LED Lighting from Zhongshan: Drivers, Lumens, and Marks

Zhongshan (中山), and Guzhen inside it, is the lighting town. Pendant lamps, panels, downlights, and a lot of decorative fixtures are made there, then shipped from Shenzhen or Guangzhou ports. The industrial hub guide lists it because the category is concentrated. Concentration does not mean every factory’s driver is worth putting your brand on.

The driver fails before the shell

Buyers compare shades and finishes. Returns come from drivers, flicker, and heat. I ask who makes the driver, whether it is isolated, the input voltage you actually sell into, and the warranty you are willing to give. A two-year promise on the carton with a no-name driver is a promise you will pay for later.

Lumen output and color temperature should be measured numbers for this lamp, not the highest number in the series. A 3000 K and a 4000 K are different SKUs. So are dimmable and non-dimmable, even when the shade is identical.

Marks need a file

• The safety mark your market requires, backed by a report on this driver and this housing.
• A flicker check and a basic on-off cycle during inspection, on the packed goods.
• Wiring, strain relief, and the terminal that a technician will actually touch.
• Cartons that can hold a glass or acrylic shade. Lighting damage is often packing, not the LED.

A decorative pendant with your finish is light customization. A new heat sink or a new driver platform is a product development job. I will say which one your drawing is before you pay a deposit.

Keep reading

• Frames and Sunglasses from Danyang
• China Export Documents a Buyer Should Actually Read
• What a Pre-Shipment Inspection Covers on Standard Goods