Best LED downlight? single LED chip or Multiple? (same wattage)

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Best LED downlight? single LED chip or Multiple? (same wattage)

fatjoez

153 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Trusted

#218040 23-Jul-2017 19:46

Can someone who has experience with this suggest which of these 2 type of led downlight is better?

1 has a single LARGE led chip inside.
The other has an opaque cover but inside multiple small LED chips.

They both can have the same wattage, eg 12w, 18w etc.

But the way that wattage is measured is obviously quite different right?
One 18w led chip giving you say 1800 lumens is not the same as 18 led chips giving you 100lumens each for a total of 1800lumens right?

Am I correct or do you get the same result & do these 2 types of lights generally give the same amount & reach of light?

timmmay

20857 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5349

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1827890 23-Jul-2017 20:04

One thing to consider is multiple chips can be distributed, so you get a less directional light. Other than that I don't know which is best.

fatjoez

153 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Trusted

#1827894 23-Jul-2017 20:09

Thanks for your input.

I've read up on them a little bit and understand there are names for these 2 types.

SMD & COB

These videos helped also

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRKZ0F1X4Y8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rO9vWONOKM

also interesting reading:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140702035921-96617220-the-ever-advancing-led-bulb-cob-chip-on-board-and-mcob-multiple-chips-on-board

richms

29097 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10205

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1828029 23-Jul-2017 22:50

No difference really in efficiency. If you are getting ones with a diffuser on the front it will not matter. Array of smaller LEDs will let them make it thinner vs a COB and a reflector.

If you are getting better ones which are directional, then arrays of smaller ones with gaps between them can lead too horrible shadows where things look all blockey like when you turn shadow detail to crap in a game. Google led multi shadow and you will see a few images results that show the problem. It's quite ugly.

Richard rich.ms