LED lights have transformed the lighting industry due to their energy efficiency, durability, and adaptability. For buyers, recognizing the significance of LED light inspections is essential to guaranteeing that purchased products adhere to the highest quality and safety standards.

This comprehensive guide explores the various types of LED lights available and highlights the critical tests performed during inspections. Gaining insight into these tests and their importance will enable you to make well-informed choices when buying LED lighting products from China and Asia.

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Types of LED Lights

LED lights come in various designs and configurations, each designed for specific applications and environments. Here are some popular types of LED lights:

LED Bulbs: 

LED bulbs use more than 75% less energy than incandescent lighting. These are direct replacements for traditional incandescent or CFL bulbs, offering energy efficiency and a longer lifespan. Common used for household lighting.

LED Tube Lights: 

LED tube lights are long, linear lamps designed to operate in traditional fluorescent fixtures. LED tube lights have numerous advantages over fluorescent lamps, are up to 50% energy savings compared to fluorescent lamps and have longer lifetimes. The LED tube lights are used in offices, garages, and warehouses.

LED Panel Lights: 

LED panel lights are flat, thin lighting fixtures that utilize light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a light source. These panels offer a uniform and glare-free illumination, making them ideal for a wide range of indoor lighting applications. They are commonly used in offices, commercial spaces, and residential applications, offering energy efficiency and enhanced aesthetics.

LED Strips Lights: 

A LED strip light is a flexible circuit board populated with surface mounted LEDs and resistors. A main feature of the strip light is an adhesive backing that allows installation almost anywhere you would want to add lighting. They can be cut to custom lengths and are commonly used for decorative lighting, accent lighting, and backlighting applications.

LED Floodlights: 

LED floodlights are powerful light fixtures designed for outdoor use, providing bright illumination over a wide area. They are commonly used for security, landscape, and sports lighting.

LED Downlights: 

LED downlights, also referred to as recessed lights or pot lights, are installed flush with the ceiling, providing focused and directional lighting. They are widely used in residential and commercial spaces for ambient and task lighting purposes.

LED Street Lights:

LED street lights, designed for highways, roads, and pathways, offer an energy-efficient alternative to traditional street lamps with a long lifespan and low maintenance costs.

Essential Tests Performed during LED Light Inspection

When inspecting LED lights, several critical tests are conducted to ensure quality, performance, and compliance with standards. These tests are essential for identifying defects, verifying product claims, and ensuring safety. Below are the key tests typically performed during an LED light inspection:

Product and Package Measurement for LED Lighting Inspection

Product Measurement: The dimensions of the Product shall meet the requirements specified by product description.

Package Measurement: Conformance per Spec. and printed information.

Safety Compliance Test for LED Lighting

Protection against accidental contact with live parts Test for LED lighting

Product should be constructed so that no additional compartment under the form of a luminaire, no metal inside, no metal outside with basic insulation or no live metal on the base of the luminaire or lamp itself being accessible. Parts with basic insulation cannot be used on the outer surface of the luminaire without proper protection against accidental contact.

Dieletric rigidity Test for LED lighting

To verify that the LED lighting fixture can withstand high voltage without insulation breakdown.

Isolation resistance Test for LED lighting

To measure the insulation resistance between live parts and accessible metal parts, ensuring proper insulation and protection from electric shock.

Leakage current, protective conductor current and electrical burn Test for LED lighting

To detect current leakage that could cause electric shock and ensure the grounding system functions properly.

Resistance to flame and ignition Test for LED lighting

Flammability tests for LED lighting are crucial to ensure that lighting fixtures and their components are resistant to ignition, self-extinguish quickly if ignited, and do not propagate fire.

Electrical and Photometric Performance Tests for LED Lighting Inspection

Stabilization time test

Measurements should only start after the stabilization time has elapsed. The stabilization should be in function of the electric power and luminous flux emitted. Description stabilization time. Time required for stabilization of an LED product, which should be at most 2 h. The stability of the product can be accompanied by the variation in light emission (luminous flux) and electrical power over time. Stabilization is achieved when the variation of at least three successive measurements of light emission and electrical power over a 15-minute interval range less than 0.5%. The stabilization time of each product should be reported.

