Lampholders and Plastic Fittings for Luminaire Makers: PC/ABS to 150°C, UL94-V0 Stock, 15-25 Day Tooling

The short version
Star Lighting (XD Star) makes lampholders and plastic fittings for luminaire makers in Dongguan. The range covers main-voltage holders (E27, E14, B22 and specialty types) in PC/ABS with a stated maximum operating temperature of 150°C, low-voltage holders (GU10, MR16, G4, G9), high-voltage discharge holders in metal and ceramic, and fittings such as PG waterproof cable glands, strain relief bushings, junction boxes and cable clamps for 0.5-2.5 mm² round and flat cable. UL94-V0 flame-retardant raw material is kept in stock, the mould workshop holds 200+ active tool sets, new tooling typically takes 15-25 days, and most products start at 50-100 pieces per model.

A lampholder or a cable gland is a small part of a luminaire, but it is often the part that decides whether the finished fixture passes its safety tests. A holder that runs too hot, a plastic with the wrong flame rating, or a clamp that does not grip the cable you actually use can each send a design back to the drawing board after the tooling for the rest of the product is already paid for.

This article is a practical specification guide for luminaire makers and component buyers. It sets out what Star Lighting makes, which materials and ratings it states, and which questions to settle before you order. Where the guidance is general engineering practice rather than a Star Lighting figure, the text says so. Where the factory does not publish a value, such as the temperature rating of a low-voltage holder, the article tells you what to ask for instead.

Which lampholders and plastic fittings does Star Lighting make?

Lampholders and lighting accessories are Star Lighting's core product line. The website groups them into four families, each with a stated number of models. The model counts show how much of the range already exists as standard parts.

Star Lighting's lampholder and accessory families as listed on its products page.

The same factory also moulds custom parts that sit around the holder in a finished luminaire, such as LED module brackets and shade ring retainers. Those are covered further down, in the section on tooling.

How do you match a lampholder's temperature rating to the heat in your fixture?

Star Lighting states that its lampholder and socket series are made from heat-resistant polycarbonate (PC) and ABS that have passed flame-retardant testing, with a maximum operating temperature of 150°C. That figure is the limit the holder is designed to work at. It is not the temperature your luminaire will produce, and the two should not be confused.

As general practice, the temperature that counts is the one measured on the holder itself, inside the finished luminaire, with the hottest lamp you intend to allow, at the highest ambient temperature the fixture is designed for, after it has run long enough to stabilise. A holder in an open pendant and the same holder in a small closed glass shade can run at very different temperatures with the same lamp.

What to check before you fix the holder in your design

• The lamp: the highest wattage and type you will allow in the fixture, and whether a user could fit a hotter lamp than the one you tested with.
• The enclosure: open, ventilated or fully closed, and how close the shade, diffuser or housing sits to the lamp.
• The mounting position: holders mounted cap-up sit in rising heat and often run hotter than the same holder mounted cap-down.
• The installation: recessed, ceiling-mounted or insulated locations reduce heat loss compared with a free-hanging fixture.
• The margin: leave headroom between the measured holder temperature and the 150°C limit rather than designing right up to it.

150°C is a holder rating, not a luminaire rating
The 150°C maximum operating temperature applies to Star Lighting's PC/ABS lampholder and socket series. It does not automatically apply to every plastic fitting in the same luminaire. Cable glands, clamps, junction boxes and brackets near the lamp need their own temperature check, and the material grade for each part should be confirmed in writing.

Which holder type, material and checks fit your luminaire?

The table below pairs each holder type in the range with its stated construction and the points a buyer should confirm before approving a sample. The "what to check" column is general specification guidance, not a list of tests Star Lighting runs.

Lampholder types, stated construction and general specification checks.

