The use of LED lighting, which has actually been around since the early to mid-1960s, has become increasingly popular because of its energy efficiency and the smaller fixtures that are able to generate a very large amount of light. With each LED fixture you will need an LED transformer, and getting the right transformer is important.
The Role of the Transformer
Any type of transformer, including an LED transformer, is designed to take in energy at one voltage level and change it to the correct voltage level of the other side of the system.
With an LED transformer, the device allows the high voltage electricity to be converted into lower voltage electricity that the LED bulbs utilize. This is done through the creation of a magnetic field caused by the electricity coming into the fixture to cycle through coils that are wrapped around a small iron core. With the alternating current, the magnetic field also alternates and passes from that tighter central core to an outer coil that is less tightly wound, and this is all done without the two coils making contact.
With fewer coils and the alternating nature of the current and the magnetic field, the actual voltage in that outer wire drops, allowing for the correct voltage going from the LED transformer to the LED light.
The Importance of the LED Transformer
LED lights do not generate heat like traditional bulbs with filaments, and, therefore, they do not need the high voltage of a standard light bulb. By using the LED transformer, the voltage is cut back and the LED light can function without the need for the same amount of energy input.
There is one type of LED lighting system that will not require an LED transformer. This is known as a main voltage LED, but most light fixtures will feature the low voltage to maximize energy efficiency and cost savings.
Through the use of these transformers the energy coming into the system, which will be the standards 120 volts will be converted into 12 volts or, in some systems, into 24 volts. It will also be converted from AC current, or alternating current into DC or direct current.
To know what type of LED transformer to select, it will be essential to check the amount of wattage it is rated for, as well as the number of lights in the fixture. The total wattage of the lights has to be less than the rating of the transformer.
