Deck:
Our expert, Randall Whitehead, IALD, checks his “sources,” answering readers’ questions AC-driven versus DC-driven LEDs.
Question:
As one of the most influential lighting experts around, will you be addressing the paradigm of the highest quality solid-state lighting lines that use AC LEDs (versus DC-driven LEDs)?
I love it when you butter me up before asking the question. This would be my first paradigm. Which is not as exciting as a space/time continuum, but I am still intrigued.
Here’s the short answer: Yes, I am for AC-driven LEDs. They have fewer components, are easier to implement and can be less expensive. Still, they are fairly new so the optics are still emerging and there are fewer suppliers.
On the plus side for DC LEDS, you can get more lumens per watt and the suppliers are more plentiful. On the downside, the DC needs to be converted to AC, which can add to the cost and the component designs are more complex.
