Top 11 Best COB LED Grow Lights Reviews and Buyers Guide

The use of COB lights for indoor gardens are not as popular as other types of LED lights due to the fact not many people are aware of their benefits and usage. If you are unaware of COB lights, this article is for you. This article will discuss what COB lights are, their use, and information about how to use them properly.

Before diving into the details about COB lights, it is crucial to shed light on their role and advantages for indoor plants. COB LED Lights are beneficial for all types of indoor plants, but they are especially recommended for growing marijuana.

These days, COB LED lights are known to play a positive role in aiding growing cannabis indoors. Initially, their significance was not recognized, until people started using them for marijuana and realized how they offer a lot of extra benefits over traditional LED grow lights.

Here is a comprehensive guide about COB LED lights for anyone who is wondering whether getting them is worth it or not.

What Are COB LED Lights And Why Are They Better?

COB is actually the acronym for Chip-on-Board, and as the name indicates, these lights come with LEDs instilled directly on the board. Several LED lights are integrated on a single board, and they appear to be a unified light source.

Since they are integrated to appear like a single source of light, therefore when lit up, they appear to be one light source rather than seem like individual lights. This is the main difference that distinguishes COB lights from the other LED lights that are commonly used. This is also the main reason why they are far more beneficial than regular LED lights.

Save Power With COB Lights:

Everyone wishes to use the best lights for their indoor plants. The main reason why people invest in lights is to ensure that the plants get the desired amount of active photosynthetic protons that are emitted by these lights. These protons are needed for plant growth, and there is no better source of these protons than LED COB lights. Therefore, plants grown in these lights grow at a rapid rate and are better healthwise.

Reliability And Durability:

LED lights got a lot of limelight because they lasted longer than regular lights. But the COB LED lights have beaten the LED lights in terms of durability. Even though buying COB LED lights may seem like an expensive decision in the beginning because they cost more than regular LED lights, but in the long run, its a better choice due to the fact they last longer. They are a one-time investment that will last you for a more extended period.

Better Light Quality:

One of the core reasons why COB lights gained so much popularity is because of the quality of their light. The color rendering index is used to determine any change in the light as a result of its interaction with other objects. In a nutshell, the higher the level of the color rendering index, the more beneficial it is. The color rendering index is comparatively higher for COB lights, and they offer a broader range.

Wondering what color rendering index or CRI means?

Here are a few ways in which the use of COB lights can have a positive impact on the growth of marijuana.

Heat: Heat produced by lights is harmful to the plants. But since COB lights produce barely any heat, plants are at no risk of being harmed. Another concern in this respect is the heating of the lights themselves when used continuously.

This is not the case with COB lights since they do not generate heat at all. COB lights do not rely on the filament as a source of light. Therefore they are an optimal choice for growing weed. They can be installed thirty to forty-five centimeters above the plants to aid in their growth. 

Range Of Color Spectrums: LED COB lights provide a diverse range of color spectrums. The best color spectrum for cannabis plants is between red and blue, and the LED COB lights deliver just that. This color spectrum provided by the LED COB lights will make your cannabis plants healthy and have an excellent yield.

Lifespan: When compared with natural lights, the COB lights last far longer. The reason behind their extended lifespan is the material they are built of and their construction design. On average, a COB light can last 55,000 hours, which is a lot more than a regular LED light. This way, one does not have to be concerned about replacing them as much.

How To Use COB Lights For Growing Marijuana.

As everyone is now familiar with the purpose and different types of COB lights that are available in the market, it is better to discuss how these lights can be used for growing marijuana. Every person who grows cannabis wishes for a healthy and big plant that can have a high yield. Here are a few ways in which the use of COB Growth Lights can make it possible:

Choose The Right Light:

When choosing an LED Grow COB light, the most critical aspect is to have a look at the specifications and the quality of the lamp. The lamps with red and blue colored lights and a spectrum range of three hundred and eighty nanometers to seven hundred and eighty nanometers are highly recommended. Having a look at the specifications before purchasing the lights ensure that you make a choice that is suitable according to the needs of the plants.

The Positioning Of The Lights Is Important: 

The distance at which the lights are placed from the plants and the position of the lights is an important factor. The lights have to be placed at an appropriate distance, fifty centimeters to ensure that the plants can get maximum advantage from the lights. The distance between the lights and the plants is critical as the heat produced by the lamps may burn the plants if placed too close.

Determine The Right Number Of Lamps: 

If you are someone who wants to increase the yield of the plants, it is recommended that you invest in a more significant number of lights. This way, the plants can be provided with an environment that closely imitates the sun’s light. However, patience is essential as well as one cannot expect the plants to grow overnight. Placing more lamps to expedite the plant’s growth is not a solution.

