Product
LED lights are constantly being upgraded to improve their usability, adaptability, and energy efficiency. Compared to standard incandescent lamps, LED lights are very popular because they can last up to 25 times longer while consuming less electricity.
COB and SMD LED lights are two of the available LED lights, and they are two of the main light sources today. Both components produce high-quality lighting with a long life expectancy and the highest efficiency to date.
In this case, we will discuss COB LEDs, which are the latest in the LED industry and offer many advantages over previous options.
What is COB LED?
One of the latest developments in the field of LEDs is the "chip on board" (COB) technology. Compared to other standards, we can consider it to be the latest and innovative.
A COB light consists of a series of LED chips that are tightly packed and attached to a silicon carbide base. As a result, a huge LED chip is created with excellent lighting uniformity, which is perfect for many professionals such as filmmakers and photographers.
Typically, COB chips have nine or even more diodes. COB chips have only two contacts and a circuit, regardless of the number of diodes. On a large chip, this can produce more powerful lighting of up to 250 lumens (at 20mA). The panel-style appearance of COB LED lights is due to the basic circuit design of the chip.
COB LED lights, unlike SMD LED lights, cannot be used to create color-changing lights or lamps. This is because there are only two contacts and one circuit. To achieve the color-changing illusion, several modified channels are required. Therefore, COB LED lights are very effective in single-color applications.
How long do COB LEDs last?
The lifespan of COB LEDs depends on how they are used and the heat they are exposed to. The average rated lifespan of COB LEDs is 50,000 hours. This is assuming that a person uses them 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 the amount of quality lumen output (brightness) and the duration of battery operation. The higher the quality of lighting you want, the shorter the run time if you use the same size battery. With the advent of COB LED technology, this has become less of a concern.
COB LEDs, which are very low power, can produce very 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 is the difference between regular LEDs and COB LEDs?
First, a basic understanding of surface mount device (SMD) LEDs is required. They are by far the most widely used LEDs on the market. LED chips are firmly fused to printed circuit boards and are widely used due to their adaptability, even in notification lights on smartphones. The number of diodes and contacts on an SMD LED chip is one of its most notable features.
SMD LED chips can have more than two contacts on them. On one chip, up to three diodes can be found, each with its own circuit. An anode and a cathode will be used in each circuit, resulting in 2, 4, or 6 connections on the chip.
Difference between COB LEDs and SMD LEDs
SMD LED chips can contain up to three diodes on one chip, each with its own circuit. In this type of chip, each circuit contains an anode and a cathode, resulting in 2, 4, or 6 connections. COB chips usually have nine or even more diodes. In addition, COB chips are two contacts and one circuit regardless of the number of diodes. COB LED lights have a panel-like appearance, while SMD LED lights look like a group of smaller lights due to this simple circuit design.
SMD LED chips can have red, green, and blue diodes. By using these three diodes, you can generate any hue by simply changing the output level. But there are only two contacts and one circuit on COB LED lights. They cannot be used to make color-changing lamps or bulbs. In order to achieve the color-changing appearance, multiple channels need to be modified. Therefore, COB LED lights are effective in single-color applications, but not in multi-color applications.
The luminosity of SMD chips is well known, producing 50 to 100 lumens per watt. COB is known for its high thermal efficiency and lumen-per-watt ratio. COB chips have at least 80 lumens per watt, which can emit more lumens with less power. It can be found in various bulbs and applications, such as point-and-shoot cameras or flashlights for mobile phones.
In SMD LED chips, a smaller current capacity is required; however, in COB LED chips, an external energy source with a large current capacity is required.
Why choose COB LED?
As a basic guideline, COB LED lights are higher quality light emitters. This is because they use reflectors to produce concentrated and regulated light. They also lack the frosted lenses that come standard with SMD LED lights.
COB LEDs are a higher-end LED with a more structured appearance. COB is an option if you plan to use LED bulbs for a long time; SMD is sufficient if you are located in an investment property.
You should expect brighter and clearer lighting. For example, COB LED lights can be used in high ceiling areas.
Advantages and Disadvantages of COB LEDs
* Since multiple diodes are installed, it has abundant light.
* It produces more lumens while using less energy.
* Due to the limited light emitting area, the device is small. Therefore, the lumens per square centimeter/inch increase significantly.
* In order to activate the many diode chips in COB LEDs, a single circuit with only two connections is used. Therefore, fewer parts are required for proper performance of each LED chip. Additionally, by reducing the number of components and doing away with the standard LED chip architecture package, the amount of heat generated by each LED chip is reduced.
* Since it is extremely easy to install in an external heat sink, the entire temperature range of the entire assembly is lower. When you keep things at a set temperature, they last longer and are more reliable, saving you money.
* Improved clarity and increased efficiency.
* Since it can cover a large area with one chip, it has a huge focused area.
* Excellent vibration resistance
Disadvantages of COB LEDs
* A well-designed external power supply. This happens because it requires a stable current and voltage to avoid damaging the diode.
* A well-designed heat sink is very important. If the heating element is not placed properly, the diode can be damaged due to overheating. Due to the highly focused light waves emitted from a limited area, a lot of heat is generated.
* Lighting fixtures with cob chips have a lower repairability. This is because in the event that a single diode in a COB is damaged due to mechanical failure, the entire COB LED must be replaced with a newer LED. However, in the case of SMD LEDs, if one fails, it is simple to replace it and get it back in operation at a lower cost.
* Limited color options.
* More expensive than SMD chips.
Multiple uses of COB LEDs
The applications of COB LEDs are wide ranging, from residential to industrial facilities, including:
* COB LEDs will be used primarily as solid-state lighting (SSL) replacements for metal halide bulbs in street lighting, high-bay lighting, downlights, and high-output track lights.
* Due to their wide-angle beam, they can be used in LED lighting fixtures placed in living rooms and huge halls.
* Spaces such as playgrounds, gardens, or large stadiums require high lumens at night.
* Other applications include basic lighting for pathways and corridors, fluorescent lamp replacements, LED lamps, light strips, smartphone camera flashes, etc.
Conclusion
COB LEDs are becoming increasingly popular in lighting applications as designers find advantages in using them over typical standard LEDs. It’s hard not to consider them for any LED light application because:
* They are able to cram more LED sources into a smaller area, resulting in higher lumen output
* They are able to transfer heat to the heat sink more efficiently
* Their wider field of view
* They have lower light loss
* Their lower failure rate is due to their simpler construction
COB LEDs are the latest and most advanced technology available today. Simply put, they are brighter, use less power, and provide a higher quality beam than previous LED technologies used in most trade show lighting today.