What Are They And Which Do I Need?

How do LED Drivers work? 

LED Drivers basically keep the electrical current flowing through the LED circuit at their rated level of power. LED’s are designed for low voltage power (12-24 volts), but in most commercial spaces the supply of power is much higher (120-277 volts). 

LED drivers are used to direct the right amount of electricity to the lightbulb. In the instance of a change in voltage (power), an led driver would protect an LED bulb from any electrical current fluctuations. These fluctuations can cause a light bulb to vary its light output (brightness), or cause the LED bulb to overheat. An LED Driver is vital to the safety of the bulb.

Internal vs. External Drivers

Every LED light fixture requires an LED driver to power them. There are two different types of devices: internal drivers and external drivers.

Internal Drivers

Internal drivers are normally found in household light bulbs. These are your standard incandescent and CFL light bulb replacements with screw-in or plug-in capabilities.

External Drivers

External drivers are normally used for commercial lighting purposes. This is anywhere from area lighting, to warehouse lighting, to street lighting. In most cases, it’s much cheaper to replace the external driver than to replace the entire LED light fixture.

When should I replace my External Driver?

It’s no surprise that external drivers will fail, but before replacing your entire LED light fixture, you should consider the benefits of simply replacing your external driver. Often times, drivers will fail due to their exposure to high temperatures.

These high internal temperatures can shorten the life of the driver, and cause an LED light bulb to stop working. Just by replacing your old driver with a new one, you can save time and money!