DODGY LEDs
ARE YOUR GLOBES CAUSING INTERFERENCE? Faulty or non-compliant LED globes can cause TV interference. And if you’re a manufacturer or importer of LED globes, you’re responsible for ensuring that they don’t cause interference. The Australian Communications and Media Authority suggests suppliers take some simple steps, detailed below, to prevent interference.
Are you a supplier?
How to make sure imported LED globes comply
Anyone who imports electronic devices, including LED globes, for use by someone other than themselves is a supplier under the Radiocommunications Act 1992. Even if you’re not ‘selling’ LED globes as a retailer, you still may be considered a supplier if you: are responsible for buying and supplying the lighting for your company’s clients; do fit-outs or other contract work where you or your business imports and installs lighting; sell globes online that you drop ship or otherwise source from overseas. This means you’re subject to technical standards compliance requirements.
Some points to consider include: • Confirm the product can be legally supplied and used in Australia. Ask the overseas wholesaler or manufacturer to give you compliance test reports showing that the globes comply with the applicable Australian or international equivalent electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards (such as CISPR 15 or EN 55015). If your manufacturer can’t provide test reports, you’ll need to arrange and pay for testing yourself. While overseas test reports are acceptable, you must provide information explaining how the overseas standards are equivalent to the Australian standards. • Check if other standards also apply. The EMC standards are in addition to electrical safety standards that may also apply. • Give your overseas supplier or manufacturer clear specifications. Make sure your manufacturer or wholesaler understands that globes that are suitable for some markets may not be suitable for Australia and must conform to Australian or equivalent international standards. • Be wary of unauthorised changes made by manufacturers. In several cases, overseas manufacturers appear to have changed components or internal designs of globes without telling Australian suppliers, leaving Australian suppliers holding large quantities of non-standard globes. For example, a manufacturer might remove
Why LEDs? Some models of LED light globes cause interference to TV signals. This interference may consist of a sudden loss of signal or picture quality in a residence or neighbouring house. In these cases, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) needs to be able to quickly contact the supplier of the globes to notify them of the problem. People experiencing TV reception problems may also wish to contact the supplier to arrange an exchange or refund. The consequences of supplying a device that does not comply with Australian law can be serious and may risk your business’s reputation.
32 ECD SOLUTIONS - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
www.ECDsolutions.com.au