What is cob led strip light?
COB means chip on board: many LED chips are attached directly to the flexible PCB and covered with a continuous phosphor gel, so a COB LED strip gives one smooth line of light instead of dots.
- Compared with an SMD strip: up to 180° beam angle instead of 120°, more flexible, no light spots, and CRI 90+ across our COB range.
- Cutting and connecting: cut only at the printed mark (every 25-50 mm), then clip on a COB connector or solder. COB pads are narrower, so COB strips need COB connectors even at the same width.
- Choosing one: 5V, 12V or 24V; 3 mm to 12 mm wide; 160 to 1056 chips per meter; white, single colors, tunable white, RGB, RGBW and addressable.
At SuperLightingLED we stock COB LED strips from 5V to 24V, in white, single colors, tunable white, RGB, RGBW, RGBCCT and addressable versions, and the questions we hear about them are nearly always the same: what COB actually is, how it compares with an SMD strip, and how to cut and connect it. This guide answers all three, with the diagrams our engineers drew and videos from our YouTube channel.
Space is the essence of architecture, and light is the soul of space. The appearance of led strip lights increase the layering of the indoor and outdoor environment, making the space environment softer and more emotional. In the minimal space form, the light strips can also give it a breathtaking level of beauty.
COB led lights are different from ordinary led strip lights. I hope you can understand a little more about COB led strips after reading this article. No matter if you know COB before or not, this article will bring you gains, don’t miss it.
What is COB LED?
COB is the abbreviation of Chip on Board, which means chip-on-board packaging technology, a light-emitting body in which multiple COB LED chips are integrated and packaged on the same substrate.
COB led light source is a high-efficiency integrated surface light source technology in which the LED chip is directly attached to a high-reflectivity mirror metal substrate. The light-emitting area and external dimensions of the light source can be designed according to the product shape and structure such as round or square.
The led light emitted by the chip undergoes refraction, reflection, and interaction with phosphors in the encapsulating gel, and the gel uniformly emits light of different light colors and color temperatures.
How is COB LED strip made?
After making the COB substrate, apply a white coating. Use the SMT machine to attach the COB chip to the flexible PCB board. Cover the silicon wafer placement point with a thermally conductive epoxy on the surface of the substrate, then place the silicon wafer directly on the surface of the substrate, heat treatment until the silicon wafer is firmly fixed on the substrate, and then use wire welding to connect the silicon wafer and the substrate and establish an electrical connection directly between them. Finally, encapsulate the COB light strip. After the production is completed, cut into a strip of light and roll it into a reel. And this is how the COB led light we have seen was produced.
This technology eliminates the concept of stents, so the process is reduced by nearly one-third, and the cost is also saved by one-third.
Different types of COB strip lights
COB led lights have the basic characteristics of led strip lights, has adhesive backing, can be cut, can be connected, long life, safe to touch, environment friendly, and is easy to install.
There are many types of COB led strips, different voltages, different widths, different densities, different light colors and color temperatures, and COB LEDs all have high CRI.
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• Density(chips/m): 160, 320, 400, 384, 480, 512, 576, 840, 768, 864, 1056 • Flexible PCB width: 3mm | 4mm | 5mm | 8mm | 10mm | 12mm • White light color temperature: 2200K / 2700K / 3000K / 4000K / 6500K • Color: Amber /White, Ice blue, Pink, Yellow, Orange, Red, Green, Marrs green, Blue, CCT, RGB, RGBW, Addressable RGB • CRI(Ra>): 90+ |
Shop COB LED strips by type
Every type in the list above has its own category in our store. Start from the light color you need, then pick the voltage, width and density on the product page:
White COB LED Strip2200K to 6500K white, CRI 90+
Non-white Single Color COB StripAmber, ice blue, pink, yellow, red, green, blue
Tunable White COB LED StripCCT: warm to cool white on one strip
RGB COB LED StripColor changing without light spots
COB LED Strip RGB+WRGB colors plus a white channel
RGBCCT COB LED StripRGB colors plus tunable white
Addressable COB LED StripAddressable RGB effects
Waterproof COB LED StripOutdoor use; seal every cut
Ultra Slim COB LED Tape LightNarrow PCB for tight spaces
5V COB LED StripLow voltage, USB optionsNeed to cut between the printed marks? Some of our COB strips are sold as cut anywhere or free cut, and the product name says so; check the product page before you order. Can you cut LED light strips? explains cut marks for every strip type.
