how efficient are drivers when dimmed

[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.

[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.

[Dedgoldfish]

The dimmer lowers the current which lowers the wattage

[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.

[Calenk]

cool
thanks guys

[Hydrofood]

This quote sums it up

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