When it comes to powering your new LED lighting source, and you will need a power source, you have two options: Drivers, or Transformers. The option that you will pick depends on everything from your housing circumstance to your budget and even the reason for the LED installation in the first place. Let’s take a closer view, then, at what the most particular difference between transformers and drivers for lighting is going to be. By doing this, you will get much closer to finding out the truth about what option you should be picking for your own LED light fittings.
So, the primary difference between the use of a driver or a transformer starts with appropriate usage. For example, a transformer is usually only used with lower frequency equipment, for example a low voltage lamp system. Since a transformer can provide either AC or DC output, though, it can cause issues with an LED load as it may have a different requirement in terms of wattage. This is where issues can stem from, especially from the compatibility side of things.
With a transformer, you should always look at the minimum load that it can handle – it should tell you on it. Typically, they are designed in a manner that is going to be compatible with specific products, so you should always look to contact the manufacturer of a particular output system if you are unsure. With a transformer, compatibility can be a confusing matter and this can help you to get around that issue as quickly and as easily as you possibly can.
The other side of the coin, though, is a driver. Most of the time, drivers are developed with an LED system hand-in-hand, specifically designed for this purpose. While a transformer can be very specific, it will be made for a certain grouping of items that fall under a particular ratio of performance.
The same cannot be said, though, of a driver – they are more versatile. They tend to have far less issues with compatibility, meaning that they can be the go-to option for those who are in need of a more versatile output. Indeed, they tend to also carry a DC output which it’s very rare to find in a transformer.
With this in mind, you should find it easier to determine if you need a transformer or if you should be looking to invest in a driver, instead.