System compatibility testing improves reliability of LED lighting devices and systems

Providing a solid-state lighting SSL product to a utility or customer that is reliable and compatible with the utility power system and customer's electrical environment saves money-there's no doubt about it. With the amount of capital required to develop and market advanced lighting products like SSL devices, manufacturers simply cannot afford to spend money on cleaning up utility and customer problems caused by poor and failed performance.

Stakeholders in the lighting industry are learning that the performance of an electronic lighting product is not just about efficiency and energy savings. Total product performance must be addressed by manufacturers if end users are to trust and invest in higher-performance lighting products. Total performance must include efficiency and energy savings combined with reliability and compatibility with a central focus on providing higher quality of light and color.

This second article in our series on compatibility in LED lighting devices and systems defines a relatively new concept system compatibility as applied to electronic lighting. It looks at why the concept was developed, and how it applies to today's lighting products.