Talking about the isolation and non-isolation of LED drive power

LED-driven LED power supply Currently in the general LED lighting market, there are non-isolated designs and isolated drive power. Non-isolated designs are limited to dual-insulation products, such as replacements for light bulbs, where the LED and the entire product are integrated and sealed in a non-conductive plastic, so the end user does not have any risk of electric shock. The secondary products are all isolated and relatively expensive, but they are essential where the user can access the LEDs and output wiring (usually in the case of LED lighting and street lighting applications).

Analyze the isolation and non-isolation of the drive power

An isolated driver or an electrically isolated LED driver means that the LED can be touched directly without touching the battery. The LED driver power supply without the isolation transformer can still achieve partial mechanical insulation by means of the protective casing, but the LED at this time cannot be directly contacted during operation.

Insulated bulbs will become mainstream in the future

The physical design determines whether the drive is isolated or non-isolated. Security rules usually require the use of two separate isolation layers. Designers can choose between two physical barriers, a plastic diffuser and a glass shield, and use a non-isolated power supply. If physical isolation costs are too high, there are mechanical difficulties, or too much light is absorbed, electrical isolation issues must be addressed in the power supply.

Isolated power supplies are typically larger than non-isolated power supplies of the same power level. Lighting designers must perform significant cost and design optimizations in each of the products they design. Since it is suitable for different applications, whether it is an isolated insulating transformer or an isolated protective lamp housing, the designer will always have different opinions in different angles.

Often, they analyze in many ways, such as cost and manufacturing processes, efficiency and volume, insulation reliability and safety specifications, and so on. Drives with transformers cost more, but they also make LED luminaires more practical and meet the needs of end users who accidentally touch LEDs. When the incandescent glass casing is easily damaged, an ordinary bulb of the E27 model can be replaced with an LED lamp.

In addition, luminaires in industrial areas or office equipment applications do not need to reach end users, such as street lights and mall lighting, where LED lights do require isolation transformers.

As a product that can be safely used by end users, the reliability of insulation and isolation must be considered. As a complete product, the parts of the product surface that are accessible to the user must be isolated and not subject to electric shock. From the perspective of the entire system, isolation is inevitable, the only difference is the location of the isolation. Some designers use isolated transformer designs so they can simplify heat dissipation and lampshade design. If a non-isolated drive design is used, reliable insulation requirements must be considered for structures such as lamp housings. Therefore, as a power driver, both isolated and non-isolated solutions exist simultaneously.