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opinion4 min read
As more Local Authorities explore LED retrofit, they’re increasingly being presented with two fundamentally different approaches: traditional driver-based systems and the less common driverless, or direct-drive, designs.
Both promise improved efficiency, lower maintenance and extended asset life. But they achieve those outcomes in very different ways, with important implications for maintenance, controls and long-term asset management.
The debate shouldn’t be about whether a retrofit solution includes a driver. It should be about how the entire lighting system performs, can be maintained and supports the wider asset strategy over the next twenty years.
In a traditional LED retrofit, a separate driver sits between the mains power supply and the LED array. Its role is to regulate the electrical current supplied to the LEDs, helping ensure consistent performance and protecting the LEDs from fluctuations in the incoming power supply.
Driverless systems take a different approach. Instead of using a separate driver, current regulation is handled directly within the LED assembly itself, reducing the number of individual electrical components.
Reducing component count may offer advantages in some applications. However, engineers should consider how each design affects maintenance, controls integration and long-term asset management over the life of the installation.
One of the principal differences between the two approaches is how maintenance is managed throughout the asset’s life.
Every electronic lighting system contains components that will eventually require maintenance or replacement. The important question is not whether a particular component exists, but how the system has been designed to accommodate maintenance throughout its service life.
Driverless systems remove the separate driver, eliminating one component that could potentially fail. Traditional driver-based systems take a different approach, with the driver remaining as a replaceable component that can be changed independently when it eventually reaches its end-of-life.
The important consideration is not simply component count, but how easily the lighting system can be maintained over the next 10, 15 or even 20 years.
When evaluating retrofit options, it is also worth considering what happens if maintenance is eventually required. Can individual components be replaced independently? How quickly can maintenance be completed? Does access to the electronic components require removal of the optical assembly, or have they been designed for straightforward servicing? These practical considerations can have a significant impact when maintaining large lighting estates.
Questions around spare parts availability, long-term manufacturer support and ease of repair can all have a significant influence on whole-life cost, particularly for Local Authorities responsible for managing thousands of lighting assets.
When comparing retrofit solutions, it’s worth looking beyond initial efficiency figures.
Because the two technologies regulate current differently, engineers should understand how each design manages current stability, power quality and long-term LED performance throughout the life of the installation.
Thermal management is another area worth understanding when comparing different retrofit architectures. Where current regulation forms part of the LED assembly, the thermal design of the complete system becomes increasingly important. Engineers should consider how heat is managed, what testing has been undertaken and how long-term reliability has been validated under real operating conditions.
It is also worth understanding how the system has been engineered to manage factors such as surge protection, power quality and the long-term reliability of the electronic circuitry. While these characteristics may not be immediately visible on a specification sheet, they can have a significant influence on maintenance requirements and asset performance over time.
Questions around lumen maintenance, colour consistency and overall performance are often just as important as initial efficacy figures. Flicker performance should also be evaluated, particularly where visual comfort, safety or operational requirements are important considerations.
How easily will the retrofit integrate with your existing controls strategy?
Lighting networks have changed significantly over the past decade.
Today, many Local Authorities expect lighting systems to support functions such as:
These capabilities are increasingly becoming part of everyday asset management rather than specialist requirements.
Many driver-based retrofit systems have been designed around established lighting control architectures, making integration with existing CMS platforms relatively straightforward.
Driverless systems can also support control functionality, but the route to achieving it may differ. Depending on the system architecture, features such as dimming, monitoring and reporting may require additional controllers, gateways or proprietary firmware, potentially adding complexity and cost.
For asset owners, the important question is not simply whether controls are available, but how they are delivered, maintained and integrated into wider asset management platforms.
Retrofit is gaining momentum because it offers a practical alternative to full lantern replacement.
Installation speed, energy efficiency and reduced disruption all play an important role in the business case for retrofit. However, they should be considered alongside factors such as maintenance strategy, repairability, control integration, future support and whole-life cost.
Ultimately, the question is not whether a retrofit solution uses a driver. It is whether it has been designed to deliver the performance, reliability and maintainability needed throughout the life of the installation.
As retrofit becomes a larger part of the exterior lighting conversation, asking the right questions at the specification stage will help ensure the right solution is selected for the right application.
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The idea for Acrospire was formed in 2012 when founder Tim envisioned a different kind of lighting manufacturer: one that would not only deliver outstanding customer experiences but also prioritise fair treatment for its employees.
We’ve come a long way
Motivated by the belief the industry wanted and needed better, Tim shared his plan to establish his own venture with Hatty, who simply couldn't let him do it alone.
The rest, as they say, is history.
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In August 2026, we strengthened our ability to invest, innovate and support our customers by becoming part of Agora Makers, a International group of specialist lighting, smart and urban furniture businesses.
The business continues to be led by founders Tim and Hatty, with the same team,
If you’re a professional in the lighting industry, you’re probably familiar with warranties that range from 3 to 10 years, with extensions available on special request or at additional cost. At Acrospire, where we’re proud to be different, we offer a market-leading simple 12-year warranty, as standard.
We focus on our customers not our competition. We manufacture our products in the UK: with the exception of our solar products, our supply chain is within a 60-mile radius of our factory in Basingstoke: to maintain greater control over quality. We al
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