Colour Binning, Photometric Testing and LM-80 Data
Spectroradiometer binning to SDCM ≤3, LM-79 flux reports, LM-80 lifetime data and TM-21 projections for every LED strip production lot.
Colour binning measures each production reel and sorts it by chromaticity, flux and forward voltage so that strips installed side by side match. HFY LED measures every reel on a spectroradiometer, bins to SDCM ≤ 3 within 3-step MacAdam ellipses, and issues LM-79 flux reports plus LM-80 and TM-21 lifetime data on request.
When this process applies
Binning covers CCT, duv, flux and forward voltage. TM-30 and R9 reporting is available for retail and museum projects where red rendering drives the specification. We do not issue UL or ENERGY STAR certifications ourselves; those are obtained through the test house and apply to the luminaire, not to the strip alone.
Technical specifications
| Measurement | Spectroradiometer, 380–780 nm at 1 nm |
|---|---|
| Binning criterion | SDCM ≤ 3 (3-step MacAdam) |
| Flux tolerance | ±7% within a bin |
| Voltage tolerance | ±0.2 V within a bin |
| Ambient condition | 25 ± 1 °C, 30 minutes stabilisation |
| Reporting | LM-79 report, LM-80 data, TM-21 projection |
Where it is the right choice
- Projects where multiple reels appear in one continuous line
- Retail and hospitality work with a stated CRI or R9 requirement
- Replacement reels for an installation commissioned years earlier
- Tender submissions that require photometric documentation
Where it is the wrong choice
Stating this explicitly matters more than a capability list: if your part falls into one of these categories, another process will cost you less.
- Single-reel decorative projects, where binning adds cost without visible benefit
- Luminaire-level certifications, which must be tested on the finished fitting
- Colour matching against a physical sample without a measured target
Equipment
- 2 spectroradiometers with 1 m integrating spheres
- Dark measurement booth at 25 ± 1 °C
- LM-80 ageing racks, 6,000-hour capacity
- TM-30 and R9 analysis software
Process questions
What does SDCM 3 mean in practice?
SDCM 3 means every reel sits inside a 3-step MacAdam ellipse around the nominal CCT, a difference most viewers cannot detect side by side. SDCM 5 starts to show as a visible tint difference on adjacent runs, and SDCM 7 is the level at which a mixed batch reads as two different whites.
Can you match a strip I bought three years ago?
Usually, if we still hold the bin record — we retain lot data for five years. Send the reel label with its bin code and voltage group; if that bin is no longer produced, we quote the closest current bin and state the measured Δuv so you can judge the risk before ordering.
Related capabilities and products
Quality & Testing
Quality control for LED strip combines incoming component verification, in-process optical inspection and end-of-line electrical and photometric testing. HFY LED tests 100% of reels for forward voltage and open segments, burns in every reel for 24 hours at rated current, pressure-tests outdoor assemblies, and operates under ISO 9001:2015 with LM-79, LM-80 and TM-21 documentation available per lot..
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Tell us the product type, run length, wattage, CCT, CRI and IP rating. You will receive a fixed price, a lead time, and the feed and driver arrangement in writing — no obligation, and no sales call unless you ask for one.