The width of a COB strip plays a big role in how bright it is, how it handles heat, and how the light spreads. Whether you want smooth lighting for building designs or strong light for industrial spaces, picking the right COB strip width makes your setup work better and look great. This guide explains how different widths affect performance—from narrow, bendy strips to wide, powerful ones. It’ll help you choose the best COB strip for your lighting project.
What Is the Core Technology Behind COB LED Strips?
Fundamentals of Chip-on-Board (COB) LED Strips
COB strips are a big step up in lighting tech. Instead of using separate LED diodes with gaps, COB strips pack lots of tiny LED chips right onto the circuit board. A smooth phosphor layer covers them, creating a steady, dot-free light. This gives you a clean, even glow without visible spots. The result is not just pretty—it also works better. COB strips spread light more evenly and cut down on glare compared to older SMD strips.
This dotless light makes COB strips awesome for places where looks and comfort matter, like lighting up building corners or store shelves. The smooth light line makes everything look better and feel more inviting.
Key Performance Metrics in COB Lighting Systems
To figure out how good a COB strip is, you need to look at a few things. These include how much light you get per watt (luminous efficacy), how true the colors look (color rendering index, or CRI), how many LEDs are packed in per meter (diode density), and how well it handles heat. Strip width affects all of these. Wider COB strips can handle more heat and fit more LEDs, which keeps the light bright and the strip lasting longer.
What Width Options Are Available for COB Strips?
Common Width Specifications in the Market
COB strips come in widths from 4mm to 15mm. The most common ones are 8mm and 10mm. Narrow strips work well in tight spots, like edge lighting or small channels. Wider strips can handle more power and stay cooler, which is great for bright lighting needs.
Each width has pros and cons. Narrow strips are super bendy and easy to hide, but they might not be as bright because they fit fewer LEDs. Wider strips can hold more LEDs, so they’re brighter and better for long runs without losing power.
RAYMATES COB Strip Width Variants and Their Characteristics
For lighting that fits your specific needs, RAYMATES offers colorful COB strip options in widths like 5mm, 8mm, 10mm, and even 12mm. These strips vary in size, power setup, and how much light they give off.
For example, RAYMATES’ 5mm-wide COB strips are great for flexibility. They’re perfect for decorative or soft lighting. Meanwhile, their 10mm or 12mm COB strips can take higher power and stay cool. These are awesome for bright tasks, like lighting up work areas or industrial spaces.
How Does Strip Width Influence Beam Angle?
How Strip Width Affects Light Dispersion
COB strips usually spread light wide, around 180 degrees, because of their phosphor coating. But the width of the COB strip can change how the light spreads when it’s inside a channel or diffuser. Wider COB strips fill diffusers more evenly. This reduces shadows at the edges and spreads light better side to side.
Narrow COB strips can create a more focused beam if used with deep lenses or reflectors. This is great for highlighting specific spots but not as good for lighting up big areas.
Narrow vs Wide COB Strips: Implications for Beam Spread
When choosing between narrow and wide COB strips, think about how much control you need over the light’s spread. A narrow COB strip in a deep channel might give a tight beam, perfect for spotlighting products or building details. Wide COB strips, on the other hand, cover more area with smoother light. This is key for big surfaces where even lighting matters.
RAYMATES Product Insights: Optimizing Beam Angle with Specific Models
RAYMATES’ colorful COB strip series shows how width affects light quality. Their 8mm and 10mm COB strips strike a great balance between flexibility and light control when used in standard metal channels. These models give steady brightness across different angles without needing thick diffusers. They’re ideal for store shelves where clear product lighting is important.
How Does Strip Width Affect Lumen Output?
Correlation Between PCB Width and Heat Dissipation Efficiency
Keeping COB strips cool is super important. Too much heat can shorten their life and make them less efficient. Wider COB strips have more surface area to spread out heat. They often have thicker copper layers, which help carry heat away. This lets you run the LEDs at higher power without worrying about overheating.
Narrow COB strips don’t have as much room for heat to escape. Their smaller size limits how much power they can handle safely.
Impact of Diode Density Across Different Widths
More LEDs per meter mean brighter light, but they also make more heat. Wider COB strips can fit more LEDs without getting too hot. This keeps them reliable. A narrow COB strip packed with LEDs might overheat fast unless you add extra cooling, which can cost more and make things complicated.
RAYMATES Recommendations for High-Lumen Applications
For bright lighting needs, like store displays or industrial work areas, RAYMATES suggests using their wider COB strips (10mm or more). These have lots of LEDs on boards designed to stay cool. They give strong, steady light without needing big heatsinks or fans.
Which Strip Width Best Fits Your Application?
Architectural Lighting Requirements and Suitable RAYMATES Products
In buildings where looks and function matter—like cove lighting or wall accents—an 8mm to 10mm COB strip works great. It fits well in standard channels and gives smooth, even light. The dot-free glow from these strips looks clean, even with thin diffusers.
Retail and Display Lighting: Matching Beam Profile with Design Intent
Stores need lighting that shows off products without glare or dark spots. Mid-to-wide COB strips (8mm to 12mm) do this well. They give steady brightness along shelves and fit easily into common lighting fixtures.
Industrial and Task Lighting: Prioritizing Output and Efficiency
Workshops or factories need bright, efficient lighting that lasts. Wider COB strips are best here because they deliver lots of light and handle heat well. RAYMATES’ industrial-grade COB strips are built tough, with wide PCBs that keep performance steady during long shifts.
What Should You Know About Installation Compatibility?
Compatibility with Profiles and Extrusions Based on Width
Before installing a COB strip, make sure its width matches your aluminum channel or silicone holder. Most standard channels fit up to 12mm COB strips. Wider ones might need custom holders. Narrow COB strips are easier to route but might not fill larger channels, which can cause uneven light unless you add extra lenses.
Managing Thermal Load in Wider vs Narrower Strips
More power means more heat. Wider COB strips handle this better because they touch more of the metal channel to spread heat. Narrow COB strips running at high power need special adhesives or fans to stay cool. This is important for setups like signs or conveyors that run all day.
Suggested Installation Practices Using RAYMATES Accessories
RAYMATES makes installation easy with accessories like aluminum channels made for each COB strip width. These include clips, end caps, and diffusers designed to fit perfectly. They help with alignment, heat control, and light quality, so you don’t need to adjust much on-site.
Summary of Selection Strategy Based on Project Goals
Balancing Beam Control and Brightness Needs
The width of your COB strip affects how the light looks and performs. Narrow COB strips are great for tight spaces. Wide COB strips shine in bright, heat-heavy setups. Think about whether you want a soft glow or strong task lighting. Also, consider how your channel or diffuser shapes the light.
Aligning Aesthetic Preferences with Technical Requirements Using RAYMATES Solutions
When you need both beauty and function, RAYMATES has you covered. Their COB strip lineup works for everything from art displays to kitchens or labs. With different widths and smart designs, you can get great lighting without sacrificing looks or performance.
FAQ
Q: Can I use a narrower COB strip if I want high brightness?
A: You can, but it’s not the best idea without extra cooling. Narrow COB strips can’t handle heat as well, which might make them wear out faster.
Q: What’s the best COB strip width for cove lighting?
A: An 8mm to 10mm COB strip works great for cove lighting. It fits standard channels and gives smooth light without spots when used with simple diffusers.
Q: Are all diffuser profiles compatible across different COB widths?
A: No, diffusers need to match the COB strip width. Using the wrong size can cause uneven light or bad heat contact with the channel.
