A Deep-dive Into LED Drivers

LED lighting has become an increasingly popular option in emergency and civilian vehicles. Whether it is police lights, fire trucks lights or traffic arrows, LED lights can be the perfect solution. The basic functioning and its internal heating mechanisms have been explored in previous blogs. However, there’s another crucial component to these lights, LED drivers. In this blog post, its mechanics and usage will be explored. 

All Details On LED Drivers

What is a LED driver?

A LED driver is a device that controls the amount of current flowing through a LED or group of LEDs. By regulating the current, the LED driver ensures that the LEDs do not overheat and burn out. In addition, the LED driver can also protect the LEDs from electrical fluctuations.

Purpose Of LED Driver

As mentioned above, an LED driver is a device that provides the necessary current and voltage to operate an LED. These lights are different from other types of lighting because they require a constant flow of electricity to function properly, rather than the alternating current found in most home and commercial electrical systems. Here’s a detailed look at how LED drivers achieve the same.

Provides Low Voltage

First off, low voltage means less heat. This is because the electrical resistance of a material increases as the voltage across it increases. So, by operating at lower voltages, LEDs can dissipate less heat.

Second, the low voltage also means that LEDs can be more efficiently driven. This is because the power dissipation in an LED driver, and any electronic circuit for that matter, can be defined by the equation P=IV, where I is the current and V is the voltage. Since the voltage is linearly proportional to power dissipation, doubling the voltage will result in doubling the power dissipation. So, by driving LEDs at lower voltages, smaller, and therefore cheaper and more efficient drivers can be used.

Protects The LED Bulbs

LED bulbs are more expensive than traditional incandescent bulbs. An LED driver is a power regulator that manages the flow of current and voltage going to the LED bulb. This protects the bulb from damage caused by sudden power surges or fluctuations.

A good quality LED driver will also have built-in protection against short circuits and overheating conditions. This ensures that the LED bulb will have a long life span and will not be damaged by normal use.

Types Of LED Drivers

Internal LED Driver

As its name suggests, an internal LED driver is a component of the LED fixture itself. The main advantage of using an internal LED driver is that it’s often more compact and less expensive than an external driver. 

External LED Driver

External LED drivers, on the other hand, are separate devices that are connected to the LED fixture. They offer some advantages as well. For example, they can be easily replaced if they fail, and they often have better thermal management than internal drivers.

When choosing an LED driver, it’s important to consider the specific application. Factors to consider include the type of power source being used (AC or DC), the wattage rating of the driver, and the operating voltage and current of the LEDs.

For complete fleet solutions including arrowboards, police sirens, perimeter lighting and more, check out D&R Electronics Co. Ltd., a firm believer in providing solutions through innovation. Our 40+ years of enriched experience and knowledge working with police and public work departments around the globe is a definite advantage, further strengthened by our after-sales service policies. For more information, visit https://www.dandrelectronics.com/