Are COB LED lights better?
Comparing COB led strips and other led strip lights, we can see that COB light strips are indeed slightly better. And the advantages expressed in the following aspects.
Bending resistance, good flexibility, 180 degree light-emitting
Led strip lights are limited in flexibility, which only can be bent align the lights horizontally and bend to the back of the strip. But, COB led strip lights are available to be wound, twist and bend. The COB strip is more flexible than led strip lights.
The light-emitting surface of the COB strip light can reach a light-emitting angle of 180°. However, SMD led strip lights only can reach 120 degree.
Energy saving, high light efficiency
Compared with traditional led strip lights, under the same density, the power of COB led lights is much smaller and only accounts for about 50% of the traditional led strips. And COB led light can achieve high luminous efficiency while saving energy.
Low heat, good heat dissipation
The COB light strip directly fixes the chip on the PCB, reducing the heat conduction channel, and the high-density technology makes the current on each chip doubled, the heat dissipation performance is qualitatively improved, and the light attenuation of the COB light strip is more smaller and longer life.
Uniform light effect, soft, no glare, no light spots, no graininess
Due to the structural characteristics of the COB led light, the light-emitting surface is a linear colloid. The structure of the SMD light strip is a luminous lamp bead. Therefore, the light emitted by the COB light strip should be much more uniform, linear, and there is no light spot.
Multicolor, dimmable
Led strip lights have various colors and color temperatures, and the COB led strips are as the same. You can choose your preferred color and color temperature, 3000K warm white or 6000K pure white? Single color or RGB color changing COB led strip?
The brightness of led strip lights don’t always make us pleasant. If the strip light can be adjusted the brightness, it will be great to set up the comfortable brightness. Actually, you can choose wall control panel or handheld remote control to adjust the brightness of COB led strip lights with a dimmer, from 0 to 100, from the darkest to the brightest.
When choosing led light controller and led power supply for your project, please look for suitable product. Carefully confirm whether important factors such as voltage and power are correct, and avoid buying inappropriate products.
Ultra-thin, high density, high CRI
Since the COB led chip is directly attached to the PCB board, the thickness of the PCB is ultra-thin. If you want to hide the led strip, ultra-thin strip lighting is a good choice.
The high-density COB led light strip achieves perfect linearity from point to line to surface, which is more in line with the current designer's design concept of not seeing the light, and the application field will be broader.
High CRI means that the light source can restore more colors of the objects. COB led strip lights with high CRI make your senses more intense and easier to distinguish different colors. A good led strip light cannot do without good color rendering. You can imagine you are in a garden, and there are many beautiful flowers. With high CRI, you can see the beauty of the garden, and you will feel a variety of bright colors. But with low CRI, everything you see will be grayscale, like the black and white movie. And all it says that the high CRI is necessary.
COB vs SMD LED strip: side-by-side comparison
Here is how a COB LED strip compares with an SMD LED strip, point by point. Everything in the table comes from the sections of this guide and from the notes our engineers wrote for our LED strip wiring diagrams.
