LED drivers form the electrical interface between the power source and the LED load. Their job is to provide controlled operating conditions while supporting the electrical architecture of the fixture or machine.
Electrical Control
Regulating LED Current
LED operating conditions change with device characteristics and temperature, so driver electronics are used to control the electrical input supplied to the LED string or module.
Driver selection should account for the required operating range rather than matching only one nominal point.
Input Power
Drivers and Power Supplies
The driver may receive power directly from the available electrical source or from a separate conversion stage.
Industrial power supplies provide a broader category of electrical conversion hardware that can be used upstream of LED driver circuitry where the architecture requires it.
LED Power Supplies →Dimming
Adjusting Light Output
Driver electronics can support controlled changes in LED output when the application requires dimming or multiple operating states.
The control method should be compatible with the driver and LED architecture and should produce the required visual or machine-vision result.
Automation
Switching and External Control Signals
Machine-integrated lighting can operate according to equipment state, inspection timing, occupancy, operator input, or other control signals.
Control interfaces should be coordinated with the electrical system of the machine instead of adding lighting as an isolated circuit after the rest of the controls are complete.
Protection
Protecting the Lighting Electronics
Driver designs may incorporate protection functions suited to the intended electrical and thermal operating environment.
System-level protection also depends on wiring, connectors, enclosure design, upstream power conversion, grounding, and equipment architecture.
Mechanical Integration
Where the Driver Lives
Driver electronics can be located inside the lighting housing, on the LED board, in a separate enclosure, or elsewhere within the machine.
An electronic enclosure can provide a separate protected space for controls and conversion electronics where the mechanical architecture calls for one.
Connections
Power and Control Connectors
Connector choice should accommodate electrical load, polarity, retention, available space, assembly process, maintenance, and the surrounding environment.
Dedicated power connectors are one category of connection hardware used to create removable electrical interfaces.
Selection