Avoid Being LED Astray
NAVIGATING THE LED MARKET – TEN STEPS TO HELP FINDING THE RIGHT SUPPLIER
At Goodlight™ we know it can be difficult when picking a supplier of LED lamps and luminaires so we’d like to offer some advice on what to look for when making your decision.
Replacing energy-hungry conventional lamps with LED equivalents makes economic and environmental sense. LED lighting products are energy efficient and cost effective with ultra long lifespans compared to traditional units, so making the decision to change should be an easy one. Choosing a supplier, however, may not be quite so straightforward, especially with no formal performance standards to measure against
To help you decide what to look for in a reliable LED supplier, we’ve produced a ten-point LED Buyers’ Checklist based on background, quality, performance and price.
1 – Be responsible: put Health and Safety first and insist on CE and RoHS-certified products only. Using non-compliant CE and RoHS products is also against the law – products lacking a CE mark have not passed basic electrical testing and could pose serious electrical hazards during installation and use. You can request to see copies of certificates for due diligence and your supplier should be able to provide copies on request.
2 – Ensure that you are using a supplier who is WEEE compliant: if not, his products are illegal! WEEE regulations require electrical waste to be disposed of properly and safely. With today’s numerous recycling schemes, it’s easy to comply and there is no acceptable excuse for non-compliance.
3 – Protect your investment and future proof your purchase: conduct a background check on potential suppliers particularly a basic credit check and a look at their trading history. Financial standing and past performance will be important if you need to make a warranty-based claim later on or if you are anticipating a long-term supply contract.
4 – Look for a proven track record: ask for feedback and references from previous customers on performance and service, something a good supplier will happily provide. Also, ask if you can try before you buy – a reputable company will allow you to trial products.
5 – Quality of Data: do not rely on ‘grand claims’, ask to see data on product performance where you can see evidence of power consumption, light output, installation guides etc.
6 – Quality of manufacture: make sure the product is mechanically sound. Check that the body is robust and durable and, if relevant, check its IP rating. Also, enquire about stock availability – continuation of supply is essential and suppliers quoting six to eight weeks for stock should probably be avoided.
7 – Technical Support: how well does the supplier understand the new technology? Buy from an LED lighting specialist – someone who understands the challenges you face when lighting your premises and has experience of delivering LED installations of a similar style and size.
8 – After Sales Service: does your supplier offer a guarantee and, if so, for how long? LED lighting products offer an ultra-long lifespan, so guarantees should reflect this – a confident manufacturer will provide at least three years and should be able to support the warranty period with proof of live installations that have performed reliably for similar periods of time.
9 – Supplier Credibility: know who you are dealing with. Manufacturers develop and produce product, and invest heavily in R&D. Their engineers work within existing parameters of LED technology. Installers may not understand component configurations in detail, and elements that can alter performance often rely on specialised electronics.
10 – Finally, and only when you’re satisfied with everything else, look at pricing: if products seem too cheap, there will be reasons. These could include poor quality components and sub standard manufacturing techniques. Low quality LEDs will cause problems such as inadequate light performance whilst poorly assembled products can pose serious installation and safety hazards. Other common problems include unreliability, i.e. colour-shifting after use, rapid degradation of light output, plus high failures in large quantities and quality of light output not fit for purpose. Furthermore, these and other issues are frequently exacerbated by poor or non-existent after sales support. You need to be confident that, in the event of a problem, your supplier will rectify it fast, effectively and efficiently. Beware of cheap, inferior products provided by unscrupulous suppliers. Remember, in common with all quality products, if the price you’re being quoted for LED lamps and luminaires seems too cheap to be true, ask yourself why. They will inevitably cost you more in the long run, once the problems start appearing.
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