COB Light vs. LED: Which is Better

The direct answer is that one (LED) is an older technology, while the other (COB) is a newly developed type of LED light. Technically, the difference between the two lighting options is as follows.

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There are three LED technologies today: the new COB or Chip on Board, the earlier (and until recently the most used), and the original DIP or diode in-line package type.

• In a COB module, the light-emitting chips are tinier and make a part of the circuit board package. Underneath, they directly connect to the board, while the upper side is a phosphor layer.
• The diodes in an SMD device are larger and far-spaced, encased in a mounting bracket and phosphor, and soldered to the circuit board surface.
• DIP lighting devices are individual, single-color diodes with resin encapsulation and supplied with leads for installation on the circuit board surface.

Today, chip-on-board technology is synonymous with modern lighting. You can find it in virtually any illumination device, and it is available as lamps, panels, or the popular flexible strips.

COB LED vs. regular LED lights in construction
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COB Light vs. LED

You understand the difference between LED and COB lights. Next, we compare them in design, size, light quality, beam angle, cost, energy efficiency, and typical applications, starting with the construction difference.

Design

The COB light design is more streamlined. The chips are part of the circuit board and do not have leads or mounting brackets. That means a higher chip density, about 38 times more than when using DIP diodes and nine times more when compared to an SMD array.

SMD chips are surface-connected using surface mount technology, while DIP diodes are typically through-hole mounted. Both designs result in discrete light spots but a much larger area for heat dissipation.

Size Difference

Chip-on-board lights are generally smaller than their older technology counterparts. The individual light emitters are smaller and concentrated in a small space. As a result, manufacturers can design them smaller without affecting the lumens.

SMD or DIP lighting options come in larger packages. These require more space to fit, making the lights typically more prominent on their substrate for the same amount of lumens as COB modules.

Light Quality

Chip-on-board technology produces better quality light, which explains its immense popularity today. The light is uniform, without the doting effect, with a higher color rendering index, CRI, of 70 to 80 and sometimes up to 90. The amount of glare also reduces considerably with the increased uniformity.

Traditional or SMD modules have the light emitters widely spaced. In addition to making the diodes visible on the array, this configuration increases glare, making them unsuitable for most illumination needs. It also offers a lower CRI (color rendering index).

Beam Angle

You achieve a 120 to 180-degree beam with COB technology. The COB LED light chip is part of the PCB and does not need lead or bracket support. That means an unobstructed path for the light and more coverage when used in an illumination fixture or device.

On the other hand, SMD LEDs are bracket or socket-supported, limiting the beam&#;s angle. These lighting devices suit applications requiring focused illumination, with beam angles less than 120 degrees.

Cost Effectiveness

A COB fixture is economical to both produce and run. It uses a simpler circuit and tinier diodes, plus the entire array is energy-efficient with better heat dissipation capabilities. All these properties translate to a more cost-effective option.

Conventional lighting is more costly to manufacture. Its devices consume more power and generally do not dissipate heat well, making them a more expensive alternative.

Energy Efficiency

A COB light fixture&#;s tiny light-emitting diodes consume less power and produce more light per unit weight and volume, with the conversion rate starting at 80 lumens per watt, which is a much higher energy efficiency rate.

In comparison, SMD or DIP lights are more power intensive and generally convert less energy to light. On average, an SMD rating begins at 50 lumens per watt.

Applications

The application of COB arrays cuts across virtually every sector, owing to their many advantages over traditional LED technology. You often need these if looking for fixtures to light up rooms, either as ambient illuminants or accent and decorative fixtures.

You can also use these lights outdoors, provided they are appropriately IP-rated. Standard applications involve settings where multidirectional light is necessary and include the following:

• Home ambient lighting lamps and strips
• Outdoor illumination (floodlights, bay lighting, street lights, and more)
• Photographic equipment
• Decorative or accent lighting

Traditional SMD- and DIP-based lights are still in use indoors and outdoors. Most often, these are uses that require a more focused light or those that need dot lights. They include:

• Display signs
• Some commercial lighting needs
• Older flashlights

A COB LED light fixture
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Are COB Lights Better than LED?

In most applications, they are. Chip-on-board technology is competitive over older LED lighting, with better lumen characteristics and design properties. It has a higher flux density, can be thin, and suits ambient and localized illumination.

