The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released the results of Round 8 of product testing through its Solid-State Lighting (SSL) CALiPER program.

Round 8 was conducted from February 2009 to June 2009. In this round the DOE tested 35 products, representing a range of product types and technologies. According to the report, this round of testing was focused primarily on replacement lamps, including MR16 lamps, PAR lamps, and small omni-directional replacement lamps. Benchmark replacement lamps using incandescent, halogen, and CFL light sources were also tested in each application category for comparison to SSL. Additional products tested included three undercabinet products, a downlight, and an outdoor streetlight.

The products were reportedly tested with both spectroradiometry and goniophotometry using absolute photometry. All solid-state lighting (SSL) products were tested following the IESNA LM-79-08 testing method. Testing also included measurements of surface temperatures (taken at the hottest accessible spots on the luminaire).

According to the report, the SSL products tested in Round 8 exhibited a wide range of efficacy: from 14 lm/W to 53 lm/W. The results found no exceptionally high or exceptionally low efficacy products in the round, but the overall average efficacy per round is apparently still climbing, now reaching 36 lm/W.

A Summary Report containing the results from Round 8 testing is now available for download on the DOE SSL website at www.ssl.energy.gov/reports.html. The Department allows detailed test results from CALiPER testing to be distributed in the public interest for noncommercial, educational purposes only. Detailed test reports for Round 8 will be available soon through the searchable on-line CALiPER system at www.ssl.energy.gov/search.html.