Consumer group Which? has conducted a piece of research into the lifespan of b LED lamps and claims that some stop working before the end of their promised lifespan.
The consumer organisation tested 46 different types of lamp. For each lamp type, five samples were taken and put on a continuous cycle of being switched on for 165 minutes then switched off for 15 minutes, until they died.
European Union regulations say that 90 per cent of any batch of LED lamps should last at least 6,000 hours from March 1. Which? found five types of lamps that stopped working before this threshold.
However manufacturers have pointed out that some of the lamps highlighted in the research are no longer on sale in the UK. These included a lamp from Technical Consumer Products (TCP) and one from Ikea.
Thomas Luecke president and chief executive at TCP said he was disappointed that one of its lamps - that has already been withdrawn from market - was highlighted in the report for falling below the mark, and claimed other TCP products faired well in the study. The company no longer deals with the supplier of the lamp in question and said that, apart from that one product, it has very low return rates for its lamps.
He said: “It goes without saying that every reputable company, manufacturer and supplier in the UK would like to bring good quality into the market in order to enhance their reputation, sales and growth. It is not in my interest - having our European HQ here, employing people here, working with reputable companies such as Screwfix and Homebase - to try and dump a load of faulty products into the market. That is just not what we do.”
Readers' comments (1)
Thomas Luecke | 28 January 2014 11:39 pm
I do stay by what I said! We are very proud of what we produce and bring into the UK, all of which is better than any other product currently on offer. Challenge me - I invite you to do so - and I am happy to stand up and debate and discuss whatever it is on you mind! Thomas Luecke, CEO, TCP Ltd.