Check the voltage rating of each low-voltage holder

Star Lighting groups GU10, MR16, G4 and G9 holders in its low-voltage range. As general practice, do not assume all four run at the same voltage: GU10 and G9 lamps are commonly mains-voltage types, while MR16 and G4 lamps are commonly extra-low-voltage types fed from a transformer or driver. Confirm the rated voltage of the exact holder model against the circuit in your luminaire before you approve it.

Discharge holders need a different conversation

Discharge lamps run hotter at the cap than most LED lamps and need a high-voltage pulse to start. That is why these holders are built in metal and ceramic rather than plastic. Star Lighting describes them as suited to high-temperature environments but does not publish a temperature figure, so ask for the rated temperature and voltage of the model you are considering.

What does UL94-V0 mean, and which documents should you ask for?

UL94 is a flammability classification for plastic materials. In general terms, V-0 is the most demanding of the vertical burning classes (V-0, V-1 and V-2): a test bar must stop burning quickly once the flame is removed and must not drip flaming particles. The class belongs to the material grade at a given thickness, which is why the documentation has to match the grade actually used in your part.

Star Lighting states that it routinely stocks UL94-V0 flame-retardant grade raw material for lighting parts, and that its plastic fittings and driver enclosures are produced from certified flame-retardant materials. It provides Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and flame-retardant test reports on request to support the customer's own product certification.

Ask for documents that match your part
When you request the MSDS and flame-retardant test report, name the exact part number and ask which resin grade and colour it is moulded in. A report for a natural-colour grade does not necessarily cover a coloured or filled version of the same material. Keep the reports with your luminaire's technical file.

The site also states that its lighting components pass RoHS and REACH testing and that compliance documentation is available for product lines on request. If your target market requires these, include them in the same document request so everything arrives together.

What should you confirm about CE and ENEC options?

For main-voltage lampholders, Star Lighting lists CE and ENEC certification options. Treat "options" literally: not every model or variant necessarily carries a given mark. Before ordering, ask which specific holder models are covered and request the certificate or test report that names them.

As general practice, a certified component does not certify the luminaire it goes into. It helps the luminaire's own assessment because the holder has already been tested to its standard, but the finished fixture is still assessed as a whole, including the holder's temperature in use, wiring, creepage distances and mechanical fixing.

Match the paperwork to the model number
Ask for the model number on the certificate to match the model number on your purchase order and on the part marking. If you change the material, colour or design of a holder after certification, ask whether the change is still covered.

How do you specify cable glands, strain relief bushings and cable clamps?

Plastic fittings are the largest family in the range, with 500+ models listed. They are moulded in PC, ABS and nylon and cover PG waterproof cable glands, strain relief bushings, junction boxes and cable clamps. These parts hold the cable in place, keep pull and twist away from the terminals, and seal the entry point on outdoor or damp-location fittings.

Star Lighting's cable clamp series covers conductor cross-sections from 0.5 mm² to 2.5 mm², for both round and flat cable. High-tensile anti-slip variants are offered where pull-out resistance is critical, and a full dimensional specification sheet is available on request.

Plastic fittings in the range and the information a buyer should send with an enquiry.

As general practice, size a cable gland or bushing by the outer diameter of the actual cable you will use, not only by conductor size. Two cables with the same conductor cross-section can have very different outer diameters depending on insulation, sheath and number of cores. Send a short length of your cable with the sample request if you can.

When does a custom fitting make sense, and how long does tooling take?

If no standard part fits your luminaire, a custom part may cost less overall than adapting the design around a catalogue item. Star Lighting runs its own mould workshop in Dongguan, holds a library of over 200 active tool sets, and states that new tooling development typically takes 15-25 days.

Typical custom parts named by the factory include LED module brackets and shade ring retainers. Standard bracket designs are based on widely adopted international dimensions and fit the majority of mainstream LED chip and PCB formats. For specific PCB dimensions or proprietary module formats, custom development is quoted at typically 15-20 days of tooling lead time.

