Ecodesign requirements
Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2020 of 1 October 2019 has established rules on ecodesign for lighting products and separate control gears. It means that light sources must comply with specific production requirements.
From 1 September 2021 LED strips exceeding the maximum allowed power cannot be placed on the market. How do you calculate the maximum allowed power? Let’s see it together.
You just need the following formula:
Ponmax = C × [L + Φuse/(F × η)] × R
Where:
C is the correction factor. For LED strips its value is 1,00 since they are non-directional (NDLS) not operating on mains light sources (NMLS);
L is the end loss factor. This value is 1,5 since LED strips are a different kind of light source;
Φuse is the luminous flux you can find in the test report of the LED strip;
F is the efficacy factor. For non-directional (NDLS, using the total flux) light source such as LED strips its value is 1,00;
η is the threshold efficacy. Even in this case its value is 120 since LED strips are a different kind of light source;
R is CRI factor obtained through the formula:
(IRC + 80)/160 where IRC is the Ra of the test report of the LED strips.
If the result of the calculation does not exceed the real power of the LED strip (this data is available in the test report) the product can be placed on the market and included in an energy efficiency class. To know how to calculate the energy efficiency classes please click here.
E.g. Reading the test report of the strip F52-30s-060822 carried out with a sample of 1 meter, it is possible to use the value of the luminous flux 1399.85 lm (rounded to 1400 lm). Calculating the luminous flux for 0,5 metres (as the Regulation asks), we are asked to divide the luminous flux by two 1400/2 = 700 lm. Using the formula:
Ponmax = 1,00 × [1,5 + 700/(1,00 × 120)] × (80.6 +80)/160 = 7,36
One meter of LED strip F52-30s-060822 has a power of 13W so, as a consequence, an LED strip of 0,5 meters has a power of 6,5W included in the maximum allowed power (7,36W).
(Note: For modular linear light sources that are quite long, such as LED strips or chains, tests carried out by authorities take into account a length of 50 cm or the value closer to 50 cm if the light source cannot reach that length. The supplier of the light source indicates the power supply unit suitable for this length. Reg. Pag. 34 of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2015 of March 2019)
For further information on the Regulation (EU) click here.