LED Driver Selection Guide
This is the master checklist we use when a customer sends a fitting and asks "which driver?". Work the steps in order.
1. Constant current or constant voltage?
Match the LED load. Discrete high-power LEDs and COB modules are usually constant current; LED strips and certain modules are constant voltage. See CC vs CV.
2. Voltage and current
Read the LED label (or learn to read the driver label). For CV, match the output voltage (12/24/36/48 V). For CC, match the current (350/500/700/1050 mA…).
3. Wattage with headroom
Sum the LED load and add ~20% headroom. A 40 W load → a 50 W driver. Worked numbers in LED Driver Sizing.
4. Environment → IP rating
Dry indoor: IP20. Wet/outdoor: IP67 (or better). Read IP20 vs IP67.
5. Dimming / control
0-10V, DALI-2, D4i, or fixed? Pick the protocol your system uses — see the DALI guide and D4i explainer.
6. Certifications
CE for Europe, UL/cUL for North America, and the relevant safety marks for your market. Confirm before you commit tooling.