A Look At the Differences Between Integrated and External LED Headlight Bulb Drivers

As LED headlight bulb technology keeps developing, more and more people are getting to know these bulbs for their long life, high brightness, and energy-saving features. When you're looking for LED headlight bulbs, you might notice that some come with a small outer box, while others don't. Is this box really important for LED headlight bulbs? Yes, this box is called an LED driver. It ensures the LED bulbs receive the right current to work properly and deliver their best performance.

Types of automotive LED headlight drivers:

1. Integrated drivers: The most compact and easy-to-install integrated headlight on the market. These headlight bulbs do not come with an external box. In fact, the driver is integrated with the bulb itself, controlling the forward current directly within the bulb assembly.

   

2. External Driver: Some LED headlight bulbs come with a box, which is an external driver designed to meet the electrical requirements of LEDs.

   

As shown in the picture, LED headlight bulbs with an external driver first connect to the driver, and then the driver links to the plug.

Differences between integrated and external drivers:

• Power: Compared to LED bulbs with a built-in driver, LED headlight bulbs with an external driver are typically more powerful with higher lumen output, ranging from 40W to 150W or more. Integrated headlight bulbs, due to the heat generated inside the bulb, tend to have a lower wattage, typically between 10W and 40W.
• Installation:
  • Integrated LED headlights: These are space-saving and easy to install. They are compact, with a smaller bulb size, and fit seamlessly into the headlight housing, leaving enough room for the dust cover. These bulbs help maintain air circulation within the housing.
  • External driver LED bulbs: These require additional space to place the Canbus driver inside the headlight housing. If the driver is too large, it may be difficult to fit it in smaller or medium-sized headlight housings.
• Design Difficulty:
  • Integrated drivers: These are more challenging to design due to the need for advanced processing power and precise layout of components like capacitors, resistors, and control ICs. If any issues arise in the design, it becomes difficult to correct them.
  • External drivers: External drivers are easier to design because there is more space for the components. This extra space allows for greater flexibility in placing parts like diodes, MOS tubes, and resistors, making the design process more straightforward.
• Dissipation:

  Both external and integrated drivers are equipped with high-speed fans for active cooling. The external driver setup prevents excessive heat interaction with the LED chip, enhancing heat dissipation efficiency. However, integrated drivers benefit from the bulb's inherent heat dissipation system, such as aluminum heat sinks or heat pipes. In general, LED bulbs with external drivers are better at heat dissipation compared to integrated driver bulbs.

In conclusion, whether internal or external, all LED headlight bulbs feature the same essential electronic components. These components will heat up quickly, reaching temperatures around 80°C when in use. Therefore, the cooling system in both types of bulbs needs to efficiently manage heat generated by both the LED and the driver.

Featured Product: Integrated LED Headlight Bulb with Driver

The CN360 P2 LED headlight bulbs maximize illumination with a high-power 110W 9600LM per set. Key features include:

• High-Speed Hydraulic Fan: Ensures optimal cooling for reliable operation.
• 360° Adjustable Chuck: Offers versatile positioning for focused lighting where you need it.
• Patented Heat Dissipation Technology: Prolongs product life and maintains high performance.