What with so many lights not living up to projected “ANSI” standards, is there a way to verify a light manufacturer’s claims about a light? I ask because I had no luck digging around on the ANSI website and there are no serial numbers to identity any given tested light.
I put ANSI in quotes above because I suspect many of these lights (aka Solar Storm Sp03, etc) are not really tested at all, but are just graphiced on packaging to make it look that way, hoping we won’t ask questions. There has to be a way to verify such claims and ask questions about the testing methods.
Build a sphere and test it yourself or send it off to a reputable lab.
ANSI just publishes a test specification. They just tell you what and how to test for. They do not do any testing themselves.
Testing needs to be done by an independent lab or, like most manufacturers seem to do, just pull some sexy looking numbers out of your ANSI ass and slap them on the package.
I'd have to double check for ANSI, but I believe these claims are self tested. That is, they don't have to get it certified by a designated testing agency. As you said, many of these chinese brands don't bother with testing and just throw on a bunch of labels. If you don't want to be disappointed by these lights, don't be an early adopter. Wait for others to write reviews and others to give their impressions. One of these days I'll follow my advice.
I don’t know in depth, but it’s just a defined ‘standard’ to use. Anyone claiming and advertising to this standard could be legally liable in the markets they are selling in.
This is the same sort of thing as SAE bhp for cars. Or BS (British Standards) in the UK for other items.
These people set the standard and if someone claims false stats, then an individual, group or other body could take them to court over false claims and advertising.