FCC Compliance for Solar Lights Exported to the United States — Handled by GTS

1. Product Overview

A solar light converts sunlight into electricity through a photovoltaic (PV) panel and stores the energy in a rechargeable battery. Energy harvesting takes place even under overcast conditions, and the stored power drives the light source after dusk. Safe, environmentally friendly and free of wiring constraints, solar lights are seeing growing adoption in garden, pathway and outdoor landscape lighting.

2. Why FCC Compliance Matters for U.S. Exports

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is an independent U.S. government agency accountable directly to Congress. It regulates electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and radio-frequency emissions of electrical and electronic products. The applicable conformity procedure must be completed before the products enter the U.S. market. If goods are found non-compliant during customs clearance or market surveillance, they may be detained, returned, or removed from the market.

3. Which Route Applies to Solar Lights

• FCC SDoC​ (Supplier's Declaration of Conformity): applies to ordinary lighting products without intentional radio transmission. Testing is performed by a laboratory and documented in a test report; the responsible party then signs a declaration of conformity and applies the required marking. In commercial practice this route is still commonly referred to as "FCC certification" or an "FCC certificate."
   
• FCC ID: applies to products with intentional radiators​ such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RF remote controls or embedded wireless modules. The application is reviewed and an FCC ID is assigned.

Whether the product contains wireless functionality is the first decision point. We recommend confirming this before samples are submitted.

4. GTS Handling Process

1. Complete the designated application form and confirm the model number and whether wireless functionality is present.
    
2. Submit the product documentation; GTS reviews it and flags any missing items.
    
3. Sign the testing service agreement.
    
4. Ship the samples to the laboratory for testing.
    
5. Upon passing, the test report and conformity documentation are issued. The company may then apply the FCC marking in accordance with the applicable rules.

5. Documentation Required

Basic Information

• Full legal names and detailed mailing addresses of the manufacturer and the applicant
   
• Model number and artwork of the nameplate / label marking
   
• User installation and operating manual (a draft is acceptable if the final manual is not yet available)

Technical Documentation

• Electrical schematic, circuit diagram, block diagram, assembly drawings, and a description of the operating principle
   
• Critical construction drawings, design drawings, and technical parameters; product technical specifications or in-house standards
   
• Bill of critical components and raw materials, together with evidence of existing compliance, where available
   
• Where grounding, an antenna, oscillator or clock circuitry is present, a corresponding description; for oscillator / RF circuitry, a table of operating frequencies and a description of signal propagation paths

Samples & Additional Items

• Complete unit samples, plus external and internal photographs
   
• Copies of existing test or conformity documents for the complete unit or key components
   
• Any further information requested by the laboratory based on the product's characteristics

6. Note

The above is a general checklist. A standard non-wireless solar light normally does not require an oscillator frequency table. The definitive document list will be confirmed by GTS based on the product's circuitry and functionality.

Global United Technology Services Co., Ltd. owns Internationally recognized CNAS (L5775) laboratory qualification, US FCC NVLAP qualification, domestic CMA qualification for inspection and testing in, capable of issuing internationally mutually recognized test reports, as well as authorized qualifications from major institutions such as UK's ITS, Germany's TUV, and Belgium's Eurof; focusing on the core testing fields of EMC, electrical safety, wireless RF, and chemical testing certification agency for export compliance, providing a one-stop service of "testing rectification technical training", making us your ideal partner!

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Email: vicky.mo@gtstest.com
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