
20-Watt Universal
Dimming LED Driver
Class 2 Constant Voltage Power Supply
Suitable for use in dry locations only
Item 820200 with 12-Volt DC Output
IMPORTANT: Read before installing
1. This driver works with standard, 120-volt AC dimmers and on/off switches.
Use a standard AC
dimmer direct wired
to this LED driver
on the input side
LED DRIVER
AC
12-Volt DC
Do not use with Armacost Lighting low-voltage RGB and dimming controls.
2. One AC dimmer can be direct wired to multiple LED drivers at the same time.
3. Always use one driver for each zone of any 12-volt LED lighting.
Never connect two LED drivers to a single run of LED strip lighting.
4. This LED driver works only with LED lighting that requires 12-volt DC
constant voltage power.
5. The dimming features of the driver will not work if your LED lighting
is not compatible with PWM dimming. If unsure, ask the manufacturer
of your LED lighting.
If you have questions about how to install and wire this product, contact
a qualifi ed professional.
Installation Guidelines
SHOCK HAZARD! If direct wiring this LED driver to a 120-volt circuit with
an AC dimmer, turn off the power at the circuit breaker before installing.
Failure to do so may result in serious injury or death.
MAINTAIN POLARITY: Observe the polarity of the 12-volt DC output and the
device or lighting to which you’re connecting. Failure to maintain the same
polarity could damage LED lighting. Always connect positive (+) to positive
and negative (–) to negative.
The total wattage of all LED fi xtures connected to this LED driver must not
exceed the maximum watt rating of the unit. If you don’t know the wattage
rating of your lighting, ask the manufacturer.
Different types of white
LED lighting can be combined
in the same 12-volt circuit
MINI LED
LIGHTS
LED TAPE
LIGHTING
LED PUCK
LIGHTS
Allow for ventilation; do not install in an airtight compartment. Operate only
within the specifi ed ambient temperature range of 4°F (-20°C) to 122°F
(50°C). Operate at cooler surrounding air temperatures to extend driver life.
Mount the driver fl ush to the surface to provide heat transfer for better
cooling. It’s normal for this LED driver to feel warm to the touch, especially
when under a full wattage load.
Protect from water. For locations that could be exposed to rain or splashing
water, install the driver in a suitable wet location power supply enclosure.
Use only insulated staples or plastic ties to secure cords and wires. Route
and secure wires so they will not be pinched or become damaged.
Do not install Class 2 low-voltage wiring in the same run as AC main power.
If AC and low-voltage wires cross, keep them at 90° angles.
All wiring must be in accordance with national and local electrical codes,
low-voltage Class 2 circuit. For wire runs inside walls, use properly certifi ed
CL2 or better cabling and appropriate mounting hardware.
LED Driver Location and Voltage Drop
The shorter the 12-volt DC wire lead is between the LED driver and your
LED lighting, the brighter and more consistent the lighting will be. Do not
coil extra wire. As a practical approach, test your LED lighting prior to fi nal
installation. If voltage drop appears to be an issue, use thicker, heavier
gauge wires or use less lighting. Visit armacostlighting.com/voltagedrop for
an easy-to-use online voltage drop calculator.
Using Direct Wire Hook Up
Electrical code requires
hardwire hookup to be used
when connecting this driver
with a 120-volt AC dimmer.
Remove end caps to access
the terminal block connectors
for both AC input and DC
outputs. Use Romex
®
style
Remove caps
to connect wires
14 gauge cable to tie in with
the 120-volt AC line voltage.
For 12-volt DC output 18
gauge cable is generally recommended. Be sure all wires are properly seated
inside and under the terminal block screw clamp. Tighten down the clamp
with a screwdriver. Do not over-tighten.
Note: Do not use AC ground wire. This LED driver uses Class II AC inputs
with a fully isolated plastic case; ground wire is not required.
Typical Wiring Diagram When Used with an AC Dimmer
Green Wire
Ground
Black Wire
120-Volt AC
Live HOT
White Wire
120-Volt AC
Neutral
Lutron® Skylark® C•L Model SCL-153P shown
All C•L dimmers have an adjustment to set dimming range.
Dimming LED Driver
to white LED
Dimmer Compatibility
Armacost Dimming LED Drivers are compatible with both forward phase
(leading edge, triac, incandescent) and reverse phase (electronic lowvoltage, ELV, and trailing edge) AC dimmers, including higher end lighting
controls, such as Lutron GRAFIK Eye
®
systems.
Although virtually all dimmers will work with Armacost Dimmable LED
Drivers, Armacost Lighting recommends dimmers that can be programmed
or have an adjustment dial to set the low end dimming range, such as
®
Lutron
C•L and Leviton IllumaTech® Universal Dimmers.
IMPORTANT: Armacost drivers do not need a minimum wattage load for
proper operation, but some AC dimmers may have this requirement. Check
the specifi cations of your dimmer to confi rm that your lighting exceeds this
value, or choose a dimmer with little or no load requirement.
Large Area Lighting Applications and Maximum Load
For synchronized brightness control of large areas of LED lighting or lighting
in different areas, connect one 120-volt AC dimmer to multiple dimming
drivers. Do not exceed 40% of your AC dimmer’s rated maximum allowable
incandescent/halogen wattage capacity.
Use this formula to determine the number of power supplies that your
dimmer can accommodate:
[AC Dimmer Rating in Watts] X 40%
[Power Supply Rating in Watts]
For example: If the dimmer states 600 watts maximum incandescent load,
then you can connect no more than twelve 20-watt drivers (max combined
load of 240 watts).
600 Watts X 40% = 240
20 Watts = 12
Features and Specifi cations
■
No minimum lighting load required for wide range dimming
■
No de-rating is required; load up to 100% of the model’s rated capacity
■
Full safety shut off protection in case of lighting overload, open
circuit, short circuit, over-temperature, or other fault. The driver will
automatically restart after the fault has been corrected
■
Output: 12-volt DC constant voltage
■
Ta = -4° F (-20° C) to 122° F (50° C)
■
Class II AC input (two-wire connection, requires no ground)
■
Suitable for use in dry locations only
Limited three-year warranty. Warranty will be void if LED driver is not
installed per these instructions. Disregarding warnings, failure to use this
product for its intended purpose, or improper installation will void warranty.
Proof of purchase is required for all returns.
E326958
© 2017 Armacost Lighting. All rights reserved.
170901