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Low-Cost Method for Wiring Multiple Constant Current

LED Luminaires
9 September 2021

If you are wiring multiple constant current luminaires MEAN WELL has a low-
cost solution.

Instead of using a separate 240VAC to constant current DC LED driver for each
luminaire you could use a low cost DC to DC constant current LED driver on each
lamp, and power the DC to DC drivers from a single constant voltage LED driver instead.
This will substantially reduce the cost of the hardware.

Example of Low-Cost Method for Wiring Multiple Constant Current LED Luminaires

Let’s presume you wish to wire 10 x LED luminaires.

Each requires a 350mA LED driver with a 15-28VDC forward voltage range.

Your initial approach may be to source 10 x 350mA LED drivers with a power output of
around 10-15 Watts.

However, instead you could use 1 x LDD-350HW per luminaire. These have an output
of 350mA with a forward voltage of 2-52VDC.

Ideally you should use a LED driver with the exact current required to power the LEDs.
You can go a little lower if needed, but don’t go higher. You may overdrive the LEDs and
cause them to burn out. Please note of you do use a lower current LED driver, the
luminaires may not be quite a bright as expected.

The LED driver you select must have a forward voltage range that can accommodate the
range required by the LED luminaires. In this example our luminaires require 15-
28VDC, so the 2-52VDC forward range of the LDD-350HWs is more than adequate. The
LDDs need an input voltage 3V higher than the output to make them
work. So, for 28V LEDs, a 36V input is a good choice. All that is required now is a
constant voltage LED driver to take the 240VAC and convert it to DC to power the
10 x DC to DC LED drivers.

To calculate the size of constant voltage LED driver required, you first work out the
maximum power each could draw. This is done by multiplying the output current by the
top of the forward voltage range. So, in our example above this would be 350mA (0.35A)
x 28V = 9.8W. You then multiply this maximum power rating x the number of
luminaires: 9.8W x 10 = 98W. Then add another few Watts for headroom.

We need a constant voltage LED driver with at least 100W output. In this case you
would use a 150-Watt LED driver, such as the ELG-150-36A-AUP. The ‘-AUP’ suffix
denotes that the LED driver has an Australian flex and plug fitted, which makes
installation a lot easier and far more cost effective.

One thing to watch out for is the minimum operating voltage of the driver supplying the
input voltage. A 36V driver will operate down to 18V before it senses an overload and
starts to “hiccup”. This limits the minimum usable voltage with this technique. If your
LEDs run at 10V, the power supply will try to provide power at (10+3) Volts and will
sense an overload and start to “hiccup”

The below wiring diagram shows how an ELG-150-36-AUP and 10 LDD-350HWs should
be installed:
In this example, your hardware cost would be approximately 50% cheaper if you had
used the single ELG-150-36-AUP to power 10x LDD-350HWs instead of buying 10 x
350mA 240VAC constant current LED drivers.
What is “Constant Current Mode”?
9 September 2021

In some of the MEAN WELL LED driver data sheets you will come across the description
“Constant Voltage + Constant Current mode output”, or "Constant Current Mode LED
Driver.
When you see this, it means the LED driver is a constant voltage type, but it can also be
used in constant current mode.

How does Constant Current Mode Work?

To switch this type of LED drive into Constant Current Mode you need to place a load on
the driver that equals the maximum current output rating.

The LED driver then ‘clamps’ this current and allows the voltage to float to keep the
output current at a constant level.

Why is This Useful?

This particularly useful if you need a LED driver with a high constant current output.
The highest output current available within the range is 40 amps on the HLG-600H-12.

MEAN WELL HLG-600H Series LED Driver

If you cannot find a LED driver that has a maximum current output that exactly matches
your needs look at the adjustable models.

These are the ones with the ‘A’ or 'AB' suffix at the end of the part number.You can
adjust the current output using the built-in potentiometer within the range that is
specified in the data sheet.

