LED is a new light source with fast growing in lighting market. Nowadays people have had a concept in mind that the LED - Light Emitting Diode is energy-saving and environment friendly. LED light appear in most public and commercial areas: supermarkets, retail store, library and even on the outdoor street in city, which has been part and parcel in our life. The LED driver is a part of a LED light fixture to works as ballasts for fluorescent lamps or transformers for low voltage bulb to provide electricity the LED light require to work stably.
LED works with low voltage 12V-14V DC, but most areas supply 120V-240V AC as the power source. The LED driver can transform the high voltage AC to low voltage DC the LED need for stable working. The LED driver also can stabilize the current lead to LED light, higher or lower current supply could give rise to the corresponding fluctuation on LED current output. That could cause the light output vary or degrade faster with the higher temperature in LED light.
All in all, the LED driver could transform the high voltage, direct current to low voltage, alternating current and keep the LED light work with stable current supply at the best performance.
Generally speaking, every LED light source requires a LED driver. But some LED lights, particularly those designed for household using, have internal driver instead of external LED driver. These LED lights have easy-installation plug-in or screw-in base to replace traditional incandescent light or CFL light such as E26/ E27, GU10, GU24. Usually, a LED driver is needed for panel light, track light, downlight, outdoor wallwash light. They typically need a LED driver because it is easy to replace the LED driver than LED light.
There are two main types of LED driver: constant-current LED driver and constant-voltage LED driver. The constant-current LED driver only transmit one specific current with a range of wattages based on the load. The constant-voltage LED driver do as the opposite to offer a specific voltage (usually 12V or 24V) and the current is regulated with a max value. In addition, the LED driver is usually compatible with dimming control (TRIAC, 0-10V Dimmers, Trailing Edges).
