10 Questions You Should Ask the Manufacturer of an LED luminaire

1. Who is your LED Supplier?  Cree has been our LED supplier and strategic partner since 2005 and frequently received early prototypes of new parts for evaluation. Evluma is also doing joint PR with CREE with regards to the Clearlight.

2. Do they provide an IEM LM-80 test report for the LEDs?  Cree is on the forefront of the definition of this test and works very closely with the DOE. Interim reports are available from Cree.  Cree is also the only American maker of LEDs, giving them an advantage. Test data available at: http://www.cree.com/products/pdf/XLampXR-E_lumen_maintenance.pdf

3. What is the max operating temp and max Tj ? We sense the temperature at the LED package, often referred to as the solder point temp, or ts.  At a point temp of 65°C, the luminaire begins to cut back on the current to the LEDs in an effort to reduce the temperature back down to 65 °C.  Cree carefully regulates the solder point temperature (ts) to the junction temperature (tj) through their manufacturing process. If, as in the case of LM-80 testing, the ambient temperature is forced above the 65°C point, the luminaire will continue to lower the current to the LEDs in an attempt to regulate the temperature, avoiding a destructive situation.

4. What's the expected L70 lifetime?  70,000 hours.  There are many components to this.  The LEDs are rated for 70,000 hours +.  Our driver board is rated to > 200,000 hours.  Our active cooler is rated > 100,000 hours.  Our fixture and optics are made of high quality cast aluminum and acrylic.

5. Can the manufacturer provide a IES LM-79 test report?  Yes. We have derived this data from testing done at independent laboratories that are CALIPER rated. IES files for each product are available for download.

6. What are the delivered lumens and LPW of the fixture?  Our LPW rating is >55.  We believe that what matters is “foot-candles on the ground”.  Our delivered lumen rating is 2,200, however, this does not give a good sense of how the light is delivered.  Our Type 5 pattern Narrow Optic delivers acceptable light of .1 fc at approximately 2 mounting heights.

7. What is the Power Factor of your fixture?  Our Power Factor is >0.9.

8. Is the product ENERGY STAR labeled?  We are waiting and actively working with the DOE to finalize the ENERGY STAR guidelines for outdoor area lighting. Recently, the Energy Star program has been handed over to the EPA. We expect a transition plan and news about any changes to Energy Star for SSL by the end of 2009.

9. Is the fixture RoHS compliant? Mercury Free?  Our product is designed with the intent of being RoHS compliant.  We are using lead free PCBs, solder that is lead free and specifying only components that are RoHS.  We are in the process verifying that 100% of the design meets the RoHS specs. We expect to have this completed by the end of this year. Our product is Mercury Free.

10. What is the warranty?  The product warranty is 3 years from installation