For OEM customers it is possible to order an adjustable LED driver with the dimming
function included. As these are special order items a minimum order quantity applies.
KNX Dimmable LED Drivers with Selectable Current
Output
9 September 2021

MEAN WELL is the first manufacturer in the world to offer a LED driver with a built in
KNX interface.

This means you don’t need an expensive DALI to KNX gateway, thereby reducing the
cost of the installation.

The LCM-KN series LED drivers have a constant current output.

MEAN WELL LCM-KN Series LED Driver

The output current is simply selected using the DIP switches under the blue cover.

The below table details the output current options available on each model:

Model Output Options

LCM-
350mA, 450mA, 500mA, 550mA, 600mA, 700mA, 800mA, 900mA, 1050mA
25KN

LCM- 350mA, 450mA, 500mA, 550mA, 600mA, 650mA, 700mA, 750mA, 800mA, 850mA,
40KN 900mA, 950mA, 1050mA

LCM- 500mA, 600mA,650mA, 700mA, 750mA, 800mA, 850mA, 900mA, 950mA, 1000mA,
60KN 1050mA, 1100mA, 1150mA, 1200mA, 1250mA, 1300mA, 1400mA
With the LCM-KN series LED drivers, you can also control up to 10 units synchronously,
with one LED driver acting as a master, and the other 9 as slaves.

Another remarkable feature is the built-in temperature compensation.

A temperature sensor (NTC resistor) can be connected between the +NTC / -NTC
terminals under the blue cover of the LED driver. The sensor’s detecting point can be
used to monitor the temperature of the luminaires, or the surrounding environment. As
the temperature rises the output current of the LED driver varies according to the
sensed temperature. This can be used to ensure the long life of the LEDs.
What to Do If You Only Have a Limited Number of DALI
Addresses
8 September 2021

A single DALI system has 64 static addresses that can be used to control devices, such as
DALI dimmable LED drivers.

For larger projects this may not be enough to control all the LED drivers that you need
to use.

There are two practical solutions to this problem available from MEAN WELL.

CONSTANT CURRENT LED DRIVERS

If your project requires constant current LED drivers then we suggest that you consider
using the MEAN WELL LCM DA series.

MEAN WELL LCM-60DA DALI LED

Driver

There are three models to choose from:

 LCM-25DA 25 Watts

LCM-40DA 40 Watts

LCM-60DA 60 Watts

All three models have a master / slave feature, which allows up to 10 units to be
dimmed synchronously from via one DALI static address. This is done by using one
driver as a master, controlling up to 9 additional LCM drivers as slaves, as shown in the
following diagram:

dali_led_driver_wiring_diagram

CONSTANT VOLTAGE LED DRIVERS

If you are using the HLG series constant voltage LED drivers, then you may wish to use
the MEAN WELL DAP-04 DALI to PWM converter.

MEAN WELL DAP-04 DALI Converter

Let’s say you have an installation that requires the use of 80 DALI dimmable LED
drivers. You just don’t have enough static addresses to control each LED driver
individually.

The most affordable solution is to use the same model MEAN WELL LED driver, but with
3-in-1 dimming as opposed to DALI dimming.
You then use a MEAN WELL DAP-04 to convert the DALI signal to a PWM signal, which
the 3-in-1 dimmable LED driver will respond to.

The DAP-04 only consumes 4 DALI addresses. It has 4 control outputs, each of which
can control up to 20 MEAN WELL LED drivers. In other words, a total of 80 LED drivers.

Typically, a MEAN WELL 3-in-1 LED driver is a few dollars cheaper than its DALI
dimmable equivalent. The DAP-04 is also remarkably affordable, so in most cases you
will find this solution to be more cost effective than using 80 LED drivers, each with its
own DALI interface.

The HLG series LED drivers are available with power outputs ranging from 40 WATTS
to 600WATTS.

MEAN WELL 600 WATT HLG Series LED Driver

Constant Current LED Drivers with Built in DALI

Interface

If you prefer to use a constant current LED driver with a built in DALI interface, then we
suggest you consider the ELG series LED drivers.

