Just consider these five pointers and you will be able to get the perfect driver instantly.
