Ten mistakes, with a specific correction
| Mistake | What it can hide | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ordering total metres only | Unknown short-section quantities and end work | List each section length and count |
| 2. Specifying “warm white” only | Different nominal CCT interpretations | Record the chosen Kelvin value and configuration |
| 3. Comparing watts as brightness | Different efficacy, optics and distribution | Compare output data and the installed task |
| 4. Machining before choosing the profile | Connector or end cap will not fit | Approve the complete cross-section |
| 5. Using recess length as strip length | Cut interval or end allowance is missed | Create a permitted-unit cut schedule |
| 6. Choosing a driver by total watts only | Wrong voltage, interface or derated capacity | Check the complete supply requirement |
| 7. Ignoring shared cable current | An upstream connection serves several branches | Label loads before and after each split |
| 8. Calling every dimmable part compatible | Startup or low-level operation is unverified | Identify exact equipment and demonstrate the chain |
| 9. Extending a reel IP claim to finished ends | Unreviewed cuts, connections and location | Obtain the finished-assembly detail and relevant evidence |
| 10. Approving a sample without its identity | Production cannot reproduce the accepted build | Freeze component and drawing references |
Use the list to compare offers
Suppose offer A covers strip on reels while offer B covers cut sections with lead wires. The strip price alone cannot establish the cheaper delivered assembly. Put the same section schedule and supply scope in both requests before comparing totals.
Give every unresolved item a named owner: furniture designer, lighting supplier, installer or buyer. “To be confirmed” is useful only when someone is responsible for closing it before the affected work begins.
This is a specification-error checklist, not a ranking of brands or a claim about the most common ten defects in a measured dataset. For a complete procurement record, use the BOM and sample-approval guides.