MEAN WELL ELG Series LED Driver with Built In DALI Interface

These are available with power outputs ranging from 75 WATTS through to 240
WATTS.
Dimmable LED Drivers
8 September 2021

MEAN WELL Australia probably has the most comprehensive range of dimmable LED
drivers available with Australian approvals.

There are 4 questions you need to ask yourself in order to select the correct dimmable
LED driver:

Do I need a constant voltage driver or constant

current LED driver?

Constant Current Dimmable LED Driver

This will be determined by the LED light fitting itself. Some require the current output
of the driver to remain constant at all times, others require the output voltage to remain
constant at all times. The LED driver ensures the correct output is maintained, even if
there are fluctuations in the 240VAC power supply.
What power output do I need?

Be sure you know what voltage (V) or current (mA) output is required to drive your
LED light fitting and also what is the minimum power output (watts) required.

High Power Dimmable LED Driver

Where is the LED driver going to be mounted?

Do you need an LED driver for mounting inside a ceiling space, or do you need a
weather-proof driver that can be exposed to the elements? Either way MEAN WELL
Australia has a dimmable LED driver to suit.

Finally, what type of dimming controller is being used in

the installation?

Different types of dimming controllers have different type of dimming signal outputs.
You will need a dimmable LED driver that is compatible with this signal. So, check what
type of signal your controller uses. The most common are:

1-10V 0-10V

PWM Signal DALI

Push Button Dimming AC Phase Cut

MEAN WELL AC Phase Cut Dimmable LED Driver

What LED Driver do I need?
7 September 2021

To work out what LED driver you need, you first of all have to ask yourself 5 simple
questions:

Do I need a Constant Current or Constant Voltage

LED driver?

This will depend on the type of light fitting or LED you have.

Some LEDs require a constant voltage to prevent flickering, others require a constant
current.

MEAN WELL Constant Current LED Driver

If there is any fluctuation in your 240VAC power supply the LED driver will ensure that
either the voltage, or current output remains constant.

What is the required output?

This will either be the required voltage, or required current.

12V & 24V are the most common voltage outputs, but it could be something different.
Current outputs are usually expressed a milliamps. For example 350mA or 700mA.

How powerful does the LED driver need to be?

This is the wattage of the LED driver. Is 16W going to be enough, or do you need
something as large as a 600W led driver?
 MEAN WELL 600-WATT LED Driver

Where is the LED driver going to situated?

If it is going in the roof space then a plastic bodied LED driver will be fine. However, if it
is going to be exposed to the elements, you will need a weatherproof LED driver.

Do you want to dim the LEDs?

If you want to DIM the LEDs then you will need to know what type of output your
dimming controller has. The most common types are:

• Resistive
• 0-10VDC or 1-10VDC
• PWM Signal
• Push Button
• DALI

MEAN WELL Dimmable LED Driver

Choosing a LED driver for your LED Downlight
3 September 2021

Selecting the right LED driver for your LED downlight can sometimes be more difficult
than you would otherwise think.

There are two things that you need to know before you start looking:

• The required output types

• The required dimming type (if applicable)

Let’s take a look at the output type first.

LED drivers fall into one of two categories; Constant Voltage, or Constant Current.

Which one you need purely comes down to the design of the LED downlight in question.

Most LED downlights require a constant current LED driver, though there are a few that
require constant voltage.

If the LED downlight has integrated electronics to regulate the current being fed to the
LEDs, then it will require a constant voltage LED driver.

As well as identifying the output type required, you also need to know the required
output value.

For example, if you need a constant voltage LED driver do you need 12V or 24V? If it is a
constant current LED driver you need, is it 350mA? It could be higher or lower than this,
but you need to know either way.

If you are replacing an existing LED driver, then you can check the output details that
are printed on the LED driver you are replacing.

If you are not replacing a LED driver, then you will need to check with the manufacturer
on the required current / voltage required to power the LED downlight. This may be
stated in a product data sheet, or you may have to ask the manufacturer directly.
If you don’t need a dimmable LED driver, you can go ahead and start looking for a
suitable LED driver.