| Feature | COB LED strip | SMD LED strip |
|---|---|---|
| How the LEDs sit | Chips attached directly to the PCB substrate (chip on board), no bracket | LED lamp beads fixed on a bracket on the PCB, not touching the board directly (surface mount) |
| Light effect | Linear colloid surface: uniform, soft, no glare, no light spots, no graininess | Individual luminous lamp beads, so the light shows as dots |
| Beam angle | Up to 180° | 120° |
| Flexibility | Can be wound, twisted and bent | Bends only in line with the LEDs and towards the back of the strip |
| Heat | Chip fixed directly on the PCB: shorter heat conduction path, smaller light attenuation | Lamp bead sits on a bracket, one step further from the PCB |
| CRI | 90+ across our COB range | Depends on the model; check the product page |
| Where to cut | Only at the printed mark, every 25-50 mm | On the scissors line: every 3 LEDs (12 V) or every 6 LEDs (24 V) |
| Connectors | Same pads but narrower: use COB connectors even at the same width | Match the pad count (2 to 6) and the width (8, 10 or 12 mm) |
| Soldering | Small pads: a fine soldering tip and a short contact time | A 30-40 W iron with a fine tip; keep it under 3 seconds per pad |
The structure picture is in What is the difference between SMD and COB LED? further down, and every advantage in the table is explained in Are COB LED lights better? above.
How to cut and connect COB LED strips?
A variety of led strip lights have ability to be cut in order to better adapt to different installation needs. And COB led light is no exception. Find the cutting line of COB led strip lights and cut along it. Do not cut to other areas. All the led strip lights only signs with cut lines can be cut. Other areas once be cut, it will cause damage to the light strip. So be careful.
You can choose led light connectors to connect COB led strip lights, or connect the light strips by soldering. These two ways are available to use. You can select the way you like.
Cutting and connecting a COB LED strip, step by step
- Find the printed cut mark. On a COB LED strip it comes every 25-50 mm. Cut only there: the copper pads either side of the line are the connection points.
- Choose the joint. Clip a COB connector onto the bare end, or tin the pads and solder wires. COB strips have the same pads as SMD strips, but narrower, so they need the COB connector even at the same width.
- Solder with care. COB pads are small: use a fine soldering tip and a short contact time, then cover the joint with heat-shrink or a drop of silicone.
- Mind the polarity. Red wire to +, black wire to -. Reversed polarity does no harm, but the strip stays dark.
- Power it. Connect to the supply or dimmer as with any single color LED strip.
Going round a corner? Use an L connector: two clips at 90 degrees for inside or outside corners, for the same strip type only, never mixing voltages. Cutting a waterproof COB LED strip? Every cut on a waterproof LED strip is a new joint that has to be sealed.
These diagrams are drawn by the SuperLightingLED engineering team; wire colors follow our house convention (red V+, black V-/GND, green data). Click a diagram for the full notes in our LED strip wiring diagrams library.
*Maybe you want to know:
How to Connect LED Strip Lights?
How to choose led strip light connectors?
How to install COB LED strip lights?
1. The required length of the COB light strip should be measured in advance.
2. COB light strip with interface plug cannot be reversed.
The light strip is an LED diode and is driven by DC, so there are positive and negative poles. If the positive and negative poles are connected reversely, the light strip will not light up. If the connecting plug does not light up when the power is on, you only need to disconnect the other end of the light strip.
3. Place the COB light strips correctly.
Most of the light strips are in the original packaging of the coiled wire. The newly opened light strips will be distorted and difficult to install. You can arrange them first, and then install them. Since the COB light strip emits light on one side, if it is placed unevenly, uneven brightness and darkness will appear, especially at the corners.
4. Pay attention to the installation environment.
The dust around the COB led light must be cleaned up because the dust can easily cause open flame accidents when heated.
*What you need to know about led strip installation:
How to choose led strip light power supply?
How to choose led strip light controllers?
How to wire single color led strip lights?
How to wire tunable white/CCT led strip lights?
How to wire RGB color changing led strip lights?
How to wire RGBCCT led strip lights?
How to wire addressable led strips?
Can COB LED lights use aluminum channels?
The role of the led aluminum channels is to protect led strip lights and to emit a better light effect. If you don’t want see the led strip light naked, you can install an aluminum channel to hide the light strip. The use of aluminum channels can also make the installation effect more beautiful.
