Glossary
LED driver (driver LED)
The electronic power supply that converts mains 230 V into the steady direct current LEDs need. It is often the first part to fail in a downlight or LED fitting.
What an LED driver is
An LED driver is the small power supply that goes with each LED fitting, inside the bulb or in a separate box above the false ceiling. LEDs cannot be connected straight to the 230 V AC mains: they need steady direct current in exactly the right amount. The driver makes that conversion, and its quality decides whether the light is stable and how long the fitting lasts.
Types of driver
- Constant current: delivers a fixed current (for example 350 or 700 mA). Used in downlights, panels and spotlights.
- Constant voltage: delivers 12 or 24 V. Used for LED strips.
- Non-dimmable and dimmable: to dim the light you need a dimmable driver compatible with the dimming type, whether phase cut, 0-10 V or DALI.
Signs of a faulty driver
- The light flickers or strobes.
- It is slow to come on or switches on and off by itself.
- The light dims or leaves a faint glow with the switch off.
- You hear a buzz.
The most common causes are heat build-up in the false ceiling, voltage spikes and low-quality drivers.
How it is replaced
If the driver is external, it is replaced with one of the same output current and a voltage range compatible with the LED, without touching the fitting. If it is built in, the whole spotlight is replaced. Before changing anything, rule out a bad connection or an incompatible dimmer.
Who to call
If several downlights flicker or fail, we diagnose the cause and replace drivers or spotlights. See flickering lights and downlights installation in Seville, Spain.
Related services
Downlights and recessed spotlights
LED lighting installation in Seville, Spain with downlights and recessed spotlights (recessed lights or pot lights in the US): we plan where each light goes, cut the false ceiling, run the lines and leave everything working, with dimming if you want it. Orders of 30 to 50 downlights, typical in a new flat, done in a single day.
Flickering lights
Lights flickering in your apartment, or dipping every time something switches on, are not a minor detail: they usually warn of a loose contact, a faulty neutral or a voltage drop in a cable that has become too small. An electrician in Seville, Spain measures, finds the source and repairs it before it turns into a bigger fault.
Need an electrician in Seville, Spain?
Call us or send a WhatsApp message with a photo of the job. You get a fixed quote before any work starts.