It has a higher quality luminescence, can be super thin construction, and can offer ambient and localized illumination.

In addition, these fixtures turn more power into luminescence. They are also thermally efficient. However, SMD offers more advantages in applications requiring the array to produce multiple color effects simultaneously or where a more directional beam is necessary. These include panel displays and searchlights.

Ultimately, the choice between SMD vs. COB LED lights depends on the application requirements. In most cases, though, chip-on-board wins, offering better performance and suiting most output, energy, or cost-saving needs, among other advantages.

Conclusion

COB LED is the epitome of modern lighting technology: higher light quality, energy efficiency, and anything else required of any illuminant. Compared to SMD or DIP, COB lighting offers more benefits and suits a more comprehensive range of uses, from home lighting to outdoor and commercial illumination.

What is a COB LED?

How Long Do COB LEDs Last?

When Using Battery Power, Why are COB LEDs So Important?

What are the Differences between Normal Led and COB LED?

Differences between COB LEDs and SMD LEDs

Why Choose the COB LED?

The Advantages and Disadvantages of COB LED

Multiple Uses of COB LED

Conclusion

LED lights are continually being upgraded to increase their usability, adaptability, and energy efficiency. When compared to standard incandescent lights, LED lights are extremely popular since they may last up to 25 times longer while using less power.

 

COB and SMD LED lights are two types of LED lights available, which are the two primary sources of light these days. Both of these components create high-quality illumination and have a lengthy life expectancy, as well as the highest efficiency to date.

 

In this case, we will talk about COB LEDs, which are the latest in the LED industry and provide a number of advantages over the previous options.

 

What is a COB LED?

 

One of the most recent developments in the world of LEDs is "Chip on Board" (COB) technology. When contrasted to other standards, we can consider it quite recent and innovative.

 

COB lights are made up of an arrangement of LED chips that are tightly packed and attached to a silicon carbide base. As a result, one huge LED chip with outstanding illumination uniformity is created, making it perfect for many professionals such as filmmakers and photographers.

 

Generally, COB chips feature nine or even more diodes. Irrespective of the number of diodes, COB chips only have two contacts and one circuit. On a big chip, this can result in more powerful lighting of up to 250 lumens (at 20mA). The panel-like aspect of COB LED lights is due to the chip's basic circuit design.

 

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COB LED lights, unlike SMD LED lights, cannot be utilized to make color-changing lamps or lights. That is due to the fact that there are only two contacts and one circuit. To achieve the color-changing illusion, several modification channels are needed. COB LED lights are hence effective in single-color applications.

 

How Long Do COB LEDs Last?

 

The longevity of a COB LED is determined by how they are used as well as how much heat they are exposed to. A COB LED has an average rated lifetime of 50,000 hours. That is assuming a person uses them for 12 hours a day on average.

 

When Using Battery Power, Why are COB LEDs So Important?

 

There has always been a trade-off between both the amount of high-quality lumen output (brightness) and the duration of runtime through battery operation when building a battery-powered lighting system. If you utilize the same size battery, the more high-quality illumination you want, the shorter the runtime will be. That has become considerably less of a concern with the emergence of COB LED tech.

 

COB LEDs with little power can produce exceedingly high-quality, ultra-bright light. As a consequence, a COB LED-based lighting system may be powered for extended periods of time using a relatively tiny and lightweight lithium-ion battery pack.

 

What are the Differences between Normal Led and COB LED?

 

To begin, a basic understanding of Surface-Mounted Device (SMD) LEDs is required. They are by far the most widely used LEDs on the market today. The LED chip is firmly fused to a printed circuit board and is widely utilized due to its adaptability, even in the notification light on the smartphone. The amount of diodes and contacts on SMD LED chips is one of their most distinguishing features.

 

More than two contacts are possible on SMD LED chips. On a single chip, up to three diodes can be found, each with its own circuit. An anode and cathode would be used in each circuit, resulting in 2, 4, or 6 connections on a chip.

 

Differences between COB LEDs and SMD LEDs

 

SMD LED chips can include up to three diodes on a single chip, each with its own circuit. In a chip of this type, each circuitry contains a single anode and one cathode, resulting in 2, 4, or 6 connections. COB chips typically have nine or even more diodes. Furthermore, irrespective of the number of diodes, COB chips have two contacts and one circuit. COB LED lights have a panel-like appearance, whereas SMD LED lights would seem like a collection of smaller lights due to this straightforward circuit design.

