Questions You Should Know about COB LED

LED COB and LED SMD: A Few Things You Need to Know

Characteristics of SMD LEDs:

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SMD LEDs have distinct features that make them a popular choice for various lighting applications. These LEDs are mounted directly on the surface of circuit boards, which eliminates the need for additional leads and minimizes material usage. Their broad luminous angle, typically ranging from 120 to 160 degrees, ensures uniform illumination and improved aesthetic appeal. Furthermore, SMD LEDs function at lower voltages and currents, leading to reduced energy consumption and heat generation, thereby extending their lifespan and enhancing stability. The arrangement of three single-color LED units—red, green, and blue—within each SMD unit allows for multi-color or full-color displays, enabling diverse lighting effects.

Understanding COB LEDs:

Shifting our focus to COB LEDs, which utilize advanced chip-level packaging technology, we find that COB LEDs diverge from conventional discrete packaging. They integrate multiple LED chips densely onto an insulating layer and aluminum substrate, which serves as a heat sink. This allows for various shapes, including round, square, rectangular, moon, or star configurations.

Characteristics of COB LEDs:

COB LEDs possess several distinguishing traits that favor them for particular lighting applications. The compact arrangement of multiple LED chips leads to enhanced light output per square inch, enabling COB LEDs to achieve remarkable brightness levels within a small footprint. Additionally, the entire array can be driven using only one circuit and two contacts, simplifying the circuit design, cutting down energy usage, and minimizing the potential for failure. Unlike traditional LEDs, COBs do not incorporate leads, phosphorescent layers, or lenses, which often limit the light-emitting area and increase central beam candle intensity (CBCP). This results in improved light efficiency and decreased light loss. The materials used for the substrate and heat sink of COB LEDs ensure excellent thermal dissipation, effectively conducting heat from the chips to avoid elevated temperatures, thereby prolonging LED lifespan and enhancing stability.

COB LEDs vs. SMD LEDs: A Comparison:

Having discussed the characteristics of both COB and SMD LEDs, we can now differentiate them based on several key parameters:

1. Brightness:

With densely packed LED chips, COB LEDs provide superior light output and center beam candle intensity, making them ideal for settings requiring high brightness and focused lighting, such as spotlights and downlights.

In contrast, while SMD LEDs might not match the brightness of COB LEDs in a single chip, they excel in delivering uniform and diffused lighting across a broader luminous angle, making them suitable for even illumination in applications such as strips and bulbs.

2. Energy Efficiency:

Generally, SMD LEDs demonstrate greater energy efficiency relative to COB LEDs, producing more lumens per watt and achieving equivalent brightness levels with lower power consumption, resulting in long-term cost savings.

Conversely, although COB LEDs may not be as energy-efficient as SMDs, they can still generate substantial brightness in a compact form due to their high lumens per square inch, which can be advantageous for certain applications.

3. Color:

SMD LEDs can create multi-color or fully colored displays due to their incorporation of three single-color units, whose brightness can be manipulated to yield various hues—ideal for dynamic lighting scenarios.

On the other hand, COB LEDs emit a singular color and color temperature, given their uniform phosphorescent layer, making them more suitable for applications that require consistent single-color output.

4. Heat Dissipation:

Designed with multiple LED chips closely mounted on a thermally conductive substrate, COB LEDs exhibit better heat dissipation. This feature enhances their durability and stability, especially in prolonged use or elevated temperature conditions.

SMD LEDs can manage heat efficiently but produce higher temperatures than COBs due to separate circuits and contact points for each chip and traditional LED packaging, which can generate slightly more heat.

5. Cost:

The cost dynamics between COB and SMD LEDs are multifaceted. While the production processes for COB LEDs can be more cost-efficient, they typically require superior materials and effective heat management solutions. Conversely, SMD LEDs involve distinct substrates and phosphor layers, along with more complex circuit designs. Nonetheless, advancements in automation have made SMDs more competitively priced in specific contexts.