Beyond injection moulding, the factory offers ultrasonic welding, silk-screen printing, pad printing and semi-automated assembly, so a fitting can arrive as a sub-assembly rather than loose parts. Materials processed are PC, ABS, PP, PA66 (nylon) and PBT. OEM options include logo printing or engraving, special material formulations and personalised packaging.

Check the tool library before you commission a new tool
With 200+ active tool sets already in the workshop, an existing part may meet your need with a different material, colour or marking. Send your drawing first and ask whether a current tool comes close before you pay for a new one.

What are the MOQs, sample times and lead times?

Most Star Lighting products start from 50-100 pieces per model. For custom orders the minimum may vary with the specification. The timings the factory publishes are summarised below.

• In-stock component samples: typically dispatched within 24-48 hours of payment confirmation, sent by DHL, FedEx or UPS.
• Customised part samples (3D-printed prototypes or first-run moulded samples): usually 3-5 working days.
• New tooling for a custom part: typically 15-25 days.
• Standard products: 7-15 days after order confirmation.
• Custom products: 20-30 days depending on complexity.

What should you send with a lampholder or fitting enquiry?

A complete enquiry gets a usable answer faster. The list below covers the information that most affects which part is offered and which documents come with it.

1. The holder or fitting type, and a drawing or photo of where it sits in your luminaire.
2. The lamp type and maximum wattage, and whether the fixture is open, ventilated or closed.
3. The supply voltage of the circuit the holder is on.
4. The cable you use: conductor cross-section, round or flat, and outer diameter.
5. Your target market and the marks you need, for example the CE or ENEC option on main-voltage holders.
6. The documents you need: MSDS, flame-retardant report, RoHS or REACH documentation.
7. Colour, marking or branding requirements, quantity per model and the date you need samples.

Where are the parts made?

All lampholders and plastic fittings are manufactured in Dongguan, where the mould workshop and moulding lines are located. Star Lighting's office in Ho Chi Minh City provides sales support, sample coordination and logistics for Vietnam and ASEAN customers. It has no production equipment.

Send your holder or fitting specification

Tell us the part, the lamp and cable you use, your target market and the quantity. Our sales team responds within 24 hours with suitable models, material and document options, and sample availability. Send your holder or fitting specification

Frequently Asked Questions

What temperature can Star Lighting's lampholders withstand?

The PC/ABS lampholder and socket series has a stated maximum operating temperature of 150°C. Measure the holder temperature in your finished luminaire at worst-case conditions and keep a margin below that limit. Discharge holders are metal and ceramic; ask for the rating of the model you need.

Is UL94-V0 material available for plastic fittings?

Yes. UL94-V0 flame-retardant grade raw material is kept in stock for lighting parts, and plastic fittings and driver enclosures are made from certified flame-retardant materials. MSDS and flame-retardant test reports are provided on request.

Do the lampholders carry CE or ENEC certification?

CE and ENEC certification options are listed for main-voltage lampholders (E27, E14, B22 and specialty types). Ask which exact models are covered and request the certificate or report that names your model.

What cable sizes do the cable clamps take?

The cable clamp series covers 0.5 mm² to 2.5 mm² for round and flat cable. High-tensile anti-slip versions are available where pull-out resistance matters, and a dimensional specification sheet is available on request.

How long does a custom plastic fitting take?

New tooling typically takes 15-25 days; custom LED module brackets for specific PCB formats are quoted at typically 15-20 days. Custom samples, either 3D-printed prototypes or first-run moulded samples, usually take 3-5 working days.

What is the minimum order for lampholders and fittings?

Most products start from 50-100 pieces per model. Custom parts may have a different minimum depending on the specification. In-stock samples are dispatched within 24-48 hours of payment confirmation.

Are any parts made in Vietnam?

No. Manufacturing takes place in Dongguan. The Ho Chi Minh City office provides sales support, sample coordination and logistics for Vietnam and ASEAN customers and has no production equipment.