However, if you need a dimmable LED driver you will need a LED driver that is
compatible with the type of dimmer being used.

In most domestic situations you will probably have a TRIAC type wall plate dimmer.
These are connected across the AC input into the LED driver and work by chopping the
AC power being fed to the LED driver. If you have this type of dimmer, then you need a
LED driver with AC phase cut dimming.

The MEAN WELL PCD LED driver incorporates the AC phase cut dimming feature.

MEAN WELL PCD-25 LED Driver

You may not be able to find an AC phase cut dimmable LED driver with the required
output type. In such cases, you may be able to change your dimming control for a 1-
10VDC dimming pot.

LED drivers that feature MEAN WELL’s 3-in-1 dimming function will work with a 1-
10VDC dimming pot. They will dim down as far as 10% of the rated output and need a
separate on / off switch.

This is because the 1-10VDC dimming pot has to be wired to dedicated dimming
terminals, or wires on the LED driver. The LED driver has an inbuilt dimming control
circuit which takes the 1-10VDC signal and adjusts the light output accordingly. The
on/off switch is require to turn the AC mains on and off as required.

One or more of the MEAN WELL Australia partners listed on this website sell 1-10VDC
dimming pots and they will fit in most existing wall plates.
MEAN WELL has a wide range of constant voltage and constant current LED drivers that
feature the 3-in-1 dimming function. You can browse the range on this website, but
please don’t hesitate to contact MEAN WELL Australia if you are struggling to identify a
suitable LED driver for your LED downlight.

Another thing to be mindful of is dimmable LED drivers with a PWM style constant
voltage output. The output of these LED drivers is being cycled on and off very rapidly
and the integrated electronics of a constant voltage LED fitting can struggle to keep up
with the switching frequency of around 1.5Khz. You may be better off using a type that
dims by varying the amplitude of the output current.
What is a Constant Voltage LED Driver?
3 September 2021

The answer is quite simple: It is a LED driver which allows the output current to
fluctuate in order to maintain a constant voltage output to your LEDs.

There are two types of LED driver: Constant Voltage and Constant Current.

The type of LED driver you need to use purely depends on the way the LED
manufacturer has designed their LED strip or LED lights.

Constant Voltage LED circuit designs

Low cost LED strips and lights are usually built according to a very simple design with
power being supplied the LED strings coming from a constant voltage LED driver. A
resistor is used on each string of LEDs to limit the current (as shown in the below
diagram). This avoids damage to the LEDs if too much current is supplied.

Although this design has a low level of complexity and is a low cost solution, it has poor
current regulation and low efficiency.
If a LED within a string fails, or draws more current than it should this will cause an
imbalance in the circuit, which will adversely affect the performance of the LED light.

Manufacturers of quality constant voltage LED lighting products will use a better design,
which incorporates a constant current LED driver IC to supply the power to each string.
(see diagram below).

This design ensures that the optimum current is delivered to each LED string to ensure
maximum efficiency. It is also able to cope with a single LED failure, as the constant
current LED driver IC will detect the imbalance in the circuit and adjust its output
accordingly.
Naturally it is more expensive to manufacture constant voltage LED products using this
design, which is why you see a difference in the price of different LED strips.

For both of the above designs to work correctly they need the incoming voltage to
remain constant.

This is where the constant voltage LED driver comes in. It incorporates circuitry to
ensure that the voltage being supplied to the LED strip or light fitting remains constant,
regardless of any fluctuations that may occur to the AC power being delivered from the
wall socket.

To achieve this it allows the current to fluctuate.

Let’s take a look at how current and voltage relate to each other in LED drivers.

A 150 Watt 12V constant voltage LED driver would normally deliver the 12V at 12.5
Amps.

To calculate the power output (Watts) of a LED driver you multiply the voltage by the
current.

So, 12V x 12.5 Amps = 150 Watts (12 x 12.5 = 150).

If we had a 150 Watt 24V constant voltage LED driver, it would deliver the 24V at 6.25
Amps.