In summary, both COB and SMD LEDs each have unique advantages and disadvantages, making them well-suited to different engineering applications. The decision between the two types largely hinges on the unique needs of each application. If the emphasis lies on brightness, high light concentration, and cost efficiency, COB LEDs are often the smarter choice. Alternatively, if uniform lighting, energy efficiency, and varied color options are paramount, SMD LEDs would likely be the better option.

FAQs You Need Know about LED COB lights

COB stands for "Chip-on-Board" and is a type of LED that consists of an array of LED chips mounted on a substrate such as silicon carbide. It is compact, energy efficient and excellent brightness uniformity, making it popular with photographers and filmmakers. MOONLEDS introduces you to some of its frequently asked questions.

Why choose COB?

1. The compactness of the LED array makes it easy to use in different places. Traditional DIP lamps are cheap but bulky. Compared to DIP Diode Led lamps, it is more portable and flexible for outdoor applications.

2. The high intensity and uniform luminosity of the on-board chip can provide a good experience for users. It meets the needs of high standard lighting applications.

3. Compared to SMD lights, led cob panel the entire chip requires only one circuit and two contacts, while SMD lights require a circuit for each diode contained in the chip. Such a circuit configuration allows for installation without causing blowing.

How to choose a LED COB lamp?

To choose an LED video light panel like a COB LED panel, here are some factors you need to care about:

Light output: Light output is determined by the lumens of light. The higher the lumen number, the brighter the light can be seen.

Lighting method: There are a variety of COB LED lights on the market today. Some of them are able to change the lighting mode according to the different requirements of the scene.

Power supply: Before buying a light, it is necessary to determine its power requirements. If the light is portable, it needs a stable power supply.

Internal cooling device: Since cob led chips generate a lot of heat, a good heat sink is essential.

What is the difference between regular SMD LEDs and COB LEDs?

First, you need to have a basic understanding of surface mount device (SMD) LEDs. They are the most widely used LEDs on the market today. LED chips are firmly integrated into printed circuit boards and are widely used due to their adaptability, even in notification lights for smartphones. the number of diodes and contacts on an SMD LED chip is one of their most distinguishing features.

There may be more than two contacts on an SMD LED chip. On one LED, up to three diodes can be found, each with its own circuit. Each circuit will use an anode and cathode, resulting in 2, 4 or 6 connections on the LED.

If you would like to learn about the comparison between COB and SMD, please check our article here.

What is the lifetime of COB LEDs?

The lifespan of COB LEDs depends on how they are used and how much heat they are exposed to. The average rated lifespan of COB LEDs is 50,000 hours. This assumes that the COB LEDs works for an average of 12 hours per day.

Why are COB LEDs so important when using battery power?

When building a battery-powered lighting system, there is always a trade-off between high-quality lumen output (brightness) and battery-powered runtime. If you are using the same size batteries, the higher quality of lighting you want, the shorter the run time. With the advent of COB LED technology, this has become less of a concern.

COB LEDs with very low power can produce extremely high quality, ultra-bright light. As a result, COB LED-based lighting systems can be powered for long periods of time using relatively small and lightweight lithium-ion battery packs.

What are the applications of COB LEDs?

* COB LEDs will be used primarily as a solid-state lighting (SSL) replacement for metal halide bulbs or halogen lamp in streetlights, high bay lights, downlights, and high output track lights.

* Because of their wide-angle beams, they can be used for LED lighting fixtures placed in living rooms and halls.

* Special lighting such as television studio, studio lighting, film & photography lighting.

* Other applications include basic lighting in passageways and hallways, fluorescent lamp replacements, LED lights, light bars, smartphone camera flashes, etc.

Conclusion

COB LEDs are becoming increasingly popular in lighting applications as designers discover the advantages of using COB LEDs over typical standard LEDs. It's hard not to consider them in the construction of any LED light application. They are brighter, less power consumed, and provide a higher quality light. 

Contact MOONLEDS to get the quote! We have the experience of than 10 years, which is a professional LED Chip solutions company that helps customers to get the highest levels of performance in LED Lighting.