Zhaga Transforms LED Driver Specification with New Book 13 Interface Specification
The Zhaga Consortium, a global association of lighting companies that is standardizing interfaces of components of LED luminaires, has published a significantly updated version of its interface specification for LED drivers. The new specification, designated Book 13 Edition 2.0, reduces complexity in the market by having significantly fewer mechanical form-factors than the earlier version. Overall, Edition 2.0 features only 27 categories, compared with 78 in Edition 1.0.
Book 13 now addresses also the electrical interface between LED drivers and LED modules, which is critical in determining whether components are interoperable.
The reduction in mechanical form-factor categories represents consensus on a global basis among leading LED driver manufacturers. Removing unnecessary variations in components is a key feature of Zhaga standardization, and is highly beneficial for LED-driver vendors, luminaire makers and customers alike.
For the module-driver electrical interface, Zhaga has chosen to reference specifications from MD-SIG, a global industry consortium. Where drivers and modules are compliant with the LEDset Power Interface specification from MD-SIG, this allows a meaningful comparison of product data to see if the driver-module combination is a viable option.
For LED luminaire makers, Zhaga Book 13 allows the identification of suitable LED drivers for a specific luminaire design, both in terms of correct mechanical fit and also to ensure that the LED module operates as intended.
Specification details:
In Book 13 Edition 2.0, the categorization of product types has been simplified and the number of LED driver form-factors has been reduced to 27. Book 13 covers only “built-in” drivers, which are intended for mounting inside a luminaire or inside another separate enclosure. “Independent” drivers are not covered.
Zhaga has defined two broad categories, based on the number of mounting holes. For the 2-hole category, there are 17 form-factor categories based on different driver sizes, and there are a further 10 form-factors for the 4-hole category.
Zhaga uses a demarcation model to define the maximum volume that the driver can occupy. The demarcation also defines the minimum volume that needs to be provided inside the luminaire to enable mounting of the driver. For the 2-hole category of drivers, the driver itself can have either 1 or 2 mounting holes, located along the centre axis of the driver, while a compliant luminaire should have 2 mounting holes in corresponding positions. Similarly, for the four-hole category the driver can have 2, 3 or 4 mounting holes, at the corners of the demarcation area, while the luminaire should have 4 mounting holes.
For detailed information, please visit www.zhagastandard.org/books/book13/
For general information on Zhaga's activities or other Zhaga Books, please visit www.zhagastandard.org/
About Zhaga:
Zhaga is a global lighting-industry consortium that is standardizing components of LED luminaires, including LED light engines, LED modules, LED arrays, holders, electronic control gear (LED drivers) and connectivity fit systems. This helps to streamline the LED lighting supply chain, and to simplify LED luminaire design and manufacturing. Zhaga continues to develop specifications based on the inter-related themes of interoperable components, smart and connected lighting, and serviceable luminaires.
