The price of LED lighting fixtures has always attracted much attention. There are many low-priced LED fixtures on the market. When many people compare these fixtures, they find that there are great differences between them. Although the structure of LED fixtures seems simple, there are actually many details that are the reason for the price difference.
Due to the increasingly fierce price war, the price difference of products with almost the same appearance, structure and function may be as high as 2-3 times. Many consumers are confused about this and don’t know where these price differences come from. In fact, the main factors that lead to price differences include the following aspects:
Material Quality
LED Chip: The material of the chip and its size are the main differences. Small, cheaper LED chips provide less light and are less stable, larger chips (COB) are brighter, more stable, and last longer, but are obviously more expensive.
Heat dissipation materials: Heat dissipation materials play a vital role in the performance and life of LED lamps. Usually, low-cost heat dissipation materials such as plastics or poor quality aluminum alloys are used. Plastics have poor heat dissipation effects and can easily cause LED chips to overheat, affecting the life and performance of the lamp. Usually, high-quality heat dissipation materials such as pure aluminum or copper are used. These materials have good thermal conductivity and can quickly and effectively dissipate heat, keeping the lamp working at a low temperature and extending its service life.
Power driver: This is the core of LED lighting. LED is a semiconductor that needs to be driven carefully and in accordance with the rated value. Many low-priced power supplies on the market are falsely labeled or use cheap power supplies that cannot drive lamps with rated power. In fact, it is easy for consumers to identify the quality of power supplies. The transformer and power volume on a good brand power supply are relatively large, and the overall look is fuller and more textured; the arrangement of components and production process are also relatively good, and the overall look is clean, tidy and beautiful. Cheap and unsecured power supplies cut corners in design, saving as much as possible on surge protection, rectification and filtering, and current stabilization, without considering the safety and stability of actual use.
Performance and efficiency
- Light effect and brightness
The brightness of LEDs is different and the prices are different. I believe this is not difficult for us to understand. Just like traditional incandescent lamps, high-wattage lamps are more expensive. The brightness of LED bulbs is expressed in lumens. The higher the lumen number, the brighter the lamp and the more expensive it is.
- Color rendering index (CRI)
Cheap LED lamps usually have a low color rendering index, which may be below 70. This means that objects will appear distorted in color and blurred in details under this light source, and the true color of the object cannot be accurately restored. The color rendering index is higher, usually between 80-95, and can even reach a level close to 100. Under this light source, the color of the object appears bright and natural, the details are clear, and the true color can be accurately restored.
- Lifespan and reliability
Good LED lamps can usually reach 50,000 hours or even longer. This is because they use high-quality materials and components, are well designed, and have good heat dissipation, which effectively delays the aging process of the LED chip. On the contrary, cheaper ones may have a lifespan of less than 10,000 hours. This is due to the use of low-quality materials and components, poor heat dissipation, which causes premature aging of the LED chip and accelerated light decay.
Safety standards and certifications
In order to reduce costs, some manufacturers may not pass strict safety certifications for these lamps, or only pass some basic certifications. Common certifications may include CE (European Conformity Certification), but lack higher standard certifications. Really powerful manufacturers may come with more certifications and pass a variety of strict international certifications, such as UL (American Safety Laboratory), ETL (Electronic Testing Laboratory), DLC (Design Lighting Coalition Certification), RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive), etc. These certifications ensure that the lamps meet high standards in electrical safety, material environmental protection and performance.
Weight
It may seem strange, but it is true, it is impossible to have good quality in a product that is very light. Since all LED lights need good heat dissipation, this cannot be achieved without a lot of aluminum. A thin heat sink can provide more area at a lighter weight, but it cannot transfer enough heat to be removed. Only active (fan-based) cooling can solve this problem. Some manufacturers offer 12-20W lights that are very light and feel like plastic bodies. These products will not perform well even for a short period of time.
The construction of LEDs is also important. Check the design, look, feel, and strength when choosing LEDs. If the paint or powder coating is not applied well, the internal construction is likely to be cheap. Many manufacturers produce large quantities of cheap products to compete on price. Quick and careless production may not last longer.
As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. If you come across a manufacturer's lamps that are more than 20% cheaper than other normal manufacturers, don't be fooled at this time. Buying cheap things is what everyone expects, but if it is so much lower than the market price, you should be more careful to confirm whether the various parameters described by the supplier are true and test them. Products with ridiculously low prices, no matter what the seller's reasons. Because the very low price does not even cover the cost, how can there be a qualified guarantee?