New NEMA Standard: TLEDs and Outdoor Retrofit Kits

LDS 12 CS NEMA 400 copy

June 21, 2019

With the rapidly changing light-emitting diode (LED) light sources for general illumination, there is a need for a standardized tubular LED (TLED) lamp specification sheet format that allows for the direct comparison of common TLED characteristics across manufacturers, says the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).

NEMA’s new standardized specification sheet (ANSI C78.54-2019) recommends the performance, operational, physical, and electrical characteristics that should be a part of any TLED specification sheet. Manufacturers have the flexibility to provide supplemental information in order to assist users further. Standardizing the features and performance data to be reported by manufacturers is intended to enable comparisons of key features and performance of TLED sources, says NEMA.

The purpose is to standardize the Tubular LED (TLED) Lamp specification sheet, or data reporting format, as the means of communication of critical lamp characteristics, such as

  • intended use ballasts (if applicable)
  • Rreference circuit (if applicable)
  • input voltage requirements (for use with mains voltage)
  • other characteristics may include physical dimensions and/or temperature ratings for operation.

This standard will cover all types of fluorescent replacement and retrofit TLED systems, including:

  • ballast driven (commonly referred to as Type A)
  • mains voltage driven (commonly referred to as Type B)
  • external driver driven (commonly referred to as Type C), or hybrid type replacements.

Lamps that do not fit existing replacement sockets, i.e., new lamp configurations, are not part of this standard.

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