10W 12V weatherproof LED driver

This is a small LED driver – the power supply that sits between mains and low-voltage lighting. At this size it is the unit behind a handful of step lights, a single garden spike, a short run of strip under a cabinet, or one fitting that arrived without a supply of its own. It takes mains power and converts it down to 12V DC.

It is rated to carry up to 10W of LED load. That figure is a ceiling, not a target – which matters more than it sounds.

Small drivers are the ones most often left out of a plan. A single fitting is easy to think of as self-contained, and the discovery that it needs a supply usually happens with the fitting already in hand.

Working out what size you need

Add up the wattage of the fittings this will power and keep the total comfortably under its rating. On a small driver that margin disappears quickly – two or three fittings can reach the limit, and a driver run at its ceiling gets hot and fails early.

It is often worth stepping up a size rather than matching exactly. The price difference between small drivers is slight, and the larger one leaves room to add a fitting later without pulling the supply out again.

The output voltage has to match the fittings. A 12V fitting on the wrong supply either will not light or will be destroyed, and that is not a warranty claim.

Where it can be installed

Being weatherproof and small makes this an easy unit to place – under an eave, inside a garden bed, or tucked behind the fitting it feeds. Keep it out of standing water and mount it so water runs off rather than pooling on it.

Weatherproof is not the same as submersible. Keep it out of standing water and off ground that floods, and mount it so water runs off rather than pooling on it.

Dimming

This is a fixed-output driver – it is not dimmable. Fitting a mains dimmer in front of it will not dim the lights, and can damage the driver.

If you want the lighting to dim, choose a dimmable driver instead. Dimming is decided by the driver, so it is not something that can be added later without changing this unit.

Installation

This is a Class I driver, which means it requires an earth connection. That is not optional, and it is part of what makes the installation compliant.

The mains side is licensed electrical work and needs an electrician, however small the unit. Size is not what decides that – the 240V connection is.

Small drivers get tucked into the first convenient gap, and that is usually the mistake. Put it where a hand can reach it, not where it happens to fit, because the day it needs replacing nobody will remember where it went.

Frequently asked questions

What does an LED driver actually do?

It converts mains down to the low-voltage DC that LED fittings run on. Even a single small fitting needs one – low-voltage lighting cannot be connected to mains directly.

How much lighting will 10W run?

Add up the wattage of the fittings you want to power – the total needs to stay under 10W, with room to spare. The wattage of each fitting is listed on its own specification.

Does the output voltage have to match my fittings?

Yes. This driver outputs 12V DC and the fittings must be rated for the same. Mixing them either leaves the lights dead or destroys them.

Can it be installed outside?

Yes – it is rated IP66 for outdoor use. Keep it clear of standing water and mount it so water drains off rather than sitting on it.

Can I dim it?

No – this is a fixed-output driver. Dimming has to be handled by a dimmable driver, so it cannot be added afterwards without replacing this unit.

Does it need an earth?

Yes. It is a Class I driver, so an earth connection is required.

Do I need an electrician?

Yes, for the mains side. Connecting a driver to mains is licensed electrical work in Australia.

What warranty does it carry?

3 Years*