Lamp power test

To verify that the LED lamp consumes power within the rated specifications. The power dissipated by the LED Product cannot exceed the power declared in more than 10% (as per IEC 61000).

Power factor test

To measure the efficiency of electrical power usage by the LED lamp. A higher power factor means more efficient power usage..

Luminous flux test

The measured initial luminous flux of LED Product cannot be less than 10% of the declared nominal luminous flux.

Correlated color temperature (cct) and color rendering index (cri)

CCT he correlated color temperature (CCT) of a nominal product should be compliance the requirement.

Amplitude color test

Verify in photometric measurements, if color amplitude (duv) are conforming parameters.

Efficiency and luminous flux values for equivalence test

Perform the measurement of the luminous flux and present it in the report; Perform the Power measurement and calculate the equivalence. 

Learn more: What Is IEC 60598-1? Lighting Quality Control Standard

General Tests for LED Lighting Inspection

Color Consistency Test

LED lights are available in various color temperatures, such as warm white, cool white, and daylight.  The color consistency test evaluates the LED light’s ability to maintain consistent color temperature and color rendering index (CRI) across different batches or units.  It ensures that the light provides uniform and accurate color representation, crucial for applications like photography, art galleries, and retail displays.

Driver performance test

Verify the output voltage and current in the led power supply using.

Rub test on lighting rating label

The rating label on LED lights contains vital information such as model numbers, voltage specifications, safety warnings, and regulatory compliance symbols. During the rub test, the inspector checks the label’s adhesion, readability, and durability. The label should remain securely attached and legible without fading or peeling.

Additional performance tests

• Verify all Product for any of the following defects: Check for broken, scratched, dirty.
• Product with glue on the outside, missing glue, loose parts inside before any test.
• Product does not turn on.
• Product flashes.
• Product burned after being connected with input voltage.
• Product has different luminous intensity than specified.

Internal checking test

The SMD components (specially the LEDs) must properly soldered. There should be no air gaps between the base of the component and the PCB surface.

Voltage range test

Confirm the lamp operates within the rated voltage range. Start at 100V, increase 10V per minute until 240V, the unit must work properly. At the end of the test, the lamps shall be functioning properly and its electrical parameters must be in accordance items marked on its label.

Strife-under voltage and overvoltage test

Test how the LED light handles voltage fluctuations. The Product shall not blink or fail during the test.

Light up test

Ensure the LED light powers on correctly and produces consistent light output.

Burn-in test

Product must be energized for at least 1 second during the assembly process. This test

can be done on the production line and must cover 100% of the Product produced.

Carton assortment and quantity check

Verify that actual packing quantity/color/size/style assortment conforms to printed information.

Barcode check

Must be able to be scanned and barcodes are correct as printed

Assembly Check

This test ensures that customers can easily assemble, install, and use the LED light. The inspector follows the assembly instructions, using ordinary tools or those provided with the product, to verify the ease of assembly.

Learn more: Lighting Quality Control Inspection

GIS Inspection’s Competence in LED Light Quality Assurance

GIS Inspection is a leading provider of quality control inspection services, specializing in professional LED lighting inspections. Leveraging our in-depth knowledge, state-of-the-art testing equipment, and thorough inspection procedures, we guarantee the quality, performance, and safety of LED lighting products.

By conducting impartial, on-site inspections and delivering detailed reports, we help clients identify potential issues, maintain high production standards, and ensure full compliance with safety and industry regulations.

Our thorough approach not only guarantees that your LED lighting products meet quality and performance expectations but also reinforces their safety and conformity with relevant standards.

With a focus on precision and reliability, GIS Inspection aims to be your trusted partner in securing the quality and integrity of your LED lighting products from production to delivery.

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