In the lighting products, there is a very core component —the driver power. It is like our human heart, and it is the source of energy for the lighting, which converts the household AC power into DC power. The specification of the lighting also affects the lifespan. And there are many options for driver power, while the most basic difference is the choice of voltage range for driver power for different markets.

Different countries use different standard voltages, so in order to match the market for the application of lighting products, special attention should be paid to the voltage range of the driver power configured at the time of import.

1. CE requirements and drive voltage in European countries

There are two types of voltage used for indoor electricity in the world. 100V~130V and 220V~240V. 100V, 110~130V are classified as low voltage, such in the United States, Japan and the voltage on board, focusing on safety. 220~240V is classified as high voltage, which includes 220V in China and 230V in the UK and most of the European countries, focusing on efficiency.

The discussion focuses on European countries’ voltages.

The supply voltage is not exactly the same in all European countries. Turkey, Poland, Russia and other countries for AC 220V, 50Hz, while Finland, France, Germany, Italy and other countries for AC 230V, 50Hz, but we all know that the EU is an organization that requires economic and political common, so when manufacturing and importing lighting products, it also need to meet the EU CE requirements. And in the CE certification of various test requirements, the European standard drive power supply voltage unified requirements are 220V ~ 240V 50/60Hz narrow voltage or single-voltage drive.

2. The reasons that importers require wide voltage drivers

But in the actual European market, many importers and wholesalers will ask the manufacturer whether there is a wide voltage drive, 175V ~ 240V, 110V ~ 240V, 85V ~ 265V and other ranges. Wide voltage drive power supplies obviously do not meet the requirements of the CE marking European standard drive, but why do more purchasers have this demand?

a. Wider application

Most European countries use 220V ~ 240V, CE certification of the European standard drive can also meet the majority of household lighting power supply requirements, but the use of 220 ~ 230V voltage in the country, there is also the use of 110 ~ 130V voltage situation, such as Sweden, Russia. So, a wide voltage drive will allow a wider range of lighting to be used, rather than being limited to some European markets. And for wide voltage drive lighting, the market supplier can also export to other low voltage or different voltage countries for a second time, making the product more liquid.

b. Cheaper price

The general idea that wide voltage drive power supplies are more expensive than narrow voltage drive power supplies is actually true, but only if other parameters and configurations are the same. For the CE certification of the European standard narrow voltage drive ordinary wide voltage drive, wide voltage drive power supply prices will be much cheaper because the drive power supply to meet the real CE certification is required through IEC, EMC and other tests, these additional costs and configuration upgrade costs will make the drive power supply prices higher. And many importers who are not professional in the certification and import requirements will prefer to have the price advantage of ordinary wide voltage drive power supply.

3. How to achieve wide voltage products imported into the European market

a. Import customs clearance doesn’t require a CE certificate

CE certification, that is, limited to the basic safety requirements of the product does not endanger the safety of humans, animals and goods, rather than the general quality requirements, the harmonization directive only provides for the main requirements, the general directive requirements are the task of the standard. The precise meaning is therefore that the CE mark is a safety conformity mark and not a quality conformity mark. So although the wide voltage drive power supply does not have the corresponding CE certification test safety regulations, it itself is in line with other basic use safety tests, so there will be no safety hazards. Therefore, for the import customs did not verify the requirement to show the CE certificate of European countries, importers will prefer the wide voltage power supply drive.

b. Inconsistency between the actual imported goods and the customs clearance CE certificate

However, in most European countries, CE is regarded as the manufacturer’s passport to open and enter the European market, in order to circulate freely in the EU market, not only need to affix the “CE” mark, in the import customs clearance but also to show the CE certificate. This makes the market scrutiny of the European standard narrow voltage drive power supply more stringent. Of course, there will be some importers who will present a CE certificate that is not consistent with the actual imported lighting drive voltage. That is, the actual lighting is equipped with a wide voltage driver, but the CE certificate presented identifies a narrow voltage driver that complies with the test safety regulations. This is a solution, but inevitably there will be the risk of customs opening the box for verification.

Indeed, wide voltage drive power supplies and narrow voltage drive power supplies have their own advantages and different markets have their own requirements for drive power supplies. Whether it is for higher sales profits or to avoid import risks, we recommend that importers balance their own company positioning and market requirements to choose a more suitable product.