Standards for LED light sources in vehicles

LED lighting is an essential part of modern vehicles. This lighting offers benefits in terms of durability, efficiency and brightness. In Europe, the approval of LED light sources is regulated by the ECE R128 standard. Which ensures unity within all participating countries.

What are the ECE R128 regulations?

The ECE R128 standard specifies the technical requirements for the approval of LED light sources in vehicles. In particular, this covers the design, electrical and photometric features of the light sources. Manufacturers wishing to offer LED lighting on the European market must comply with these guidelines to ensure safe and reliable products.

Important technical requirements

The ECE R128 regulations contain specific requirements covering various technical aspects of LED light sources. This allows vehicles with LED lighting to operate safely on the road.

Light intensity

According to ECE R128, each LED light source must comply with standardised intensity distributions to ensure sufficient visibility. Moreover, this is measured after an ageing process of 48 hours, during which the light intensity is normalised in relation to the luminous flux. This ensures that the lighting performs optimally under normal conditions.

Colour of light

The colour of the light must be within the specified tolerances. For white LEDs in particular, there must be a minimum of red light to ensure visibility and recognisability. Therefore, these specifications are crucial for the safety of the driver and other road users.

Finally, the minimum red content is calculated using the following formula:

in which:

• Ee(λ) is the spectral distribution of irradiance,
• V(λ) is the spectral luminous efficiency function,
• λ is the wavelength (in nanometres).

This value must be at least 0.05 to comply with the standard(R128e). This means that the light must have a minimum red component. Therefore, it is important for the visibility of the LED light source in traffic situations.

Electrical requirements

LED light sources must comply with standardised electrical requirements, including voltage and current limits. Power is tested at specific truck voltages to ensure that the lighting functions correctly within a defined range.

Related topics: Read more about ECE R87 position lights and ECE R10 standards for further information on vehicle lighting.

Why is compliance with the ECE R128 standard important?

Compliance with the ECE R128 standard is crucial for manufacturers wishing to bring their LED light sources to the European market. After all, the standard ensures that the products meet legal requirements and contribute to road safety. For consumers, it means that their vehicles are equipped with durable and reliable lighting.

Benefits of the standard

• Increased road safety: standard-compliant LED lighting provides consistent and clear lighting, reducing the risk of accidents.
• Legal compliance: Manufacturers complying with this standard can sell their products in Europe without any problems.
• Consumer confidence: In short, this allows drivers to rely on high-quality lighting that meets strict safety requirements.

External source: For further details on ECE R128 and other lighting standards, visit the official UNECE website.

Combination of ECE R128 eb Ece R148 essential for vehicles

Although Ece R128 is the standard for the LED light source itself (the individual 'light'), there are also overarching regulations for the complete lighting units.

The more recent ECE R148 sets out the technical requirements for the installation and performance of many complete vehicle signalling lighting systems. This is crucial for the entire commercial vehicle sector, including trucks, trailers, agricultural machinery, construction and earth-moving vehicles, and even off-road 4×4 vehicles. ECE R148 consolidated many older regulations for components such as side marker lights, brake lights and indicators. However, ECE R128 remains the applicable standard for the component approval of the LED lights used in these R148-certified units.

Both standards are therefore important for an approved lighting system, ensuring that the lighting is both technically compliant (R128) and robust and functions correctly as a complete unit (R148) under tough working conditions.