The use of light troughs for COB led lights can solve the visual flaws of reflective particles. Whether it is an office, a commercial shop, or a leisure space, the linear light style can bring visual extra points to the space when providing lighting.
Our COB LED strips come in 3 mm to 12 mm PCB widths, so check the inner width of the channel against your strip before you order. Our aluminum profile guide explains every series, and you can browse all LED aluminum profiles.
*Recommended reading:
How to install non-waterproof and waterproof led strip lights? What accessories will be needed?
Further reading
What is the difference between SMD and COB LED?
From the picture below we can clearly see the difference between COB and SMD. The COB led light chip is directly attached to the PCB substrate. SMD refers to the surface mount technology. The LED lamp beads are fixed on the bracket of the PCB board and do not directly contact the PCB board.
Their structures determine that their light-emitting angle, PCB board flexibility, LED light density, light-emitting effect, heat dissipation, CRI and other aspects have a difference. The specific differences will be discussed later in the advantages of COB led strip lights.
What is the difference between COB and LED? COB VS LED
COB led light has high color rendering property, and the light color close to natural color. No flicker, no glare, no electromagnetic radiation, no ultraviolet radiation, no infrared radiation, and can protect eyes and skin.
LED strip uses light-emitting diodes as the light source to directly convert electricity into light. LED is the third generation of lighting technology after incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps. It has the characteristics of energy saving, environmental protection, safety and reliability, no flicker and no ultraviolet radiation. The disadvantage is the blue light hazard.
Why choose SuperLightingLED?
• In-depth cooperation with the production factory, with a technical guarantee
• Can customize led strip light for you according to your actual needs, such as different color and color temperature, suitable length, waterproof level, etc, and keep the product batch consistent.
• In stock, can be shipped on the same day
• Fast shipping, choose DHL
If you need help or have doubts about the led strip light, contact us.
COB LED strip FAQ
What is a COB LED strip light?
COB is the abbreviation of chip on board: multiple COB LED chips are integrated and packaged on the same substrate. Because the light-emitting surface is a linear colloid rather than separate lamp beads, a COB LED strip gives uniform, soft light with no light spots.
What is the difference between COB and SMD LED strips?
On a COB strip the chip is attached directly to the PCB; on an SMD strip the LED lamp beads sit on a bracket on the PCB. As a result a COB strip reaches a 180 degree beam angle against 120 degrees for SMD, bends more freely, shows no light spots and dissipates heat better.
Can you cut COB LED strips?
Yes. Cut only at the printed cut mark, which comes every 25-50 mm on a COB LED strip. Cutting anywhere else damages the strip. Some COB strips are sold as cut anywhere or free cut; the product name says so.
How do you connect COB LED strips?
Clip a COB connector onto the bare end, or tin the pads and solder wires. COB strips have the same pads as SMD strips but narrower, so they need the COB connector even at the same width. When soldering, use a fine tip and a short contact time. Red wire to +, black wire to -.
Are COB LED strips dimmable?
Yes. COB LED strips can be dimmed with a dimmer, using a wall control panel or a handheld remote, from 0 to 100, darkest to brightest. Check that the voltage and power of the controller and power supply match the strip.
Parts for COB LED strips
COB LED strip light connectorsMade for the narrower COB pads
90 degree LED L connector cornersInside and outside corners
LED light cord extension cablesBridge a gap between pieces
LED light wire splitter cablesOne supply, several strips
LED aluminum profilesProtect and hide the strip
Single color dimmersWall panel or remote, 0 to 100
Dual white CT LED dimmersFor tunable white COB strips
DC24V MW UL-listed power suppliesFor 24V COB strips
DC12V plastic shell power adaptersPlug-in, for small projectsTell us where the strip goes, the length and the light color you want, and the SuperLightingLED team will match the COB strip, connectors, power supply and dimmer. See our custom lighting services, or contact our team.