When importing LED lights from countries overseas, it is impossible to check every order by yourself. Manufacturers will sometimes take advantage of this and slip lower quality materials or craftsmanship into your order to increase their margins. This can cause defects to occur that will harm your brand reputation or worse - lead to product recalls

 

This post will cover some Common LED light manufacturing defects and explain how you can avoid these problems with the right quality control solution.

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Common LED Light Manufacturing Defects

1.    Overheating

Overheating leads to the lights' illumination failure and wearing out. The other aspect resulting in this defect is the complex circuit in LEDs. These lights adopt various advancements, including interspersed dimming effects and Wi-Fi connectivity. But regardless of the technological developments, circuits can still be complicated with emitters, capacitors, and semiconductors, leading to overheating and other defects. 

2.    Buzzing noise

Buzzing noises in LED lights is a disturbing defect, mostly for light sleepers or individuals who are sensitive to certain sounds. This noise can indicate an overloaded circuit; for instance, if a dimmer accommodates 400-watt-LED lights and someone attaches more than a 300-watt lighting system, which results in the buzzing sounds. 

3.    Quick LED light burnouts

This defect occurs when low-grade materials are used during the manufacturing process. Importers need to perform a functional test of the product before it leaves the factory to properly judge the product’s ability to perform as intended.

4.    Inappropriate LED drivers

LEDs are usually manufactured with installed drivers for power distribution and proper operation. A defect or driver incompatibility might occur, resulting in the burning of the driver or malfunctioning of the LEDs due to overheating.

5.    Wrong color displays

LED strips need to display various colors, but there are instances that some would display the wrong colors, which indicate a significant defect; it can be a result of wire connection issues or a problem with the LED controller. 

How to avoid these LED Light defects

Defective products can occur for a variety of reasons. But having the right quality control process in place can help reduce these issues and ensure that the product you receive meets your standards. Here are some common tests we recommend to prevent LED light manufacturing defects from reaching consumers:

Functional testing

Through these tests, AQF will verify if the product works appropriately. Functional tests do not need special equipment since they involve switching the lights to control the lighting status and confirm they have the correct dim. It will evaluate the functional defects and report any deviation from the user manual and specification on product quality.

Durability tests

Durability testing analyzes a light’s ability to perform for an extended period of time. These tests are also equated to operating tests which analyze the LED lights' performance by leaving them on maximum setting for hours and checking for any malfunction during that period.

Light testing

This quality assurance would evaluate the light's brightness, color, and efficiency. It usually incorporates the spectroradiometer and calculation software, used side-by-side with an integrated sphere. The lights are placed on the integrated sphere and observe the outcome through the computer interface. 

Electromagnetic adherence test

This test is used to verify that the product does not emit excess electromagnetic interference since it can damage other electronic devices and cause defects. 

AQF Lighting Quality Control Expertise

When importing products into the U.S. or EU from overseas, it is nearly impossible to perform a satisfactory quality test on your own. Working with a dedicated third-party quality control partner can help to ensure your product meets the agreed upon specifications and international standards.

 

AQF offers product-specific lighting quality control services worldwide. Our expertise extends to outdoor lights, indoor lights, ceiling lights, chandeliers, table lamps, floor lamps, desk lamps, lighting controls, as well as LED bulbs and conventional bulbs. Sign up for AQF Online and book your next inspection today.

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