24V x 6.25 Amps = 150 Watts (24 x 6.25 = 150).

So you can see there is a relationship between the current and voltage, when
determining the power (Watts) in a circuit.

If there are fluctuations in the incoming AC power supply they will affect the DC output
being supplied to the LED light strip or fitting. As it is the voltage that must remain
constant the LED driver will allow the current to fluctuate accordingly so that the LED
driver can compensate for the fluctuations in the incoming AC power and maintain the
required constant voltage output.
MEAN WELL LED Driver with PWM Output
3 September 2021

Some lighting manufacturers stipulate that a dimmable LED driver with PWM output
should be used, when dimming their light fittings.

A LED driver with PWM output is also preferable when dimming different lengths of
LED strip.

If you need a LED driver with a PWM output, then you need the MEAN WELL PWM
series LED drivers.

MEAN WELL PWM Series LED Driver

You will find the complete range listed on this website, under constant voltage LED
drivers.

You may see the term “PWM signal” referred to on other MEAN WELL LED drivers that
feature MEAN WELL’s patented 3-in-1 dimming technology. This does not mean that the
LED driver has a PWM output. It means that it is compatible with PWM type dimming
controllers.

We understand that this can be somewhat confusing, so let us explain in more detail
what we mean.
What is a PWM signal?

First of all let us explain what a PWM signal actually is.

PWM stands for Pulse Width Modulation. This is a digital type of signal that has a duty
cycle, which is the proportion of time when the output voltage is on relative to the
entire period of time. It is expressed in percentage, with 100% being fully on and 0%
being fully off.

This type of signal is commonly used in sophisticated electronic control circuitry,

including dimmable LED drivers.

The below diagrams give you a visualisation of what the signal looks like at different
output levels.

PWM Signal Duty Cycles

MEAN WELL uses PWM signals for two completely different tasks:

1: Dimming control

If you have been browsing through the range of Australian approved MEAN WELL LED
drivers on this website, you may have noticed that many of them feature 3-in1 dimming.
This is a patented MEAN WELL feature.

Basically it means that the LED driver is compatible with 3 different types of dimming
controller. Including dimming controllers that have a PWM output. The LED driver
automatically detects the incoming dimming control signal and varies the current
amplitude (with the exception of the PWM series LED driver) of the LED driver in order
to dim the lights.
2: Control of the DC output

With the MEAN WELL PWM series LED driver, a PWM signal is used to control the DC
output. Unlike all of the other MEAN WELL dimmable LED drivers, the current
amplitude is not varied to control the light output.

Instead the output is switching on and on at a very fast rate. So fast that it is not
detectable to the human eye. This rate of switching is controlled by a PWM signal. As the
dimming control is turned down the rate of switching reduces. This causes the LED
lights to DIM.

What is the benefit of a PWM output?

The simple answer is that it gives you even dimming of the LED lights, regardless of the
load you have on the LED driver.

With the LED drivers that vary the current amplitude to effect the dimming, you need to
match your load as closely as possible to the maximum load of the LED driver to ensure
even dimming (we suggest you use 90~95% of the rated output)

Also, if you are using multiple LED drivers to drive different lengths of LED strip, you
need to ensure all of the LED drivers are loaded to the same capacity.

For example, of you have 3 LED drivers powering 3 different lengths of LED strip, all
would need to be loaded to 95% of their rated maximum capacity in order for them to
dim simultaneously. Otherwise they will start to dim at different times. This usually
means spending quite a bit of time working on the design to ensure you end up with
equally loaded LED drivers. And then you have to hope nothing changes at the time of
installation.

By using a PWM signal to control the output, the LED drivers will give you even
dimming regardless of the load on the LED driver. This is why if you are dimming LED
strip, we recommend you look at the MEAN WELL PWM series as your first option.
DALI Dimmable LED Drivers
31 August 2021

MEAN WELL has a wide range of LED drivers that are dimmable via a DALI controller.

