What Are COB LEDs? — 1000Bulbs Blog

The world of lighting is constantly evolving, and one of the latest game-changers to emerge is the LED COB light. These innovative LEDs are becoming increasingly popular in the lighting industry, but many people are still unfamiliar with what COB LEDs are and the benefits they offer. In this blog post, we'll shed some light on COB LEDs and explore their advantages in comparison to other LED technologies.

Individual COB LED showing 144 individual LED chips.

What Does "COB" Mean?

Let's start by demystifying the term "COB." COB stands for "chip-on-board" and refers to the way the LED array is constructed. In COB LEDs, multiple bare LED chips, usually 9 or more, are mounted onto a thermally efficient substrate, like silicon carbide or sapphire. These chips are then covered with a uniform phosphor coating, resulting in a powerful and efficient lighting solution.

Other Types of LED Technologies

Before we delve deeper into COB LEDs, let's take a quick look at two other commonly used LED technologies: DIP (Dual In-line Package) and SMD (Surface Mounted Device) LEDs.

DIP LEDs

DIP LEDs are the traditional LEDs that most people are familiar with. They consist of a single diode encased in a hard plastic housing, with two parallel connection pins. While DIP LEDs are simple and durable, they are not as bright as their newer counterparts, producing only 4 lumens per LED. You'll often find DIPs in appliances, indicator lights, and outdoor LED displays.

SMD LEDs

On the other hand, SMD LEDs are brighter and more versatile. These LEDs are made up of three diodes encapsulated in small plastic packages, which are then mounted directly onto a circuit board. SMD LEDs are commonly used in a variety of applications, including LED strip lights, tubes, corn bulbs, and high bay/low bay fixtures.

SMDs are also commonly referred to as 'surface mounted diodes'.

Advantages of COB LEDs

So, what makes COB LEDs stand out from the crowd? Their unique construction and design offer several advantages over DIP and SMD LEDs. One major advantage is their incredible brightness. Thanks to the large number of tightly packed chips, COB lights emit an ultra-bright light that surpasses older LED technologies. Many COB LEDs can produce well over 100 lumens per watt (LPW).

Not only are COB LEDs brighter, but they also allow for a greater concentration of LEDs within each array. This increased density of LED chips enhances the uniformity and accuracy of the light output, providing a more even and consistent illumination. The light output of COBs is also multi-directional, delivering a beam angle around 160-degrees. Plus, the smaller size of the individual chips allows for more flexibility in designing lighting fixtures and systems.

Another advantage is that COB lights only have 1 circuit and 2 contacts for the entire chip, regardless of the number of diodes being used. This single circuit design is cheaper to produce and far simpler than older technology, meaning that fewer components are required in the device itself for operating the LEDs. It also means that the LEDs will generate less heat, increasing efficiency and reducing failure rates. This is ideal for luminaries that need to be kept on for long periods of time.

Ready to Embrace the Bright Future?

Now that you have a better understanding of COB LEDs and their advantages over other LED technologies, you can take the next step in embracing the brighter future of lighting. Whether you have questions about COB LEDs or you're looking to upgrade your lighting to utilize COB technology, our team of US-based lighting experts is here to help. Give us a call at 1-833-573-1635, and we'll guide you on your path to well-illuminated success.