The UL is an independent product safety certification organization. One of the primary things that the UL does is to develop standards and test procedures for products, materials, components, assemblies, tools and equipment, chiefly dealing with product safety. UL is one of several companies approved for such testing by the U.S. federal agency Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Consumer and worker safety is paramount and we understand that. However, ongoing, and increasing regulatory requirements, and the costs to meet these requirements, continue to put the pinch on businesses. Increases in UL fees are just another example of how it is more and more difficult to do business in the US.

 Warranties for power supplies are not even mentioned in the current standards for commercial LED lighting posted at <a href="http://www.energystar.gov"> Energy Star’s website</a>.

Instead the documents there mention such standards as wattage, light output, power factor, rated lifetime hours, color temperature, power factor and special features.

 Power supply warranties are required by the guidelines for manufacturers of Energy Star certified lighting products posted at the same website. Manufacturers that want to display the Energy Star logo on their products must follow these guidelines or the Energy Star Program Requirements for Solid State Lighting Products Partner Commitments. This means that companies that want the Energy Star logo on LED lighting products will have to offer a limited three year warranty on power supplies.

 Three Year Warranties Required for LED Lighting System Power Supply

Energy Star’s SSL program requirements require a warranty for solid state lighting systems. The requirements state that a three year warranty is required for all Energy Star certified LED commercial lighting system. Power supplies are specifically mentioned as being covered by the warranty.

 The warranty only covers defective products so buyers would have to prove the product is defective to claim the warranty. Wear and tear or damage to LED lighting systems caused by caused by power surges and other outside causes would not be covered by this warranty.   

Sources of Information:

 http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=LTG

 http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=products_for_partners.showledlighting

All products purchased from Peak to Peak Power, Inc. are eligible for one additional year of warranty at no charge to the customer.

 In order to qualify for the extended warranty program customer must meet the following conditions.

• - Upon receipt of product send an email to: warranty@peaktopeakpower.com with the purchase order, part number, and serial number where applicable.
• - If the customer is on Net terms they must remain current at all times in order to qualify.
• - The product must be installed in a manner consistent with its design parameters.

 For each additional year peak to peak will warranty this product and will repair-replace-or credit at our discretion. Inbound shipping expenses are to be paid by the customer and all shipments must be accompanied by an RMA number.

 The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) was adopted by the European Union in 2003 and took effect in 2006.  The RoHS restricts the use of six hazardous substances (lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated biphenyl ethers) in the manufacture of electronics and electronic equipment (EEE).  Penalties for non-compliance vary by country but can include stiff penalties, goods recall and prison time.   The original cost to implement this directive was $32 billion dollars worldwide, with another $3 billion annually to maintain compliance. 

 In 2008, an assessment by the European Commission showed that up to 44% of EEE checked were not fully compliant.  The National Weights and Laboratories claimed that “99% of products were 99% compliant” (or in other words, only 1% complied fully). 

 So in an attempt to reduce costs, resolve uncertainties and increase enforcement, in 2008 the European Commission announced plans to recast the RoHS Directive.  The intention of the RoHS Recast is not to simply amend the original RoHS; the intention is that it will effectively repeal and replace it.

 So the RoHS recast has been several years in the making.  The consolidated text was adopted on November 24, 2010 but does not become law until the text is approved by the Council of the European Union and published in the Official Journal of the European Union.  

 I know most of you do NOT want to read the entire 46 pages of the RoHS Recast, so here are the major points of interest:

 What’s the Same:

• - The original six restricted substances and their maximum concentration values allowed (100 ppm by weight of homogeneous material for cadmium, 1000 ppm for all others).  However, Annex II requires a re-evaluation in three years, and several more substances are likely to be restricted at that time.