Some models have the DALI interface built in, whilst others require the low-cost MEAN
WELL DAP-04 DALI to PWM converter.

The MEAN WELL range of DALI dimmable LED drivers includes:

• Constant current LED drivers

• Constant voltage LED drivers

Constant Current DALI dimmable LED drivers

The LCM-DA series is a family of constant current LED drivers that has a built in DALI
interface.

MEAN WELL LCM-60DA Constant Current DALI LED Driver

They are available in 25-WATT, 40 WATT and 60-WATT models.

The beauty of these DALI dimmable LED drivers is that you can select the required
constant current output using the built in DIP switches. If you have different projects
that need different current outputs, you don’t have to buy multiple different models of
the same LED driver. One model will cover most eventualities.

Unlike other constant current LED drivers with a selectable output, the MEAN WELL
LCM series is extremely easy to install. There is a set of DIP switches under the blue
cover. On the front of the LED driver is a chart that shows what positions the switches
need to be in, in order to select the output you need. It’s that simple! You don’t need to
be an IT genius.
IP67 LED Constant Current LED Drivers

MEAN WELL also manufactures a series of IP67 rated DALI constant current LED
drivers, the ELG-C series.

MEAN WELL ELG-C Constant Current DALI LED Driver

These are available with either a 75-WATT, 100-WATT, 150-WATT, 200 WATT, or 240-
WATT output.

The IP67 ingress protection rating means that they are resistant to water ingress when
splashed. If you are considering mounting these LED drivers outside, it is recommended
that you protect them from direct sunlight. Otherwise, the temperature inside the LED
driver could rise beyond the maximum rated working temperature. This has the
potential to lead to a failure, which would not be covered by the warranty.

Constant Voltage DALI dimmable LED drivers

MEAN WELL also manufactures a constant voltage version of the ELG series LED
drivers.

MEAN WELL ELG Series Constant Voltage DALI LED Driver

Many of our Australian sales representatives stock the 12V and 24V models. Again,
there are 75-WATT, 100-WATT, 150-WATT, 200 WATT, and 240-WATT versions
available. However, it should be noted that a 12V model is not offered for the 100 WATT
and 240-WATT options.
As with their constant current cousins these have an IP67 ingress protection rating,
which means that they are resistant to water ingress when splashed. If you are
considering mounting these LED drivers outside, it is recommended that you protect
them from direct sunlight. Otherwise, the temperature inside the LED driver could rise
beyond the maximum rated working temperature. This has the potential to lead to a
failure, which would not be covered by the warranty.

Another useful feature of the ELG series constant voltage LED drivers, is their ability to
operate in constant current mode. This makes them suitable for use with high powered
LED lighting, such as street lights and stadium lighting.

The ELG-C and ELG series LED drivers are highly reliable and come with a 5-year
warranty.

Low-Cost DALI Converter

The MEAN WELL DAP-04 DALI to PWM converter is a low-cost device that can control
up to 80 MEAN WELL LED drivers. This can be any MEAN WELL LED driver that
features the 3-in-1 dimming function.

MEAN WELL DAP-04 DALI Converter

This gives you a very broad range of DALI dimmable LED drivers to choose from.

The HLG series LED driver has a rugged housing and is IP67 rated. This makes it perfect
for outdoor applications.
There are ten models in the series ranging from 40 WATTS right through to 600
WATTS.
The HLG series has a 7-year warranty that makes it the number 1 choice in Australia for
commercial and industrial application.
 MEAN WELL HLG Series 600-WATT LED Driver

The MEAN WELL DAP-04 DALI to PWM converter has 4 outputs, each with its own
DALI address. Each output will control up to 20 MEAN WELL dimmable LED drivers,
meaning that you only need one DAP-04 to control up to 80 LED drivers!

One thing to note is that even if you only intend to use one channel, the DAP-04 will still
take up 4 DALI addresses on your system. A single channel version of the DAP-04 is
available under part number DAP-04-S01DM. This will control up to 20 MEAN WELL
dimmable LED drivers.