The COB LED Develop Mild Defined and Reviewed

Have you ever heard about COB LED develop lights, and now you’re questioning what all of the fuss is about?

Then look no additional, as a result of I’ve received a deal with for you.

On this article, I wish to go over the COB LED phenomenon. I’ll clarify what they’re, and the way they’re a big growth for indoor develop mild expertise and in addition why they’re being quickly deployed into many indoor develop rooms all throughout the planet.

Has LED expertise lastly grow to be a viable and inexpensive different to switch the large, cumbersome, and scorching HID develop lights?

Do COB LEDs justify the fee?

Hold studying and let’s discover out!​

Word: This text is supposed to function a primer on COB LEDs and an extension of my earlier article on full spectrum LED develop lights. If you wish to know extra about full spectrum LED develop lights, check out that article as I am going deeper into the specifics of LED expertise and the way it compares to different options.

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What’s a COB LED?

A COB (brief for Chip-on-Board), is an LED packaging expertise that describes mounting a number of LED chips immediately onto a substrate to kind a single module. A number of LEDs, minuscule in dimension, are wired and packaged collectively right into a single ceramic or copper board in order that they operate as a sole mild supply.​

When a COB LED bundle is energized, it seems extra like a lighting panel than a number of particular person lights as often the case with different LED packages, like when utilizing a number of SMD LEDs mounted carefully collectively.​

Photos present a quite simple Chip-on-Board LED setup, with a single COB mounted on a passive cooler. Left is unlit. Proper is lit and dimmed all the way down to make the LEDs seen.

Because of the small dimension of the LED chips (think about 1 / 4), Chip-on-Board expertise permits for a a lot larger packing density than floor mount expertise (SMD).

Utilizing COB LEDs as Develop Lights

Whereas there nonetheless are cheap purposes to utilizing HID bulbs, the benefits of utilizing COB LED develop lights outweigh the disadvantages.

However the query remails…

Does this expertise justify the fee?

The introductory value of utilizing COB LEDs in an indoor backyard is initially larger, however they pay themselves off in the long run on account of a number of benefits.

I’m going to take the freedom and evaluate COB LED’s to probably the most generally used top quality lighting of at the moment, particularly: HPS, CMH, & MH lights.

To make issues simpler right here’s a nifty little chart for you:

Now right here’s a breakdown that helps clarify the chart:

Improved Electrical Effectivity

For develop lights, effectivity is measured in µmol/j or, extra merely, the quantity of photosynthetically energetic photons which are produced per watt consumed on the wall. This can be interpreted as µmol per watt.

Improved Lifespan

Prime quality LEDs have fingers down the very best usable lifespan of any develop mild expertise out there. Even when the preliminary funding is larger, a top quality LED fixture will final AT LEAST 30,000 hours. So it’ll pay itself off over time.

Based mostly on producer literature, double-ended HPS lamps have a life expectancy of 10,000 hours to 90% survival, or 1.65 years when used a median of 16 hours per day or 6,000 hours per yr (conventional mogul-base lamps have industry-reported life expectations of 10,000 to 17,000 hours, to 90% survival, and value about $40).

The price of a 1000W, double-ended substitute lamp is about $140, which averages to $28 per yr if we assume a lamp will likely be changed as soon as within the first 5 years. Lamp substitute price will increase to $30 to $35 per yr when the labor to switch the bulb is included, however that is small in comparison with the roughly $600 per yr annual electrical price to function the fixture. Including the price of lamp substitute will increase the five-year price of operation by about 5%.

By comparability when operated at favorable temperatures, particular person LEDs usually have a predicted lifetime (to 70% of the preliminary mild output) of fifty,000 hours, about 8.35 years when used a median 16 hours per day or 6000 hours per Yr.​

Improved Spectrum​

That is an instance of the spectrum you’ll discover in most top quality COB LEDs. Please be aware that though there are at all times variations between completely different corporations, it’s principally the identical. A 3500K 90CRI COB from any producer ought to operate very carefully to another 3500K 90CRI COB of the identical voltage class.

