I really need a clarification on this point.
As there are several things quoted and I don't know on which one you need clarification, I will try to explain my point:
Cal Sense is an independent testing facility working under ISO17025 and approved by the SAE. When they release an approval for a product according to a certain SAE standard one can be sure it was tested properly and "with no corners rounded".
SAE standard for any certain automotive illumination device usually includes several tests, where photometry is only part of the approval. Among other things these tests include vibration, heat (operation and storage), deformation possible after these tests, lens chemical and mechanical resistance, water/dust impermeablity, voltage changes, EMI compliance and etc.
According to the method described, in order to self-certify a product a manufacturer needs the necessary facilities and equipment. Suppose someone decides photometry is enough and the rest should be his concern related to warranty issues and decides to deal with these problems when and if they will happen and rushes to put the DOT on the product and starts marketing it (kind of "jump and god will help you"). Why? Well, in this case 250000 reasons.
Now, suppose someone decides to take a lamp and send it for testing for example at Cal Sense and it comes out that the lamp is not passing one or several test items according to the SAE headlamp standard, and files a complaint at NHTSA. If fines and recall is the punisment the meaning is Truck Lite will probably go down.
As for Truck-Lite, I'm sure they're not just marking the lens DOT for the fun of it.
Not for fun is for sure, the military likes them, 164000 Hummers are supposed to pass the RECAP program in the next years and the MRAP project is going on at full throttle.
Last september there was a military show in London, they told us there that over 100000 headlamps were sold already. 2 weeks ago at the Eurosatory the same people raised the number to 250000. Impressive !!!
What makes me wonder is one thing:
Our regulations here and in Europe require when importing automotive parts to provide a standard approval and the lab that conducted the tests should be internationally recognized. A manufacturer's COC (certificate of compliance) is not enough.
I had opportunities to work with many US manufacturers of LED products, mainly emergency vehicle warning lights, school bus lamps and etc. All of them are providing on request test reports made by independent labs. (almost all work with Cal Sense, this is why I mentioned this name).
So what keeps Truck Lite from getting such an approval for this headlamp? $3000 which is the cost of testing it?
