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LED STRIP OEM GUIDE

How to Write an LED Strip OEM RFQ

A useful LED strip RFQ should define the application, required light performance, electrical system, installation constraints and target market—without forcing the buyer to design the product for the manufacturer.

What Information Should an LED Strip RFQ Include?

An LED strip RFQ should describe where the strip will be used, how the light should look, how it will be powered and controlled, and what physical or environmental limits apply. At minimum, provide the application, installation method, voltage, target wattage or light output, CCT or color type, CRI, required run length, PCB width limit, IP requirement and target market.

If the buyer has not selected SMD, COB or CSP construction, the supplier should propose a suitable option and explain the reason.

View the RFQ Example

The Five Parts of a Useful LED Strip RFQ

01

Application

Explain where the LED strip will actually be used.

  • Cove, cabinet, retail shelf, furniture, profile or luminaire
  • Direct-view, reflected or concealed light
  • Indoor, outdoor or special-temperature environment
  • Fixture drawing or installation photo if available
02

Optical Requirements

Define the light you need to see, rather than just the LED quantity.

  • Single color, tunable white, RGB, RGBW or addressable
  • CCT or color wavelength
  • CRI and R9 requirement
  • Target lumens per meter
  • Color-consistency requirement such as SDCM
  • Whether a continuous or dot-reduced light line is required
03

Electrical and Control

Specify how the strip will be powered and controlled.

  • Input voltage
  • Target or maximum watts per meter
  • Required section length
  • Maximum single-feed run length
  • Dimming or control method
  • Driver or controller information if already selected
04

Mechanical and Environmental Limits

Ensure the product physically fits into your structure.

  • Maximum PCB width
  • Required cut length
  • Aluminum profile dimensions
  • LED-to-diffuser distance
  • Cable exit and connector requirement
  • IP level and exposure conditions
  • Operating ambient temperature
05

Market and Project Requirements

Provide the commercial conditions that affect certification, sampling and production.

  • Destination market
  • Required certification or documentation
  • Sample quantity
  • Estimated order quantity
  • Reel length and private-label packaging if required
  • Target schedule
EXAMPLE RFQ
LED strip installed in retail shelf aluminum profile

Critical Dimensions for this Application:

  • PCB Width: Must fit inside 10mm internal profile
  • Profile Depth: 12mm LED-to-diffuser distance
  • Visual Goal: No visible dots through opal diffuser

LED Strip Project Specification Example

Illustrative RFQ values for explaining the required information. This is not a published Xmart product specification.

Project
Retail Shelf Linear Lighting
Market
USA
Application
Integrated shelf and display lighting
Installation
Aluminum profile with opal diffuser
Light Appearance
Continuous diffused line at close viewing distance
Construction
Supplier to propose SMD, COB or CSP
Input Voltage
24V DC constant voltage
Power Target
9.6 W/m nominal, ±10%
Light Output
Minimum 900 lm/m after stabilization
CCT
4000K
Color Rendering
CRI Ra ≥90, R9 ≥50
Color Consistency
≤3 SDCM within the approved order
Section Length
2 m per installed section
Power Feed
Single-end feed; supplier to verify
PCB Width
Maximum 8 mm
Cut Length
50 mm maximum preferred
Control
0-10V dimming
Environment
Indoor, dry location, IP20
Profile Information
10 mm internal width, 12 mm LED-to-diffuser distance
Certification
UL or ETL documentation required for proposed model
Note: This RFQ does not force a specific LED package. It gives the manufacturer enough information to compare SMD, COB or CSP options and identify any conflict between light output, wattage, dimensions, cut length and certification.

Why Is This RFQ More Useful Than “Please Quote Your Best LED Strip”?

Too General

"Please quote your best 24V high-CRI LED strip for retail lighting."

The Problem: This does not define the required light output, profile dimensions, viewing condition, run length, color tolerance or certification requirement. Different suppliers may quote completely different products.

Specification-Based

"24V LED strip for a retail shelf profile, 4000K, CRI Ra ≥90, minimum 900 lm/m, maximum 8 mm PCB, close-view diffused light line, 2 m single-feed sections and model-specific UL or ETL documentation."

The Result: This gives suppliers a common basis for proposing and comparing models, ensuring the quoted product actually fits the engineering constraints.

What If the Buyer Does Not Know Every Specification?

An OEM RFQ does not need to contain every engineering answer. Buyers should clearly separate fixed requirements from items the supplier may propose.

Buyer Fixed

Requirements that cannot change, such as profile width, target market, voltage or required light output.

Supplier to Propose

Items such as SMD, COB or CSP construction, LED density, PCB circuit layout or recommended feed method.

To Be Validated

Items that require a sample or test, such as dot visibility, diffuser appearance, operating temperature, color mixing or maximum practical run length.

"A good LED strip RFQ defines the required result while allowing the manufacturer to propose the most suitable construction."

Why Should an RFQ Define Measurement Conditions?

A lumen, wattage or color value is difficult to compare unless the measurement condition is known. Input voltage, sample length, stabilization time, ambient temperature and whether the strip is measured bare or inside a profile can affect the result.

At minimum, advise suppliers to state:

  • Input voltage during measurement
  • Sample length
  • Stabilization time
  • Ambient temperature
  • Bare strip or installed profile
  • Diffuser used or not used
  • Single-end or dual-end power feed
Instead of: 1,000 lm/m
Write: Minimum 1,000 lm/m after thermal stabilization, measured on a 1 m bare strip at rated input voltage.

What Should Xmart Return After Receiving an RFQ?

Xmart should return a model-based response rather than a generic quotation.

  1. Recommended SMD, COB or CSP construction
  2. Proposed model and complete specification
  3. Comply, exception or alternative for each key requirement
  4. Applicable test data and measurement conditions
  5. Model-specific certification information
  6. Sample, approval and production plan

Response Status Definitions

Comply

The proposed model meets the requirement.

Comply with Exception

The requirement can be met with a documented limitation.

Alternative Proposed

Xmart recommends a different specification and explains why.

Validation Required

The result must be confirmed through a sample or test.

More Information Required

The supplied project information is not sufficient for selection.

LED Strip OEM RFQ Questions

What are the most important specifications in an LED strip RFQ?
The most important information is the application, installation method, voltage, watts or lumens per meter, CCT or color type, CRI, required run length, PCB width, cut length, IP requirement, control method and target market.
Does the buyer need to choose COB, SMD or CSP before requesting a quote?
No. If the required light appearance, dimensions, electrical limits and application are clearly defined, the manufacturer can propose an appropriate construction for evaluation.
Should buyers specify LED density?
Only when LED density is a fixed design requirement. In many projects, the required visual appearance, luminous output and profile dimensions are more useful than an arbitrary LEDs-per-meter value.
Should an RFQ specify lumens or watts?
Both are useful because watts per meter describes electrical load while lumens per meter describes light output. The measurement conditions should also be stated so different proposals can be compared fairly.
How should certification be requested?
Request documentation for the exact proposed model and configuration. The supplier should identify the certification holder, file number, covered construction and applicable marking requirements rather than showing general certification logos.
Can Xmart help complete an incomplete LED strip specification?
Yes. Buyers can provide the application, installation drawing, target light performance, voltage, dimensions and market. Xmart can then propose the remaining technical details for sampling and validation.

Send Xmart Your LED Strip RFQ

Share your application, fixture drawing, required light performance, electrical limits and target market. Xmart can review the requirement, identify missing information and propose a model for sampling.

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