LED Driver: All You Need to Know

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) have become a popular artificial lighting source in recent times. With its surge in popularity and usage, LED drivers have also been manufactured to work alongside these devices. Although most folks know a lot about LEDs, not much is known about LED drivers.

Therefore, if you have been yearning to know what a Led driver is, then this article is just what you need. We will explain what an LED driver is; we will discuss the various types, what can they be used for, and how you can choose the right one.

With no further ado, let’s begin…

What is a Light Emitting Diode Driver?

An LED driver is an electrical gadget that functions to control the electrical power that is supplied to a Lighting Emitting Diode. The requirements of LEDs are constantly changing as a result of their varying electrical properties as temperature changes. As a result, LED drivers are designed to respond correctly to these changes by keeping the supplied power constant.

The outputs of these drivers and LEDs’ electrical features are compatible; hence, some of them can provide dimming via pulse-width modulation circuits. Furthermore, some of them can conveniently control different LEDs or LED arrays if they possess multiple channels.

The absence of a good and appropriate driver could cause the fixtures of the Light Emitting Diode to heat up dangerously which could be quite unstable. This, in turn, could cause the light source to perform poorly or get damaged eventually.

Types of Light Emitting Diode Drivers

There are several LED driver types depending on the categorization. Some of the categorizations include output current, output voltage, supply voltage, switching frequency (maximum), and packaging form.

For most of these devices, each channel can deliver an output within a 250µA to 50A range, while the chips output supply current could be 20mA, 25mA, and 100mA for each channel. The most common voltage sizes are 2.3V, 5.5V, and 3V to 5.5V. Despite this, it isn’t rare to find a driver with a voltage supply that reaches 630V.

While there are several categories of these devices, the main two are:

1. Constant Voltage

These devices exist in different standards and are always subject to the manufacturer’s decision. Nevertheless, they can perform at high levels to provide efficiency and quality.

2. Dimmable

We mentioned earlier that some drivers are capable of dimming your Light Emitting Diode devices. These drivers are known as dimmable LED drivers.

With such a device, you can dim the lights to create a different kind of scene. If you want a romantic scene for your special somebody, you can use this kind of device to create such an atmosphere. Also, if you are making a presentation and want the viewing to be spectacular, then you need the help of this type of driver. Visit http://www.summit-sys.com/blog/lighting-matters-presentation-technology/ to learn why lighting matters for a presentation.

Dimmable LED drivers are designed to meet a wide range of electrical needs as far as dimming your LED is concerned. However, to enjoy this, you need to have an understanding of the dimmer controls.

Understanding the Dimmer Controls of a Dimmable Light Emitting Diode Driver

Drivers that can provide this dimming effect can dim the LED from 0 to 100 percent. They can provide this dimming flexibility while maintaining the light’s temperature and color. You should know that when you dim a Light Emitting Diode light, the fixture’s operating temperature will be reduced. This, in turn, will enhance the ability of the Light Emitting Diode and also extend the lamp life of the device.

0V to 10V Dimmable Light Emitting Diode Drivers

One of the reasons LEDs have gained popularity is that they are excellent energy savers. When you complement these devices with a 0 to 10V dimmable driver, the energy-saving ability of the Light Emitting Diode becomes enhanced.

With a dimmer such as this, you can reduce the energy consumption of your home or office. This in turn will allow you to save money that you would have spent on energy bills.

Apart from this benefit, these drivers can provide advanced control in comparison to other types of lighting applications.

Applications of Light Emitting Diode Drivers

The application usage of these devices is vast and to an extent depends on the imagination and creativity of the individual who has them in possession.

The following are the most common application uses of these devices:

  1. Residential, outdoor, commercial, and industrial lighting. Click here to check out some amazing LED bedroom lighting ideas.
  2. LED backlighting

iii. Signage.

  1. Portable flashlight
  2. Automotive interior and tail lights.
  3. Elevator lighting.
  4. Garden lighting.

How to Choose the Right Light Emitting Diode Driver

The following are important factors you need to consider when you want to purchase a Light Emitting Diode driver:

  1. Output voltage.
  2. Supply voltage.

iii. Maximum switching frequency (It should range from 200Hz to 200GHz).

Conclusion

In the article above, we have discussed all that you need to know about LED drivers.