Help me Replace this Driver.

SteveMM62Reef · Oct 14, 2022

The Driver Model No. is EC-36900A-M Input AC 100-264V 50/60Hz 0.46 Amps. Output Vdc 30-36V 900mA +- 5% P 30W Looking it up on the Internet it’s a Constant Current Driver. “Only Available in 100 lots.” Can I use a Higher Wattage (40w) Driver, found on Amazon, without Damaging the LED? Could I use a Dimmable Driver? I haven’t pulled the Chip off of it‘s Mounting, to see what it is. Could I apply 12 Vdc to it to see if it’s good, ohms out okay.

Timfish · Oct 14, 2022

As long as the voltage range is in the same voltage range as your old one and most importantly the "constant current" rating is the same (or a littel bit lower) you're good. The overall wattage ratting is an indicator of how many LEDs can be driven so a 40 watt can drive more LEDs at the given current than a 30 watt.

Just FYI, a constant current driver will adjust the voltage to provide the rated current so it's possible to use a 100 watt driver to run the same set of LEDs a 30 watt driver will run providing the voltage range of the 100 watt overlaps or includes the voltage range of the 30 watt and the current rating is the same. What's critical is matching the "constant Current" rating and minimum wattage.

oreo54 · Oct 14, 2022

The voltage needed to light it is somewhere in the 30v range.

With constant current " wattage" of the driver is not exactly relevant.

The driver is what determines if it's dimmable not the led.

The only thing " we" know is the LEDs voltage at 900mA is somewhere between 30-36 volts. So about a 30w led.

Finding an exact replacement will involve some work.
Finding " good enough" is a bit easier
IDLC-45A-1050 will work BUT does push the chip to 1050mA.

LCM-40U.... 900mA, and the correct voltage range. Actually current adj from 350-900. ( possibly 1050but max voltage is 34v dc)
LCM-60U has 36 v available at 1050

But $33 driver and out of stock here:
https://www.ledsupply.com/led-drivers/mean-well-lcm-u-series-with-dimming

APC-25-700.... Only 700 mA ( which would be fine btw.)
IP42 and non- dimmable. $12

HLG-40H-42 (A, AB, or B)
960mA "out of the box"
"A" is voltage and current adj, "B" is 3 way dimmable. "AB" is both. Blank is neither.

Point is you just need a driver with an output voltage range AT LEAST 30-36.
Both the min and max.
Current " to taste".
Less than 900mA and not as bright, more than 900mA pushing chip heat wise.

Do you want dimming? The 10v Meanwells that are dimmable usually have a manual potentiometer option.

Programmers aren't cheap and usually exceed the cost of the driver.
The 2 common dimming methods are 10 v analog or 5v pwm.

If you really want automatic dimming you must ( or should) pick the controller first.

Picking say a bluefish mini will limit your driver choice and a different " system"
Power supply plus dc/dc driver instead of an all in 1 Ac/dc driver.

Oh probably a bunch of cheap Chinese drivers on ebay..