Advice for certification process - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: pisoiu
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2021, 10:11:08 am
content: Hi friends,I may try a venture in the LED lighting market.I do not want to compete with chinese products, I'm not crazy. What I want is to find niche markets for small/medium batches in horticultural applications, customized general lighting, etc.I think I have what I need to design, test and produce them: optical analyzers, integrating sphere, luxmeters, pick'n'place line, etc. I already have some prototypes which are tested in horticultural applications.What I do not know are the legal/certification requirements for this. I know that at minimum, conducted and radiated emissions are required for CE but beyond that, I know nothing.In general, my designs are composed from an illuminator or series of illuminators of certain size, most of them on aluminium PCB with or without casing, but all powered by ready made drivers/power supplies, probably from Meanwell. This is to avoid certification processes specific to mains powered power supplies. Some illuminators will have just LEDs on PCB and an external LED driver, others may have on PCB the LEDs and a DC powered low voltage driver, powered by an external mains power supply.Can anyone give me an advice about lighting specific certifications, what is mandatory, what is good to have, etc.?Thanks.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2021, 10:27:30 am
content: If you talk to the EMC lab and explain your product they will usually know what testing you should get.But it is of course you're responsibly to have had the correct testing done, not theirs.That said, the percentage of small one-man side-job manufactured products sold online that have not been cert'ed at all is pretty high.

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2021, 10:40:53 am
content: Beside the RF EMI tests, there is also the power factor that needs to be in certain bounds. Of cause electric safety is also required with some min standards on creapage distances, test voltages and so on. As a nuissance in the EU there is also the registration from E-waste ( WEE), the details depend on the country.

author: pisoiu
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2021, 10:51:57 am
content: Quote from: Kleinstein on December 03, 2021, 10:40:53 amI was hoping that aspect would be covered by the driver certification, this is why I want to use a ready made driver.Is any more electrical safety testing required since I use an already certified driver?

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2021, 12:10:27 pm
content: AFAIK the power factor limits depend on the use: lightnig needs to meat stricter limits (or care about PF alrady at lower power) as it is common to use multiple units togehter. So a power supply for general use may not meet the limits for a light source product.For the safety the ready made supplies can give you some piece in mind, but if in doubt you are responsible for the quality control and if they actually meet the limits. Chances are it depends on the details if one can just rely on the certificates / signs on the parts.