Overview

In the LED dimming power supply industry, 'isolated' and 'non-isolated' drivers are frequently mentioned concepts. However, many people still lack a clear understanding of their differences in terms of safety, structural design, and application scenarios. Some even mistakenly believe that 'non-isolated means unsafe,' which is an oversimplification.

In this article, we’ll dive into the distinctions between these two types of drivers and help you decide which one to choose for different project needs.

What Is an Isolated LED Driver?

An isolated LED driver uses a transformer to provide electrical isolation between the input (typically connected to AC mains) and the output (connected to the LED load).

Why Use an Isolated Driver?

High safety: Users won’t receive an electric shock when touching the output side.

Strong EMI immunity: Better handling of electromagnetic interference for more stable systems.

Versatile: Suitable for various lighting designs, especially with metal housings, outdoor fixtures, or high-end commercial lighting.

Flexible dimming: Electrical separation eliminates grounding and interference issues, making it easier to integrate with DALI, TRIAC, 0-10V, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, and other smart dimming protocols.

Typical Applications of Isolated Drivers

Commercial Lighting: Track lights, downlights, grille lights

Outdoor Lighting: Garden lights, floodlights, landscape lights

Smart Homes: Downlights, ceiling lights

Industrial Lighting: High bay lights, explosion-proof fixtures

What Is a Non-Isolated LED Driver?

A non-isolated driver does not use a transformer to separate the AC input from the DC output — the input and output are electrically connected.

Advantages of Non-Isolated Drivers

 Lower cost: Fewer components (no transformer or optocoupler), making it ideal for cost-sensitive projects.

Simpler structure: Easier to design and manufacture.

Compact design: Smaller size due to minimal components.

Higher efficiency: In some cases, energy loss is reduced without the transformer, improving overall system efficiency.

Typical Applications of Non-Isolated Drivers

Home Lighting: Ceiling lights, small downlights, cabinet lights

Office Lighting: Panel lights, linear lights

Commercial Lighting: LED strips, shelf lights

How to Choose the Right Driver?

When selecting an LED driver, consider dimming needs, environment, safety requirements, and budget. As a leading provider in the smart LED driver industry, Suretron offers a complete product line covering both isolated and non-isolated dimming solutions.

Suretron Isolated Drivers

 Excellent electrical isolation using transformers to ensure system safety and stability

Broad protocol compatibility: Supports DALI-2, D4i, 0/1-10V, TRIAC, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi

 Superior dimming performance: Flicker-free, smart dimming, color tuning, programmable control

Durable under high-voltage, high-risk conditions

Suretron Non-Isolated Drivers

 Streamlined and efficient circuit design without transformer isolation

Compact size, lower design cost, still supports mainstream dimming protocols (DALI-2, D4i, 0/1-10V, TRIAC, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi)

Smooth and stable dimming with flicker-free performance

Ideal for cost-sensitive applications with good dimming requirements