Why Driver Sizing Fails on Large Installations

On a small residential job, an undersized or weak LED driver is a minor annoyance. On a hotel corridor, a retail chain rollout or a full commercial facade, it becomes a recurring service call — a driver running near its ceiling, overheating quietly above a false ceiling, and failing months after handover when nobody is watching. The CD Series exists to remove that risk at the source: a constant voltage driver range engineered specifically for high-wattage, always-on commercial runs, with every single unit proven at full rated output before it leaves the factory.

Spanning eight wattages from 60W to 500W in both 12V and 24V DC, the CD Series lets a single driver carry loads that would otherwise need two or three smaller units wired in parallel — fewer joints, fewer points of failure, and one driver to specify instead of a bill of materials.

500W
Max Output
Highest in the range
8
Wattage Steps
60W through 500W
100%
Load Tested
Every unit, before dispatch
0
Moving Parts
Fanless convection cooling

One Driver, Eight Capacity Points

60W
100W
150W
200W
250W
300W
400W
500W

Each wattage is available in 12V and 24V DC. Pick the step above your calculated load with roughly 20% headroom — a 480W load on a full 20m strip run points to the 500W model, not the 400W.

Four Fixed Brightness Levels, Set Once

Instead of continuous dimming hardware, the CD Series carries an on-board DIP switch bank that locks the output to one of four levels at commissioning:

25%
Ambient
50%
Half
75%
Task
100%
Full

No Controller in the Loop

Because the level is fixed in hardware rather than sent over a signal wire, there's no dimmer, DALI gateway or 0-10V line to install, commission or troubleshoot later. It's the right choice anywhere the brightness is a design decision made once — cove lines, signage backlighting, architectural wall runs — not something end users will adjust day to day.

🌅

Slow Start, Selectable by Switch

A second DIP switch enables slow start — the output ramps from zero to the set brightness over a short interval at power-on instead of snapping on instantly. Guests waking a hotel corridor or a gallery visitor triggering an occupancy sensor never meet a flash of full brightness. Where instant-on is preferred instead, the same switch turns it off.

Available Models

Eight wattages, two voltages, all IP20 rated with fanless free-air convection cooling:

12V DC Output

VoltageWattageMax CurrentDimensions (L×W×H)
12V60W5.0 A170 × 35 × 23 mm
12V100W8.3 A145 × 48 × 24 mm
12V150W12.5 A195 × 48 × 24 mm
12V200W16.7 A215 × 48 × 24 mm
12V250W20.8 A236 × 49 × 29 mm
12V300W25.0 A236 × 49 × 29 mm
12V400W33.4 A236 × 49 × 29 mm
12V500W41.7 A213 × 62 × 31 mm

24V DC Output

VoltageWattageMax CurrentDimensions (L×W×H)
24V60W2.5 A170 × 35 × 23 mm
24V100W4.2 A145 × 48 × 24 mm
24V150W6.3 A195 × 48 × 24 mm
24V200W8.3 A215 × 48 × 24 mm
24V250W10.4 A236 × 49 × 29 mm
24V300W12.5 A236 × 49 × 29 mm
24V400W16.7 A236 × 49 × 29 mm
24V500W20.8 A213 × 62 × 31 mm

Sizing rule of thumb: total the wattage of every LED load on the circuit, then move up to the next CD Series step with roughly 20% headroom. A driver run continuously above 80% of its rated load loses service life faster than one with margin built in — the 20% buffer costs little and protects the installation for years, not months.

Key Features

🔬
100% Burn-In Tested
Every unit runs at full rated load on the production line — infant-mortality failures are caught before the driver ships, not after installation.
🎚️
4-Gear DIP Dimming
25 / 50 / 75 / 100% output, locked in hardware at commissioning. No external dimmer, controller or signal cable.
🌅
Slow Start Option
Gradual ramp-up at power-on to avoid a glare flash, or instant-on — selectable by the same DIP switch bank.
🌬️
Fanless Cooling
Free-air convection across the entire 60W–500W span. No fan to fail, no hum in a quiet occupied space.
⚡
Up to 500W
The highest-capacity driver in the Nucleo range — one unit for loads that would otherwise need multiple smaller drivers.
🛡️
Auto-Recovery Protection
Short circuit, overload, over-voltage and over-temperature protection, all self-clearing once the fault condition ends.
🌍
Worldwide Safety Compliance
Meets worldwide safety regulations for LED lighting drivers, suitable for Class I / II / III internal applications.
🏷️
IP20 Indoor Rated
Built for concealed dry installation — false ceilings, conduit runs and electrical cabinets.

