How to Choose a Smart COB LED Strip: Width, Density, Voltage and Control Guide

A high LED count does not rescue the wrong strip width, control type or protection level. Cabinet lighting, curved retail displays, continuous architectural lines and pixel animation place different demands on a COB strip. Begin with the visual task, installation channel, control method and environment; density becomes meaningful only after those decisions.

Choose the lighting job before comparing LED density

A high LED count does not rescue the wrong strip width, control type or protection level. Cabinet lighting, curved retail displays, continuous architectural lines and pixel animation place different demands on a COB strip. Begin with the visual task, installation channel, control method and environment; density becomes meaningful only after those decisions.

The product page lists multiple options. They form a configurable family, not one version that automatically combines every width, density, voltage, colour and wattage.

PCB width is an installation decision, not a minor option

Published PCB widths are 5, 8, 10 and 12 mm. Width affects aluminium-channel compatibility, bend path, connector choice, soldering access and heat transfer. A narrow strip can solve a tight profile, while a wider PCB may offer a different mechanical and electrical layout; the page does not assign one performance level to every width.

Measure the actual channel at clips, corners and cable entries. Nominal channel width alone can hide the space consumed by connectors or a diffuser lip.

Do not compare 12V and 24V without the final configuration

The family lists DC12V and DC24V, but voltage is only one part of a version. The page also lists 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14 W/m power options. Do not calculate current until the selected voltage and wattage are paired in the approved configuration.

For illustration only, a confirmed 10 W/m version would draw 0.83 A/m at 12V or 0.42 A/m at 24V. This explains why higher voltage usually reduces current at equal power; it does not claim that every listed 24V option is 10 W/m or supports a fixed run length.

Select white, RGB, RGBW or WS2811 by control intent

The published colour/control range includes 2700K–6500K white, RGB, RGBW and WS2811. Static or dimmable white serves general linear illumination; RGB adds colour mixing; RGBW adds a separate white channel; WS2811 indicates a cascade-addressable option for programmed segments.

These are not interchangeable controller modes. Freeze colour architecture, channel order, segment design, controller compatibility and dimming method before ordering.

What 320 to 840 LEDs/m changes in practice

The page lists 320, 360, 480, 528, 720 and 840 LEDs/m with a 180° viewing angle and CRI above 90. Higher source density can reduce visible spacing and support a smoother line, especially in shallow profiles, but diffuser distance, brightness, viewing distance and bend geometry also affect uniformity.

Do not assume the highest density is always best. It may increase cost and thermal load without visible benefit when the diffuser and viewing distance already hide source texture.

Quick configuration decision table

LIKELIGHT smart COB strip as a project option

LIKELIGHT model L-S-COB offers a broad configuration range: 5–12 mm PCB, 320–840 LEDs/m, 2700K–6500K/RGB/RGBW/WS2811, 180° output, CRI>90, DC12V/DC24V and listed 7–14 W/m options. This makes it useful when a project needs one supplier to compare compact profiles, continuous white light, colour versions and addressable effects.

The published protection is IP20, so the current page configuration is primarily an indoor, dry-environment starting point. Wet-area use needs a separately confirmed protected construction rather than assuming the same specification.

Information required before quotation

Provide the profile drawing and internal width, total and zone lengths, desired colour/control version, target LED density, voltage preference, power target, dimming or pixel controller, cable exit, bend radius or corner detail, environment and sample deadline.

These inputs let LIKELIGHT build a version matrix instead of quoting an ambiguous combination. The quotation should show which width, density, voltage, power and control options actually coexist in the proposed production model.

Frequently asked questions