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.
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 constructionYou 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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
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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.
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.
We are often asked what the power consumption of our Chip on Board LEDs is. This post will cover an explanation of how one can determine how many watts these lights consume on average. Also, for reference, I will talk about comparing to the older technology (incandescent) as it may be useful information.
See also for more context on calculating wattage
How to Determine WattagePassives
There are a few methods to quickly determine wattage on a part that doesn’t really list the parameter in the product attributes or the data sheet. Many parts have this rating because they absolutely need it in the description due to it being critical to their design. A few examples include power supplies, resistors, most AC or DC fans, most AC or DC motors, and anything else that deals with power directly. However, there are many electronics parts out there without the rating and this may cause …
COB lights list more parameters in their datasheets than the older technology used to list on the product box. In the older fluorescent fixtures and incandescent models, most were rated with voltage, current, and power consumption (wattage). These fixtures didn’t have many active components to start with (if any) and the technology didn’t need complex terminology. When LEDs were developed, an equivalent rating had to be developed for analogy because the devices draw way less than the older technology. When I used to work in a department store, there were ratings typically saying that around an 8.5W LED is nearly equivalent to a 60W incandescent bulb in most cases after comparing brightness/luminosity. So in that case, a 60W COB is like a 424W incandescent bulb when comparing how much power is consumed! Many stores will have this type of comparison for analogy, but does not always hold constant. It is always recommended to read all the data available for the chips because wattage does not equal brightness.
To find the average power consumption that the chip will use. It is up to the individual to choose a driving current for the application. Typically, manufacturers include both a testing current and maximum current to help provide guidelines. It is never recommended to run any device at or very near maximum current because this will reduce the life of the LED significantly. Read the data sheet for the specific part to see why the manufacturer included a testing current, this may be the nominal current to choose for maximum efficiency.
P_{Test}=I_{Test}*V_{forward}
P_{Max}=I_{Max}*V_{forward}
In reality, the power drawn by the component will not be constant because there are more factors like heat dissipation, operating temperature, operating conditions, and even design of the surrounding circuitry can change the power values. These calculations are for a reference as the driving current will heavily impact the amount of power drawn.
To do a rough comparison to an incandescent bulb for reference:
\frac{8.5W}{60W}\approx\frac{P_{Led}}{P_{Inc}}
The PLed can be calculated from PTest, PMax, or using your own driving current to find power. The only unknown variable is PInc which is what would be solved for. This will not be an exact estimate as more factors go into equivalencies, but should give a rough idea compared to incandescent.
Otherwise, compare ratings and values found in the data sheets to other similar product’s data sheet values.
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