Should you’ve examine spectrums earlier than, you’ll discover that no different single-point mild supply affords such a broad and focused PAR spectrum.​

Right here’s the spectral studying of some 3100k CMH Bulbs for comparability.​

Improved Mild High quality

One of many foremost causes that COB LED develop lights have made their manner so rapidly into many develop rooms is due to their HIGH Coloration Rendering Index (often over 80) and broad spectrum.

CRI stands for Coloration Rendering Index, and describes how the colour of a lightweight supply modifications how an object seems to the human eyes and the way properly delicate variations in colour shades are revealed. The upper the CRI, the extra real looking issues look.

Whatever the COB producer, whether or not CREE, Citizen, Bridgelux, and so forth. All of them provide no less than 70 CRI Broad Spectrum chips and which often can go to as much as 97 CRI.

This implies no purple, or excessive orange, or purple or yellow however top quality white mild exhibiting real looking colours.​

Permits substitute of HID bulbs with none lack of mild depth​

Up till now LEDs had been a alternative for many who wanted low energy. However not anymore. As of proper now LEDs are considerably extra environment friendly at producing photons than any HID expertise. That means that on the similar energy consumption, top quality COB LEDs will outperform HID expertise at offering high quality mild in your cover.​

Higher Mild Distribution

HIDs and COB’s are each single-point mild sources. However since COBs are comparatively straightforward to deal with and place, now we have a really completely different state of affairs.

As an alternative of utilizing one single mild supply, COB LEDs may be spaced for higher uniformity as a way to keep away from hotspots or low depth areas within the develop room.

A sensible instance could be that as a substitute of getting one large 600W HID fixture that may create a hotspot, we might have 6 COB LEDs producing the identical quantity of sunshine, whereas consuming much less and offering a manner higher unfold.​

Superior Thermal Efficiency

It is a tough one, however bear with me. A 500 watt fixture will produce 500 watts of warmth, interval. No matter whether or not it’s an HID, a CFL, or an LED. There’s a standard misunderstanding that 500 watts of LEDs is cooler than 500 watts of HID, and whereas that’s often true, it’s not for the explanations individuals suppose.

The reason being principally Infrared radiation. Far infrared is radiant warmth, it’s the identical as the sensation of heat from the solar in your face and the warmth from a coal hearth. It’s even the identical type of warmth emitted by your personal physique. And LEDS (until particularly designed to take action) produce little or no infrared mild, now evaluate that spectrum to an HPS and also you’ll quickly perceive why HPS lamps are at all times so scorching.​

COB LEDs In comparison with Different Kinds of Develop Lights

Right here’s a chart evaluating COB LEDs to different sorts of develop lights. I ranked every mild on every high quality from 1-5, then added the factors as much as decide which lights are greatest.​

Right here’s a easy breakdown to elucidate the chart:

COB LEDS vs. HPS

Factors for COB LEDs: 22

The place do COB LEDs beat HPS?

• Energy Consumption
• Spectrum
• Effectivity
• Lifespan

Factors for HPS: 12

The place do HPS beat COB LEDs?

COB LEDS vs. MH

Factors for COB LEDs: 22

The place does COB LEDs beat MH?

• Energy Consumption
• Spectrum
• Effectivity
• Lifespan

Factors for MH: 12

The place does MH beat COB LEDs?

COB LEDS vs. CMH

Factors for COB LEDs: 22

The place does COB LEDs beat CMH?

• Energy Consumption
• Spectrum
• Effectivity
• Lifespan

Factors for CMH: 14

The place does CMH beat COB LEDs?

• Simpler to Supply (extra market penetration)

COB LEDS vs. CFL

Factors for COB LEDs: 22

The place does COB LEDs beat CFL?

• Energy Consumption
• Spectrum
• Effectivity
• Lifespan

Factors for CFL: 11

The place does HPS beat COB LEDs?

• Preliminary Value
• Easy answer for low lighting conditions​

COB LEDs vs. Different LEDs​

Keep in mind that COB LEDs are nonetheless LEDs, they’re principally the identical expertise in a distinct bundle. So there isn’t a lot to match apart from mild distribution.