Applications

🏨
Hotel Corridors
🏢
Commercial Offices
🛍️
Retail Chain Rollouts
🏗️
Large Cove Lighting
🔲
LED Profile Systems
🍽️
Restaurant Ambiance
🎭
Auditoriums
🏪
Display & Signage
🏠
Luxury Residences
🌃
Facade & Architectural

Technical Specifications

ParameterSpecification
SeriesCD Series
Driver typeConstant Voltage (CV)
Output voltage12V DC or 24V DC
Output wattage60W / 100W / 150W / 200W / 250W / 300W / 400W / 500W
Dimming method4-Gear DIP switch — 25% / 50% / 75% / 100%
Slow startSelectable via DIP switch
IP ratingIP20
CoolingFanless, free-air convection
Quality assurance100% full load burn-in test on every unit
Safety complianceWorldwide safety regulation for LED lighting
Application classClass I / II / III internal lights
ProtectionsShort circuit, overload, over-voltage, over-temperature (auto-recovery)
InstallationIndoor, dry locations only
SupplyPan India

Frequently Asked Questions

How many drivers do I need for a large LED installation?
Add up the total wattage of every LED strip or fixture run on a single circuit, then choose the next CD Series wattage above that figure with at least 20% headroom. A single 500W unit can replace several smaller drivers wired in parallel, which reduces the number of junctions, cable runs and potential failure points in a large commercial installation.
What does full load burn-in testing actually verify?
Every CD Series unit is powered at 100% of its rated wattage for a sustained period on the factory line before packing. This is when most electronic component defects surface — known in the industry as infant mortality failure. A unit that completes a full load burn-in has already proven it can sustain its rated output under real thermal and electrical stress, rather than being tested only at idle or partial load.
How does 4-gear DIP switch dimming work on site?
The driver body has a small DIP switch bank. The electrician sets it once during commissioning to 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% output and the driver holds that level permanently — no dimmer, controller or signal cable is needed downstream. It suits installations where the brightness is decided at design stage and does not need to change afterwards, such as cove lighting or signage runs at a fixed level.
Why choose a fanless driver for a concealed installation?
A fan-cooled driver has a moving part that generates audible noise and is the first component to wear out. The CD Series cools by free-air convection across its entire 60W–500W range, so there is nothing to fail mechanically and no hum inside a false ceiling void or electrical cabinet — important in hotels, boardrooms and any space where silence matters.
Can the CD Series be dimmed continuously instead of in steps?
No — the CD Series is a fixed 4-gear stepped driver (25/50/75/100%), not a continuously variable one. For smooth 0-100% dimming via a wall dimmer, 0-10V signal or BMS integration, Nucleo's CP Series is the correct choice. The CD Series is purpose-built for installations where a preset brightness is fixed at commissioning and the higher wattage ceiling of 500W is needed.
Is the CD Series suitable for outdoor or damp locations?
No. The CD Series carries an IP20 rating, meaning the enclosure protects against solid objects larger than 12.5mm but has no water or dust sealing. It must be installed indoors in a dry location — inside a false ceiling void, electrical cabinet or conduit enclosure. For bathrooms, outdoor facades or any damp environment, an IP65 or IP67 rated driver is required instead.
What protections are built into the CD Series?
The CD Series includes short circuit, overload, over-voltage and over-temperature protection, all with automatic recovery once the fault condition clears — there is no fuse to replace or reset switch to find. This is combined with the 100% burn-in test and fanless design to keep the driver running unattended above a false ceiling for years.