 

The SMD LED chip could have a red, green, and blue diode. By employing those three diodes, you can generate any hue simply by altering the output level. But there are just two contacts and one circuitry on COB LED lights. They can't be utilized to create color-changing lights or bulbs. To achieve the color-changing appearance, multiple channel modifications are needed. As a result, COB LED lights are effective in single-color applications but not in multi-color uses.

 

The luminosity of SMD chips is well known, and they may generate 50 to 100 lumens per watt. COB is noted for its high heat efficiency and lumens per watt ratio. With a minimum number of 80 lumens per watt, COB chips could emit more lumens with less power. It can be found in a variety of bulbs and applications, such as a point-and-shoot camera or your 's flash.

 

In SMD LED chips, a smaller current capacity is necessary; however, in COB LED chips, a large current capacity external energy source is needed.

 

Why Choose the COB LED?

 

COB LED lights, as a basic guideline, are higher-quality light emitters. This is due to the fact that they use reflectors to create concentrated and regulated light. They also lack the frosted lens that comes standard with SMD LED lights.

 

COB LEDs are a higher-end LED that has a more structural look. In case you intend to live with your LED bulbs for a long time, a COB is a way to go; if you are located in an investment property, SMD will suffice.

 

You should expect brighter, clearer lighting. COB LED lights, for example, are useful in high-ceiling areas.

 

The Advantages and Disadvantages of COB LED

 

Advantages of COB LED

 

1. * Because of the multi-diode incorporation, there is a lot of light.
2. * It produces more lumens while using less energy.
3. * Due to the limited light emission zone, the device is small in size. As a consequence, the lumen per square centimeter/inch has grown significantly.
4. * To active the many diode chips housed in COB LEDs, a single circuitry with only two connections is used. As a result, there are fewer parts per LED chip that are necessary for proper performance. Furthermore, by reducing the number of components and eliminating the standard LED chip architecture packing, the heat created by each LED chip can be decreased.
5. * Due to the extreme ease of installation in an outside 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, which saves you money.
6. * Clarity is improved, and efficiency is boosted.
7. * Since it can cover a big area with one chip, it has a huge focusing area.
8. * Excellent anti-vibration properties

 

Disadvantages of COB LED

 

1. * A well-engineered outside power source. That occurs since it requires a steady current and voltage to avoid damaging the diodes.
2. * A well-designed heat sink is very important. If the heating element is not properly placed, the diode will be destroyed due to overheating. Due to the highly focused light waves emitted from a limited area, a considerable amount of heat is created.
3. * Lighting fixtures with cob chips have a lower repairability. That is because in case one of the solitary diodes in a COB is damaged as a result of a mechanical malfunction, the entire COB led must be substituted with a newer one. In the case of SMD LED, however, if one fails, it is simple to change it and get it back to operate at a lower cost.
4. * Color selection is limited.
5. * More expensive than SMD chips.

 

Multiple Uses of COB LED

 

COB LEDs have a wide range of applications, extending from residential to industrial utility, with some of them being:

 

1. * COB LEDs would be used primarily as solid-state lighting (SSL) substitutes for metal-halide bulbs in street lighting, high-bay lighting, downlights, and high-output track lights.
2. * They are useful in LED lighting fixtures for placement in living rooms and huge halls because of their wide-angle beam.
3. * High lumens at night time are required in spaces such as a playground, gardens, or a large stadium.
4. * Additional applications incorporate basic lighting for passageways and corridors, fluorescent lighting replacement, LED lamps, light strips, smartphone camera flash, and so on.

 

Conclusion

 

COB LEDs are becoming more popular in lighting applications as designers discover the advantages of employing them over typical standard LEDs. It's difficult not to take into account them for any led light application structure because of:

 

1. * Their ability to cram more LED sources into a smaller area, resulting in higher lumen output
2. * Their ability to transmit heat to a heat sink more efficiently
3. * Their wider field of view
4. * Their lower light loss
5. * Their lower failure rates are due to their more straightforward construction

 

COB LEDs are the most recent and advanced tech available today. Simply said, they are brighter, use less electricity, and provide a higher-quality beam of light than previous LED technology now used in most trade show illumination.