Published and reviewed: 16 July 2026
The fastest way to receive unusable grow-light quotations is to ask only for wattage and price. A useful RFQ fixes the project conditions, defines the evidence suppliers must return and makes substitutions visible. Copy the questions below into your enquiry and ask every supplier to answer in the same order.
The one-sentence RFQ
“Please quote the exact fixture and configuration for [country, crop, canopy, target PPFD/DLI, mounting height, environment, voltage, control method, quantity and delivery date], and return the model-specific reports, safety/compliance identifiers, warranty process and sample lead time listed below.”
1. Project inputs the buyer must provide
| RFQ field | What to state | Why it changes the answer |
|---|---|---|
| Destination and use | Country, commercial/residential use, greenhouse/indoor/vertical farm and new build/retrofit. | Changes safety, EMC, importer, plug, labelling and local code requirements. |
| Crop and lighting goal | Crop, growth stage, photoperiod, target PPFD or DLI and whether sunlight contributes. | Prevents a supplier from selecting a fixture on area or wattage alone. |
| Geometry | Canopy dimensions, rack spacing, mounting height, aisle and obstruction locations. | Determines quantity, optics, uniformity, shading and service access. |
| Environment | Temperature range, humidity, irrigation exposure, cleaning chemicals and dust. | Changes driver derating, enclosure, seals, connectors and warranty suitability. |
| Electrical and control | Voltage/frequency, branch limits, plug/connector, dimming protocol and central controls. | A “similar” variant may need different certification coverage and installation hardware. |
2. Ask each supplier these 24 questions
Exact product and performance
- What is the complete orderable model code, including wattage, voltage, driver, spectrum, connector and control suffixes?
- What are actual input power, PPF and PPE at rated conditions, including measurement tolerance?
- Can you provide the full spectrum file and a PPFD map at our stated mounting height and grid size?
- Which laboratory produced the complete-luminaire report, and is its accreditation scope relevant to the measurements?
- At what ambient temperature does output or power begin to derate?
- Which LED package and driver are fitted in the quoted production model, and are substitutions permitted?
Safety, market access and documentation
- Which safety standard and certification mark cover the exact model and intended installation?
- What is the searchable file/control number, certificate owner and listed manufacturing location?
- Does the record cover every quoted suffix, private-label name, input voltage and wet/damp-location rating?
- For the EU, can you provide the model-specific EU Declaration of Conformity and applied legislation/standards?
- If DLC is required, what is the exact QPL model and current listing status?
- Can you provide label artwork, installation instructions and reports before sample payment?
Use the separate LED grow light certification guide to verify what each document means and where to search.
Controls, reliability and service
- What dimming range, off-threshold, signal type, daisy-chain limit and fail-safe behaviour apply?
- Is the controller an open protocol or a proprietary dependency, and what happens if cloud service ends?
- What in-situ LED temperature, driver case temperature and thermal test conditions support life projections?
- Which parts are field replaceable, and for how many years will drivers, connectors and controllers remain available?
- What warranty exclusions apply to ambient temperature, humidity, switching cycles, chemicals and installation?
- Who pays labour, freight and duties for a valid warranty claim in the destination country?
Commercial and production controls
- What are sample, pilot and production MOQs, and which customisations trigger new testing or tooling?
- What is the lead time for sample approval, production, inspection and shipment—not only “factory lead time”?
- Which components may change without buyer approval, and how is a change notification issued?
- What incoming, in-process and final inspections are recorded for the buyer's lot?
- Can a third party inspect labels, components, function, power and packaging before final payment?
- Which Incoterm, port, packaging dimensions, gross weight, spare ratio and document set are included?
3. Sample acceptance before a production order
Approve a sample against a written record, not memory. Photograph the label and internal component identifiers where access is permitted. Record input power, dimming behaviour, connector compatibility, surface temperatures and a repeatable PPFD grid. Compare those results with the supplier report and keep the approved sample or uniquely identify it for the production inspection.
- Reject silent substitutions, even when headline wattage is unchanged.
- Define acceptable measurement tolerance and test-equipment limitations in advance.
- Make the approved bill of materials, labels, firmware and packaging part of the purchase order.
- For high-risk or high-value projects, use competent local engineering, compliance and inspection professionals.
Want a cleaner supplier comparison?
Send the destination market, application, room or canopy dimensions, quantity and any quotations already received. We can identify unanswered fields and turn them into one comparable supplier response sheet.
Prepare your RFQ