How to Choose LED Drivers for Horticulture Lighting

More and more growers utilize horticulture lighting to achieve better plant growth, higher yields, and year-round production. Compared to traditional light sources, LED grow lights are more efficient and long-lasting. Therefore, LED grow lights are the most popular choice for horticulture lighting. The specific selection of LED grow lights depends on the species of plants and their growing stages. Except for the efficiency, protection, spectrum, reliability, and other relevant factors, LED drivers should also be taken into account when choosing LED grow lights for your greenhouses, vertical farms, grow tents, etc. That is because every LED grow light requires a driver to function properly. Without quality drivers, LED grow lights may burn out. Thus, choosing the right LED grow light with the right LED driver is critical. Let’s learn more about LED drivers in this post.

What is an LED driver?

An LED driver is an electrical device that regulates the power required for an LED or array of LEDs. It is also known as an LED power supply. An LED driver is similar to ballasts of fluorescent lights, helping LEDs perform at their best with the correct power supply. An LED driver is effective in preventing “thermal runaway”, which will damage LEDs. LEDs require a certain amount of volts to conduct electricity. This is called “forward voltage”. But forward voltage will decrease with increased temperature. The decreased forward voltage causes the LED to draw more current. LEDs also get hotter and hotter as the current increases. Eventually, LEDs will burn itself out. With the help of LED drivers, the power required for an LED or a string of LEDs is regulated appropriately. As last, the “thermal runaway” is avoided.

What are the common types of LED drivers?

Constant current drivers and constant voltage drivers are the two common types of drivers for LED grow lights. Both of them have their own advantages. Which one do you need based on your requirements and applications?

• Constant current drivers

LED constant current drivers are the most widely used LED drivers for horticulture lighting. Constant current drivers produce a consistent amount of current. They can constantly control and regulate the current level regardless of external temperatures. Therefore, constant current drivers are perfect for preventing burnout and thermal runaway.

• Constant voltage drivers

Unlike constant current drivers, constant voltage drivers produce a fixed output voltage range. Constant voltage drivers are ideal for lighting systems with multiple strings of LED lights. For example, commercial grow rooms feature integrated electronics. Constant voltage drivers supply current according to the number of connected electronics, and prevent excessive current.

Tips for choosing the right LED driver

LED drivers supply the right voltage to your grow lights as well as convert current from AC to DC. Choosing the right LED drivers plays an important role in ensuring perfect performance and a long lifespan for your grow lights. Here are some tips for choosing the right LED driver for your horticulture lights.

• Output and input voltage/current

First, consider the power requirements including output voltage/current and input voltage/current. Output voltage/current requirements mean the power requirement of your horticulture fixtures. For example, a 12-volt LED grow light requires a 12-volt LED driver to make it operate normally. In simple words, the LED drivers should be compatible with your grow lights.

Input voltage/current requirements refer to the power supply of your applications. If you use constant voltage LED drivers, LED drivers must work well with the input voltage of your applications. Without the right input voltage, LED drivers cannot properly start and light fixtures. Most homes supply an average of 120 volts, while commercial and industrial facilities supply 277 volts or even 480 volts. Similarly, check the input current range and the compatibility when choosing a constant current LED driver.

• Max wattage

When it comes to the maximum wattage of LED drivers, it is simpler to figure out. LED drivers shall have a higher max wattage than your LED grow lights. Moreover, the maximum wattage of your fixtures should be at least 50% of the driver’s max wattage. If the max wattage of drivers exceeds that of grow lights, this can damage the fixtures and drivers.

• Dimming

Both constant current and constant voltage LED drivers can include dimming capability. Our LED grow lights can be customized with both dimming and adjustable spectrum. Dimmable grow lights enable growers to regulate the light intensity given to crops freely. You can increase or decrease the light intensity depending on your needs. Most dimmable grow lights work with a low voltage dimming system, 0-10V dimming system. With dimmer and dimmable LED drivers, you can provide the right amount of light for various plants regardless of their growing stages. For example, you can cut down the flow of current of a dimmable grow light from 1000W to 600W or 300W by simply switching the dimmer. Then the light intensity of the grow light is reduced. But do you really need dimmable grow lights? Check out our previous post and find the answer.

• Safety

As known, an LED driver is an electrical device. Therefore, the safety of LED drivers is also critical. Heat dissipation and enclosure protection are two main factors affecting the safety of LED drivers. Heat dissipation is related to the material and structure design of LED drivers. Excellent heat dissipation not only ensures stable performance but also extends the lifespan of LED drivers. IP rating explains the enclosure protection of LED drivers to both solid objects and water elements. Check our previous post for more details about IP ratings.

LED drivers regulate and supply the power required for LEDs, and avoid the thermal runway effectively. Choosing the right LED driver and LED grow lights for your application is an important part of successful cultivation. If it is too complicated to choose external drivers, why not start with quality LED grow lights with external drivers? Contact us and learn about horticulture lighting solutions with external LED drivers.