 What’s Changed:

• - The scope now includes Category 8 (Medical Devices) and Category 9 (Monitoring and Control Instruments) which were originally exempt. 
• - The scope also includes a totally new “catch-all” category.  Category 11 EEE (“Other” EEE not covered by any of the other categories) must comply within 8 years. 
• - There are changes to the exemption process, and these are covered in Annex III, IV, and V.   
• - Manufactures must not only build compliant products.  They must maintain technical documentation, cite relevant harmonized standards, implement internal production controls, and keep a register of nonconforming products for ten years after the EEE is placed on the market
• - In the original RoHS, only the manufacturer was responsible for compliance.  The RoHS Recast places obligations on each party in the supply chain including manufacturers, importers, and distributors. 
• - A CE Mark is required on the finished product.  This visible indicator of compliance makes it possible to stop products at the border.
• - In addition to the CE Mark, an EC declaration of conformity must accompany the finished product. 
• - EEE not manufactured in the EU must have an EU importer who shares responsibility with the manufacturer for compliance

With each member of the supply chain now responsible for compliance, it’s more important than ever to work with trustworthy suppliers.  In addition to accepting a “conformity certificate” from your supplier, there needs to be a risk assessment of the quality of that information, and if you buy from an unqualified vendor, you must be prepared to do your own compliance testing.  

Regarding the 19th “Taiwan Excellence Selection” executed by the Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan, the reward of “Taiwan Excellence Award” had been announced on December 21st, 2010 after 2 months evaluation on written reports and on-site assessment by more than 70 well-known experts and professors, MEAN WELL achieved this award by its high efficiency waterproof LED power supply~ HLG series.

The reward is not only represent the positive recognition of R&D, design, quality control and marketing aspects from the evaluations, but also the proof of new technology and idea to reduce in the carbon consumption following the trend of environment protection. We are proud of maintaining the social responsibility to develop the “green power” products continuously, promoting the good quality and performance level.

The rewarded product, HLG series, is our new generation of high performance LED power supply. In compared with other products in the market, HLG series is designed by the concept of “constant current (C.C. mode) plus constant voltage (C.V. mode)”, so that It can direct drive the LED in order to increase the total system efficiency or in cope with the use of DC-DC LED driver for the balance of current distribution. With the advanced LCC and synchronous rectification technology, HLG series possess up to 94% of high efficiency. (general power units perform approximate 85%). With high PF value and IP65~IP67 dustproof / waterproof level, HLG series has 4KV/ 6KV surge immunity ability and offers the flexible dimming options. Moreover, all models are proved that the lifetime is compatible with the five-year period of LED modules and they also comply with global safety and EMC regulations, which are very suitable for harsh indoor or outdoor environment such as LED streetlamps, outdoor electronic display, LED tunnel lighting, LED decorative lighting and all kinds of outdoor electronic installations.

View the HLG Series Here

Affected:

• All units 50 Watts and less must have 0.3Watts or less no load power consumption.
• All units greater than 50 Watts and less than 250Watts must have 0.5Watts or less no load power consumption & it must be 87% efficient

The power conversion products covered by this:

• Products converting AC Power from mains into low voltage DC or AC output
  • Single output DC or AC
• Separate devices that constitutes the primary load
• Contained in a physical enclosure separate from the device
• With removable or hard wired male/female connection, cable, cord, etc.
• Intended for use with electrical and electronic household and office equipment in EC No. 1275/2008

View our Products that already fit the bill:

Mean Well GS06
Mean Well GS12
Mean Well GE12
Mean Well GS15
Mean Well GS18
Mean Well GE18
Mean Well GE24
Mean Well GS25
Mean Well GS40
Mean Well GS60
Mean Well GS90
Mean Well GS120
Mean Well AS-120P
Mean Well GS160
Mean Well GS220

The HLG Series is a high efficiency and waterproof LED power supply which can have up to 94% efficiency.  It has the full level of protection for short circuits, overload, over voltage and over temperature issues.  This series is both dustproof and waterproof making it a great option for both indoor and outdoor applications.    

See Peak to Peak’s full line of the award winning Meanwell HLG Series at http://www.peaktopeakled.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=hlg. 

The original article can be found at: http://www.meanwell.com/news/news95.htm