Whereas COB LEDS do present a wonderful mild depth, they’re not precisely the perfect with regards to unfold, as a result of COB LEDs are a single-point mild supply (that means all mild comes from a single level in house). If we do not forget that mild drops considerably the additional away you’re from the supply we will see the way it’s straightforward to depart just a few “darkish” spots when utilizing COB LEDs. For this reason producers spend plenty of time designing their lamps determining the perfect spacing for probably the most even mild distribution over the cover.

And that is the place small SMDs have a bonus over a COB LED, being of such a small dimension you’ll be able to place a lot of them very shut to one another and kind a lightweight panel. The issue right here is guaranteeing that the LEDs have sufficient mild depth to justify the elevated price of producing such a panel.

Finest COB LEDs to Purchase

Since as of proper now COB LEDs are simply coming into the market there are only a few corporations that construct COB LED based mostly develop lights. A few of them are ridiculously costly, but when you understand the place to look, you’ll discover that there are some actually, actually good alternatives to purchase.

I’ve taken the time to assemble and assessment what I consider to be the perfect choices out there so you’ll be able to have a better time making a alternative.​

Finest Total

Pacific Mild Ideas, CXP-250​

Execs

• Efficacy: 1.8 µmols/w
• Lifespan: 50,000hrs
• Based mostly on: CREE cxb3590
• Stunning & clear construct high quality
• Waterproof (weatherproof)
• Scalable design
• Passive design (no transferring elements)
• ETL Examined and Licensed

Cons

The CXP-250 is Pacific Mild Ideas newest toy. It’s designed for use industrially as an array of bars to position over the cover with a excessive and even depth throughout your entire cover. An array of CXP-250’s can ship any depth the grower needs for any particular crop. And at a beginning value of $499.00 their costs aren’t actually probably the most inexpensive, however their high quality is above all of the marks!

See Costs

​Finest Bang for the Buck

Timber Develop Lights, Citizen CLU048 Framework​

Execs

• Finest priced COB LED develop mild out there
• Efficacy: 2.0 µmols/wLifespan: 50,000hrs
• Based mostly on: Citizen CLU 048 Gen 6
• An choice for each house configuration
• Passive design (no transferring elements)

Cons

With a value vary between $229.00 to $1,099.00 Timber positively has one thing occurring and an choice for each want. Their pricing beats a buying a Ceramic Metallic Halide develop mild whereas including all the advantages of switching to utilizing COB LEDs, just like the improved spectrum, much less warmth and elevated effectivity.

Whereas their design is moderately easy they provide a really highly effective and helpful develop mild. As an example, their 200W sq. fixture is really helpful for a 2’ by 2’ house, however it should present glorious lighting to a 3’ by 3’ house, and even then it should present a PPFD of 600 µmol/s which is within the excessive efficiency vary photosynthetic vary for ANY CROP. That is inexpensive energy.

See Costs

Do It Your self

Anybody can assemble their very own COB LED develop lights with just a bit steering!​

With regards to COB LEDs I at all times suggest DIY! One of many foremost benefits of utilizing COB LEDs is that there are only some of parts and that all of them match collectively in a really straight ahead manner. You do not want to be an electronics skilled to assemble your personal develop mild anymore! And never solely will you be participating in a really enjoyable venture, however you’re additionally going to avoid wasting lots on the price of labor.​

I’m already engaged on a DIY COB LED information so keep tuned if you happen to really feel like engaged on a really neat and easy venture!​

An instance of a reasonably fundamental DIY COB LED Develop Mild fixture that I assembled in just a few hours to make use of in my backyard.

That’s it! I hope this information served its function and that you simply now know the advantages and disadvantages of COB LEDs if you happen to’re occupied with switching your previous HIDs over to the newer LEDs applied sciences.

Keep in mind that expertise is at all times evolving and what’s true at the moment might not be true tomorrow. So maintain a watch out for brand spanking new guides in case any new breakthroughs occur. And in the event that they do, I’ll be certain that to write down one other information to dispel your entire doubts!

In case you have any doubts or questions or suppose there’s one thing I didn’t cowl, be happy to depart a remark and I’ll do my greatest to assist!