Light flicker in LED lighting arises from the conversion of alternating current to direct current, leading to periodic fluctuations in brightness. These fluctuations can affect human perception and cause fatigue, especially at frequencies of 100–120 Hz. Acceptable flicker percentages, regulated by standards, should remain below 9.6% for general use and 4% in sensitive environments. Understanding flicker metrics and using high-quality drivers can help mitigate these effects effectively.
LED drivers are classified by output regulation into constant current, constant voltage, and constant power types. Constant current drivers keep a fixed current to stabilize brightness in series-connected LEDs, while constant voltage drivers suit parallel LED modules but incur energy losses through resistors. Constant power drivers adjust the current to maintain steady power, offering flexibility with LED suppliers, though at a higher cost.
LED fixtures need drivers to convert AC to DC, lower voltage, and stabilize current. Drivers can enable dimming. They can be 40–50% of fixture cost. While LEDs last up to 100,000 hours, drivers last ~50,000 due to aging capacitors. High-end drivers use film caps but cost more. Focus on driver warranty for a better gauge of overall fixture longevity.
A seemingly simple thing - an LED amplifier. The user chooses a device of suitable output power and uses it. But the devil lies in the details. From this post, you will know how LED strip amplifiers differ, what is not written in the documentation, where and in what lies, and what problems these devices can create. And also any buyer wants to understand why these simple devices have a large price range.
