Emergency battery backups (emergency LED drivers) for LED panel lights · constant emergency power and lumen output, 90-minute minimum runtime, battery chemistry and recharge time, input voltage, self-test, temperature range and listings
An emergency battery backup for LED panels, also sold as an emergency LED driver, charges a battery while mains power is on. When the power fails it switches over and drives the panel's LEDs from the battery at a set emergency power for a rated time. Ask three things first: how many lumens or watts the panel must give in emergency mode and for how long, what input voltage and temperature it will see, and which listing and self-test features your code and building need.
Emergency LED drivers and battery packs that add emergency operation to LED flat panels and similar luminaires, fitted in the fixture or remotely. Self-contained emergency lights, exit signs, central inverters and integrated emergency LED tubes are outside this page except where compared.
CNFX editorial research · Sources checked October 12, 2026 · 4 sources
Fulham, an emergency lighting maker, describes its HotSpot Constant Power emergency drivers as field-installable backup power for LED luminaires, ideal for LED flat panels. The emergency driver and battery are combined in one unit, and the constant-power design is meant to guarantee the desired lumen output in emergency operation. Current models give 5, 10, 15 or 20 W at 12–55 V or 15–55 V output, from 100–347 V or 120–480 V AC input. Its “Common Specifications” list a minimum illumination time of 90 minutes, 24-hour recharge, NiCd batteries, 0–50 °C ambient and a 5-year warranty. [1]
Fulham's legacy models list output lumens based on 160 lm/W: 1,250 lm for 7.8 W and 2,700 lm for 17 W. Editorial calculation: 7.8 W × 160 lm/W = 1,248 lm and 17 W × 160 lm/W = 2,720 lm, so the listed lumens are rounded. Your panel's own efficacy determines the real emergency lumens; ask for the maker's lumen reference chart for your module. [1]
Give the supplier the panel size and LED module data (voltage, current, efficacy), the emergency power or lumens required, the required runtime, the input voltage, in-fixture or remote mounting, the ambient temperature range, battery chemistry preference, dimming and self-test needs, and the listings or codes that apply where it will be installed.
02
Choose battery chemistry, temperature range and features
Bodine (Signify) lists its emergency LED drivers with runtimes of 1.5, 2 and 4 hours, and with NiCd, SLA, lithium-ion NMC and LFP batteries. Ambient ranges run from 0 to +55 °C up to −20 to +60 °C. Nominal outputs start at 4 W, and models are offered with or without self-test and 0–10 V dimming, and with UL and CEC Title 20 certifications. [3]
Fulham lists built-in self-diagnostic testing that can be disabled, and an Emergency Battery Disengage feature that disconnects the battery for longer shelf life. Its current models are UL listed, CEC Title 20 compliant and rated IP20 for dry and damp locations. [1]
Fulham's emergency range also includes micro-inverters that power fixtures of any lighting technology in emergency mode, and modular systems that add LED emergency lighting to existing fixtures. [2]
03
Set rated duration and supply voltage for EN-market luminaires
Tridonic's data sheet for the EM converterLED BASIC HP 6/9 W 50 V, a self-contained emergency LED driver for manual testing, shows how a European-market unit differs from the UL-listed units above, which Fulham rates at a minimum of 90 minutes [1]. It drives LED modules with a forward voltage of 15–54 V, has constant power output and non-maintained operation, and offers a 1 or 3 h rated duration selected with a plug-in duration link. Units ship with the link in the 3-hour position, and the link must be set before battery and mains are connected. Rated supply voltage is 220–240 V, with an AC range of 198–264 V. [4]
The batteries are LiFePO4 26650 cells with a 10-year design life and an 8-year battery guarantee. Ambient range is −25 to +55 °C and battery charging time is 24 h; a footnote gives 16 h charging for a 2 h emergency function according to AS 2293. The standards listed include EN 60598-2-22 and EN 50172, not a UL listing. Ask which standard, duration and supply voltage each offered unit is built for before comparing runtimes or prices. [4]
Fill the specification fields with values for your panels
An emergency backup quotation needs values for your panels. The table explains each field, gives published values where a reviewed source states them, and says what to ask the supplier for.
Field
What it means and published values
Ask the supplier for
Emergency power
Examples: 4 W and up; 5–20 W constant power. [3][1]
Lumens with your panel.
Runtime
Examples: minimum 90 min; 1.5, 2 or 4 h options. [1][3]
Explore company information and manufacturing capabilities, then discuss the scope of your project with a relevant supplier.
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Compiled and source-reviewed by the CNFX editorial team.
Published product pages show what a company offers, not tested performance. Confirm the legal seller, factory and scope for your order. How we source and review
· Page last updated 13 October 2026
Buyer questions
How long must an emergency backup run?
Fulham's constant-power units give a minimum of 90 minutes; Bodine lists 1.5, 2 and 4-hour options. Check the runtime your building code requires. [1][3]
Which batteries are used?
Bodine lists NiCd, SLA, lithium-ion NMC and LFP batteries across its emergency LED drivers; Fulham's HotSpot constant-power units use NiCd. [3][1]
How bright is a panel in emergency mode?
It depends on emergency power and the panel's efficacy; Fulham's legacy charts list 1,250 lm at 7.8 W based on 160 lm/W. [1]
Do European emergency LED drivers use a 90-minute runtime?
Tridonic's EM converterLED BASIC HP data sheet lists a 1 or 3 h rated duration, selected with a duration link, a 220–240 V supply, and EN 60598-2-22 and EN 50172 among its standards. [4]
Sources and what still needs a direct check
Sources checked 2026-10-12. Fulham and Bodine (Signify) describe their own emergency LED drivers; their figures are examples, not limits. Emergency lighting codes such as NFPA 101, UL 924 and EN 1838 were not reviewed here because they are not freely available.
