Ditch vague requests like "quote for LED panels". Instead, serve suppliers a complete blueprint:
1. Application & Environment Context
•
Is this for humid bathrooms?
Demand IP54-rated seals
•
Commercial kitchen install?
Fire-rated enclosures prevent grease disasters
•
Schools/hospitals?
Specify glare-free optics and blue light reduction
2. Technical Non-Negotiables
•
Luminous Efficacy
: Minimum 150 lm/W (whole fixture, not chips alone!)
•
Color Consistency
: ±100K temperature tolerance
•
Flicker Rate
: <1% for sensitive environments
•
THD Levels
: Under 10% prevents transformer hum
•
Driver Certification
: UL/CUL marks avoid code violations
Field Wisdom
"Light efficiency" decoys are everywhere. Demand whole-fixture efficacy measurements from their photometric reports. Chips labeled 200 lm/W can drop to 80 lm/W once diffusers and frames sap efficiency.
3. Aesthetics That Affect Function
• Edge-lit vs back-lit designs (thickness impacts ceiling clearances)
• Frame colors beyond basic whites
• Custom-cut panels for awkward ceiling grids
• Diffuser types: micro-prismatic vs opal for light distribution