What LED Driver Do I Need?

When choosing the right LED driver, compatibility is crucial to ensure the longevity and performance of your LED system. Using an incorrect driver can lead to system failure or even damage to your components.

At UltraLEDs, we offer a diverse range of LED drivers to meet various needs, including 12V and 24V options, dimmable models, water-resistant designs, and high-quality Mean Well drivers, among others. As one of the UK’s largest suppliers, our expert team is here to guide you in selecting the perfect driver for your specific requirements, ensuring optimal performance and reliability for your LED setup.

What Is An LED Driver

LED drivers are devices which regulate and supply the power used to ‘drive’ runs of LED strip lighting. Like traditional transformers, they transform mains voltage alternating current (240V AC) to a lower voltage. However, LED drivers also transform mains voltage current to a constant, direct current (DC) that LEDs require. By adjusting their output according to the electrical properties of the LED tape which changes as it heats up, drivers regulate the power supplied to the LEDs to be a constant of usually either 12VDC or 24VDC.

As LEDs require a constant DC of 12V or 24V, LED drivers are required in all LED systems (except those which are specifically developed to be controlled by mains voltage power).

Do All LED Lights Need A Driver?

All LED strip lights should be connected to a driver. The only exception is LED lighting that is specifically developed to be controlled by a mains power supply such as mains voltage tape or LED bulbs.

Types Of Drivers

There are two different types of LED driver: constant voltage LED drivers and constant current LED drivers, which have different functions and applications.

Constant current drivers are designed for LEDs that need a fixed current but can withstand a range of voltages. They work by varying the voltage supplied to the light in order to maintain a constant current. Because they can control the electrical current, a constant current driver is best for LED downlights or high powered LEDs.

A constant voltage driver is designed for LED lights that need a fixed voltage (of either 12v or 24v drivers) but have a current that's already being regulated by another safety device, like a resistor. These drivers are best for brightly coloured LED lighting that needs a constant voltage to maintain its vibrancy.

What Is Voltage?

All LED strip lights requires either 12V or 24V to power, which can be found in the product specifications. Be sure to buy a driver with the same output voltage that the tape requires. Running 12V strip light with a 24V driver will result in the LEDs being brighter in the short term, resulting in the higher voltage burning the tape out. Whilst, running 24V strip light with a 12V driver will result in the LEDs not lighting up at all.

What Is Wattage?

The amount of power LED tape consumes varies depending on its length. The wattage (W) of a tape is the amount of power the tape consumes per meter. To work out how many watts your run of tape needs simply multiply the wattage of the tape by the number of meters you are running. For example, 5 metres of 6W LED strip light requires 30W. We would recommend using a driver with an output capability of 33W or more to power this strip light.

Once, you know the wattage of the run of strip light you can then choose a suitable driver. The wattage of a driver indicates its maximum output capability. We recommend choosing a driver with a wattage capability at least 10% higher than the wattage the LED tape requires to ensure a longer lifespan.

Does Your LED Driver Need To Be Water Resistant?

If you are installing your LED strip light outdoors or in an environment with moisture, it is paramount to use a water resistant driver. To know if a driver is water resistant look for its Ingress Protection or “IP” rating. Splash-proof drivers with an IP rating of 65 are best suited for bathrooms and kitchens use (Protected from low pressure water from any direction). Waterproof drivers with an IP rating of 67 (Protection from immersion between 15cm and 1m in depth) or above, are best suited for outdoor use.

Do You Want To Be Able To Dim Your LED Lighting?

If you want to be able to dim your LEDs, be sure to buy a driver with dimming capabilities. They work by reducing the amount of power supplied to the LED, and there are two different kinds: trailing edge dimmable drivers (also known as ELV drivers) and leading edge dimmable drivers (also known as TRIAC drivers). To learn more about the differences between the two different dimming technologies click here.

Plug & Play Or Professional?

If you’re installing LED lighting yourself, we recommend our standard range of LED drivers; they feature innovative plug and play technology with a cable with UK mains voltage plug pre-attached, making installation easier than ever.

For those with electrical experience who require access to the driver’s ports or are you are looking for a driver for a more demanding situation. We would recommend our Tagra® Professional range of drivers. This is due to their exceptional reliability record, high-quality internal components and unprecedented 5 year warranty. They also feature several terminals for more versatile installation, which require hard wiring.

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