Once the light source is soldered into a lamp, the driver controls reliability, flicker, dimming and the warranty cost. It is also the component most easily substituted without changing the appearance of the product at all.
What the driver does
It converts line voltage to the current the LEDs need, and it is evaluated as an electrical component in its own right under the relevant safety standard for LED drivers. In a fixture, the driver also determines behaviour at low dim levels and how the product behaves when the supply is imperfect.
Isolated or non-isolated
An isolated driver separates the output from the mains, which is generally the safer topology for a product a consumer can touch. A non-isolated driver is cheaper, requires more careful construction and is more sensitive to how the product is assembled.
For a residential lamp in reach of a child, the isolated design is the sensible default.
| Design choice | Effect on cost | Effect on risk |
|---|---|---|
| Isolated driver | Higher | Lower; clearer separation from mains |
| Non-isolated driver | Lower | Depends entirely on construction and enclosure |
| Replaceable driver module | Higher | Lower warranty cost over the product's life |
| Potted, sealed driver | Higher | Robust, but not serviceable |
Thermal design is the driver's problem
Drivers fail from heat before they fail from anything else, and electrolytic capacitors degrade faster at elevated temperature. A sealed base with no ventilation and a driver buried inside is a product with a short life, whatever the LED rating says.
What to ask a supplier
The driver manufacturer and model, whether it is isolated, the rated lifetime at the operating temperature inside the fixture, and whether the driver is a replaceable module. A supplier who can answer all four has engineered the product rather than assembled it.
Why replaceability is worth the cost
An integrated LED lamp with a replaceable driver can be repaired at year five for the cost of a component. The same lamp with a potted driver becomes electronic waste. For a hospitality programme with hundreds of units, that difference is the whole economics of the decision.
Sourcing lamps for your business?
We stock the Anrotix range in the United States — complete with LED bulbs and accessories — and supply from 10 units, mixed across SKUs.
Request wholesale pricingRecruiting regional partners worldwide — help@anrotix.cn