Overview
IEC 63356-2:2024 - "LED light source characteristics – Part 2: Design parameters and values" specifies the design parameters and design values for LED light sources and their related interface characteristics. It covers mechanical, electrical and optical interfaces between an LED light source and a luminaire, controlgear or attachments, and provides the reference models, demarcations, contact areas and limits required for reliable mechanical and electrical integration. This edition (Edition 2.0, 2024) is a technical revision and adds new clauses for circular LED modules (spot lighting) and LEDni modules.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard defines practical design parameters, supported by figures and tables, including:
- LED module demarcation and numbering - reference points, planes and module outlines for rectangular, circular and LEDni module shapes.
- Mechanical interface requirements - mounting features, screw-hole locations, luminaire exclusion limits and inner feature constraints.
- Optics contact areas (OCA) - locations and heights for optics mating to LED emitting surfaces, important for spot lighting optics.
- Electrical contact areas - minimum/maximum contact size, overlap areas and PCB thickness recommendations for reliable electrical interconnect.
- Module categories and families - standardized categories (rectangular module types, circular LES categories, and LEDni rectangular modules with circular emitting surfaces) with corresponding demarcation models and tables.
- Inclusion limit zones - allowed component placement zones to ensure mechanical and optical compatibility with luminaires and attachments.
- Illustrative content - extensive figures and tables that provide dimensional values, reference drawings and examples for designers and manufacturers.
Note: IEC 63356-2 does not cover interchangeability between manufacturers (see IEC 63356-1) and excludes lamp caps and lampholders specified in IEC 60061.
Practical applications and target audiences
Who uses IEC 63356-2:
- LED module and component manufacturers - to define product mechanical/electrical/optical interfaces.
- Luminaire and lighting-system designers - to ensure compatible mounting, optics alignment and electrical connections.
- Controlgear and accessory designers - for interface and exclusion-zone compliance.
- Test laboratories and conformity assessors - for verifying design parameters against published tables and figures.
- Specifiers and procurement - to write clear technical requirements for suppliers.
Practical benefits:
- Reduces design iterations and integration risk by standardizing interface geometry and contact requirements.
- Simplifies optical assembly for spot lighting through defined optics contact areas.
- Improves interoperability within luminaire ecosystems (mechanical/electrical fit), even if interchangeability across manufacturers is handled in Part 1.
Related standards
- IEC 63356-1 - interchangeability requirements for LED light sources.
- IEC 60061 - lamp caps and lampholders (excluded from Part 2 scope).
Keywords: IEC 63356-2:2024, LED light source characteristics, design parameters, LED modules, circular LED modules, LEDni modules, optics contact area, electrical contact area, luminaire interfaces.
