Collingwood PLD-Unidrive 700MA LED Driver - IP20 - 1-10V Dimmable
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A fixed 700mA driver that dims two different ways
The PLD Unidrive 700MA is the power supply that sits behind Collingwood LED fittings rated at 700mA. It is a constant current driver, which means it holds the current steady at 700mA and lets the output voltage move to suit whatever is wired to it. What separates it from a plain unswitched driver is the dimming. It answers to a simple retractive push switch or to a 1-10V analogue signal, so one unit covers a basic installation and a properly controlled one.
The 700mA output version
This is the 700mA model in the PLD Unidrive family, which also comes in a 350mA output. Collingwood states that a single unit will drive between one and nine 3W LED products wired in series, so it is sized for a modest run of downlights or one higher output fitting rather than a whole floor of them. The casing is plain white plastic, 103mm long, 67mm wide and only 22mm deep, and it weighs around 0.1kg. There is nothing decorative about it, because it is designed to disappear into a void. The end cap lifts off to expose the terminals, and a moulded fixing tab lets it be screwed down so it is not left loose on a ceiling board.
How It Works
Mains arrives at the live and neutral terminals beneath the removable end cover, and the LED output leaves from its own pair. The control side is kept separate, with terminals for a push switch and terminals for the 1-10V signal. For 1-10V control you pair the driver with a compatible dimmer such as Collingwood's PDC or grid dimmer. Collingwood says up to ten PLD Unidrive units can be linked to one dimmer so a group of fittings rises and falls together, and each driver is supplied with a 1.5m synchronisation cable for exactly that. Terminals take conductors from 0.5 to 1.5mm². There is no plug and no flex, so it is wired in as part of the lighting circuit.
Where It Works Best
This is a component that lives out of sight. Most installations put it in the ceiling void directly above the fittings it feeds, or in a loft, an airing cupboard, a service riser or the back of a joinery unit. The 22mm depth is the number that matters most, because it will slide into shallow voids that a bulkier driver will not reach. Wherever it ends up it needs to be dry, it needs enough air around it to stay cool, and it needs to be reachable later without opening up a ceiling.
Electrically it sits between the lighting circuit and a run of 700mA Collingwood LED fittings, with the control wiring taken back to either a retractive push switch on the wall or a 1-10V dimmer plate. Kitchens, hallways and living rooms with recessed downlighting are where it usually ends up, though the driver itself is indifferent to what the room looks like.
About Collingwood Lighting
Collingwood designs and manufactures its LED products in Sywell, Northamptonshire, and has worked in LED technology since 2002, which is a long run in a field that has changed as fast as this one. The brand states that it was among the first to put fire rated, fully sealed for life and mains dimmable LED products in front of the UK electrical wholesale trade. It also holds an EcoVadis Gold medal, placing it in the top 5% of companies assessed worldwide for sustainability.
Good to Know
- Covered by a 5 year Collingwood warranty.
- IP20 rated. That means no protection against water at all, so it belongs in a dry indoor position and must not be used outdoors, in a bathroom zone or anywhere that gets damp.
- Class II construction, so the driver is double insulated and no earth connection is made at the unit.
- Fixed 700mA constant current output. Check the drive current printed on the fitting first, because a 350mA fitting needs the 350mA version of this driver instead.
- Push dimming and 1-10V dimming are both supported. The 1-10V side needs a compatible control such as Collingwood's PDC or grid dimmer, and how smoothly it dims will depend on the fitting as well as the dimmer.
- Collingwood rates it for use between -25°C and 50°C and specifies protection against short circuit, overload and overheating.
- Terminals accept conductors from 0.5 to 1.5mm².
- Leave it accessible after installation so it can be reached if it ever needs changing, and keep dust off the casing.
- Moonlight Design recommends installation by a registered NICEIC electrician.
Questions People Ask
What does the Collingwood PLD Unidrive 700MA do?
The Collingwood PLD Unidrive 700MA is a constant current LED driver that supplies a fixed 700mA output to LED fittings rated at 700mA. It is IP20 rated for dry indoor installation and supports both push dimming and 1-10V analogue dimming.
Can this driver be fitted outdoors or in a bathroom?
No. The Collingwood PLD Unidrive 700MA is IP20 rated, which gives it no protection against water, so it must be installed in a dry indoor location such as a ceiling void, loft or cupboard. It is not suitable for outdoor use or for any bathroom zone.
How many LED fittings will one PLD Unidrive 700MA run?
Collingwood states that one PLD Unidrive 700MA will run between one and nine 3W LED products, wired in series on the driver's output.
What sort of dimmer does the PLD Unidrive 700MA need?
The PLD Unidrive 700MA dims from a 1-10V control such as Collingwood's PDC or grid dimmer, or from a retractive push switch wired to its push terminals. Collingwood lists it as a 1-10V dimmable driver rather than a mains dimmable one, so a standard wall dimmer fitted on the supply side is not the right control for it.
Can several PLD Unidrive drivers be dimmed together as one group?
Yes. Collingwood says up to ten PLD Unidrive drivers can be linked to a single dimmer so that all the connected fittings dim in step, and each driver is supplied with a 1.5m synchronisation cable to make those links.
We offer free standard delivery on orders within the UK Mainland* (an additional fee applies for the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Man, the Scottish Isles, parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Isles and International).
*Collingwood orders under £150 incur a delivery fee of £9.95 inc. VAT.
*Any order under £49 incurs a delivery fee of £9.95.
Specifications
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