What size LED driver do I need?

Total the wattage of everything on the circuit, then choose a driver rated roughly 20-25% above that figure. For example, a 5m run of 14.4W/m strip draws 72W and wants a 90-100W driver. The headroom keeps the driver cool, which is the main determinant of its service life.

What is the difference between constant voltage and constant current drivers?

Constant-voltage drivers supply a fixed voltage — 12V, 24V or 48V — and are used for LED strip, profile and magnetic track, where the current drawn depends on how much you connect. Constant-current drivers supply a fixed current in mA and are used for individual downlights, spots and modules. Using the wrong type will damage the fitting.

Why do my LED lights flicker when dimmed?

Almost always a driver and dimmer mismatch. A non-dimmable driver on a dimmer circuit, a TRIAC dimmer below its minimum load, or a control protocol the driver does not support will all produce flicker. The fix is matching the driver, dimmer and control system as a set rather than specifying them separately.

Can LED drivers be installed outdoors in the UAE?

Only IP-rated drivers, and even then they should be shaded rather than left in direct sun. Heat is the enemy: an IP67 driver in full summer sun runs far above its rated ambient. Best practice is to keep drivers inside a ventilated enclosure or indoors and run the low-voltage output out to the fittings.

LED drivers and constant-voltage transformers mounted in an accessible services enclosure

Transformers & Drivers

Ziera

24V TRIAC DIMMABLE

AED 85.00

Transformers & Drivers in the UAE

The driver is the component that decides how long a lighting installation lasts. LEDs themselves rarely fail outright; drivers do, and in UAE conditions they fail early when they are under-sized, run hot, or buried somewhere they cannot be reached. Nearly every flickering strip, dead cove and dimming incompatibility traces back to the driver rather than the light.

Ziera stocks constant-voltage drivers for strip, profile and magnetic track in 12V, 24V and 48V, and constant-current drivers for downlights, spots and modules, in both non-dimmable and dimmable versions across TRIAC, 0-10V and DALI protocols. IP-rated drivers are available for outdoor and damp locations. Because the drivers come from the same supply as the fittings, dimming compatibility is confirmed before delivery instead of discovered on site.

Specifying

What to get right

Specify 20-25% above the connected load

Add up the actual wattage on the circuit and choose a driver rated comfortably above it. A driver run continuously at 100% of its rating heats up, and heat is what kills electrolytic capacitors — the usual failure point. Headroom also means a strip can be extended later without replacing the driver.

Know whether you need constant voltage or constant current

Constant-voltage drivers output a fixed 12V, 24V or 48V and suit LED strip, profile and magnetic track, where the load varies with length. Constant-current drivers output a fixed mA and suit individual downlights, spots and modules. They are not interchangeable, and connecting the wrong type damages the fitting.

Match the dimming protocol across the whole system

TRIAC suits simple retrofit installations on existing wall dimmers. 0-10V and DALI suit larger schemes and anything under a control system. The driver, the dimmer and the control system all have to agree — mismatched protocols are the most common cause of flicker, buzzing and a dimmer that only works over part of its travel.

Install where it can be reached and can breathe

Drivers need airflow and access. Sealed inside an insulated ceiling void or behind fixed joinery, they run hot and fail sooner, and replacing one means cutting into finished work. Specify an accessible location — an access panel, a services void, a plinth compartment — at design stage.

Questions

Transformers & Drivers FAQs

What size LED driver do I need?: Total the wattage of everything on the circuit, then choose a driver rated roughly 20-25% above that figure. For example, a 5m run of 14.4W/m strip draws 72W and wants a 90-100W driver. The headroom keeps the driver cool, which is the main determinant of its service life.
What is the difference between constant voltage and constant current drivers?: Constant-voltage drivers supply a fixed voltage — 12V, 24V or 48V — and are used for LED strip, profile and magnetic track, where the current drawn depends on how much you connect. Constant-current drivers supply a fixed current in mA and are used for individual downlights, spots and modules. Using the wrong type will damage the fitting.
Why do my LED lights flicker when dimmed?: Almost always a driver and dimmer mismatch. A non-dimmable driver on a dimmer circuit, a TRIAC dimmer below its minimum load, or a control protocol the driver does not support will all produce flicker. The fix is matching the driver, dimmer and control system as a set rather than specifying them separately.
Can LED drivers be installed outdoors in the UAE?: Only IP-rated drivers, and even then they should be shaded rather than left in direct sun. Heat is the enemy: an IP67 driver in full summer sun runs far above its rated ambient. Best practice is to keep drivers inside a ventilated enclosure or indoors and run the low-voltage output out to the fittings.

Specifying transformers & drivers for a project?

Ziera supplies villas, hotels and fit-outs across Dubai, Sharjah and the wider UAE, and makes custom pieces where the catalogue does not fit. Send us the drawing or the room and we will come back with a specification and a price.

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