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how efficient are drivers when dimmed
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 11:57 pm
by Calenk
do these drives remain pretty effecient when you dim them down. ie do they pull proportionality less from the wall when your leds pull less from it? reason I'm asking is it seems like a good Idea to buy a bigger driver than needed and just dim it down leaving room upgrading in the future.
Re: how efficient are drivers when dimmed
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 1:22 am
by Dedgoldfish
Drivers have different efficiency rates check the manufacturer's PDF file and check, your driver only pulls the amount of voltage needed to drive whatever LEDs you have at whatever set current. So if you have an hlg 320 and only 1 cob you're not pulling all 320 watts only whatever voltage the cob requires per current.
Re: how efficient are drivers when dimmed
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 1:32 am
by Dedgoldfish
The dimmer lowers the current which lowers the wattage
Re: how efficient are drivers when dimmed
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 1:54 am
by Shimbob
Mean well specs have an Efficiency vs Load chart for their drivers. Efficiency also depends on the input voltage.
Roughly, there isn't much difference in efficiency until you drop to 40% of max load.
Re: how efficient are drivers when dimmed
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 2:03 am
by Calenk
cool
thanks guys
Re: how efficient are drivers when dimmed
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2018 10:15 pm
by Hydrofood
This quote sums it up
Shimbob wrote: ↑Sat Oct 20, 2018 1:54 am
Roughly, there isn't much difference in efficiency until you drop to 40% of max load.
For some, the drop starts at 30%, others drop at 50%.
40% is right on the money