Selecting The Right LED COB Lights:

There area few determining factors that must be kept in mind when purchasing an LED COB light. Here are a few tips that will prove to be helpful in this regard:

Consider Buying Lights With Versatile Light Spectrums:

A large number of lights that are available in the market produce light spectrums that closely resemble the light of the sun. Some lights have a light spectrum that cannot be changed and is constant. However, other options come with an adjustable light spectrum. This way, the user can alter and change the frequency of the light produced by the lamp as desired. This feature is hugely beneficial as it enables the growers to adjust the spectrum depending upon the needs of the plants at every stage of the growth.

Do Not Ignore Cooling Mechanisms:

COB Lights are bound to produce some heat. This heat must be dissipated properly. Otherwise, this heat can harm the plants and, in some cases, even burn them. Therefore, one must select a light with a proper cooling system. Most of these lights come with fans or heat sinks and sometimes even both to make sure that the heat is removed properly and does not damage the plants.

Lights With Constant Driver Systems Are Better:

Lamps with a standardized driver system are important because they ensure that the light is being given a constant supply of voltage throughout. This aspect is also closely related to the amount of heat that is being produced by the light. Moreover, the lamps with constant driver circuits are also easy to set up and install. The lights with excellent circuit systems are self equipped to handle the temperature of the light.

Evaluate Your Needs:

There are several categories of COB lights that are available in the market. Each of these COB LED lights is built for a specific purpose. Therefore one needs to evaluate his needs and determine the type of plants that he wishes to grow before buying a light.

Some of the COB Lights are suitable for indoor plantation, whereas others are built while keeping gardens and greenhouse environments in mind. It is essential to evaluate the needs of the plantation and determine whether the selected light is suitable for that cause or not.

Bear The Cost In Mind:

One thing that is common about almost all the COB LED lights available in the market is that they require a higher initial investment. It is nearly impossible to find a cheaper or more affordable COB Light without having to compromise on the quality and performance.

The only way you can save money is by looking for lights that are efficient in terms of power consumption. Some of the COB Lights available in the market may seem expensive in the beginning, but once you install them, they may end up saving you a lot of money. In a nutshell, it is almost impossible to find affordable lights, but the investment is sufficient enough to cover the cost incurred at the end of the day.

Comparison Between COB And Other Grow Lights:

COB LED lights are a trendy choice in terms of growth lights in the market. But in order to elaborate the fact that no one is biased against other growth lights and in favor of COB lights, it is crucial to produce a comparison so that one can evaluate the performance of COB lights as compared to other growth lights.

Rather than go for a point to point comparison between the COB lights and the other growth lights, this article will mention the pros and cons of different growth lights so that the readers themselves can determine which light is best suited according to their needs:

HPS Growth Lights:

HPS Growth Lights are not a new name in the market. These lights are famous for their high power light intensity. The light spectrum of these lights is shorter, and they have a higher heat consumption. Moreover, they have a bigger size as compared to COB lights.

The operational hours of the HPS Growth Lights are nearly fifty thousand hours. These lights are moderately priced and are an excellent choice for people with a slight experience in terms of growing plants and using growth lights.

CMH Growth Lights:

The list of indoor growth lights is incomplete without mentioning CMH Growth Lights. They are famous for their broad light spectrum but are not the first choice for anyone looking for a light that has a high intensity of light. The lights are a bit bulky due to their big size, but the plus point is that they do not produce a massive amount of heat during use.

They have a lifespan of around twenty thousand to twenty-five thousand operating hours, which is almost half of the lifespan of COB lights. They also lie within an affordable price range and are recommended for people who are intermediately skilled in the field of using grow lights for plants.

CFL Growth Light:

CFL Growth Lights are the most affordable growth lights that are available in the market. But it is essential to bear in mind that they have a small light spectrum, and the level of their light intensity is not very high either. Since it is less powerful, therefore it is evident that they are producers of a lesser amount of heat.

The size of these lights is small too, and they can be used for a total of seven thousand to twelve thousand hours. The price, power, and performance of these lights make it an excellent choice for people who have a smaller plantation area.

MH Grow Light:

MH grow lights have an average quality. Their light intensity is neither too strong nor too weak. But despite the moderate light intensity, the range of the spectrum is high. These lights are efficient in terms of power consumption, but the downside is the fact that they are enormous in size. The large size also contributes to the fact that they produce a more substantial amount of heat.

These lights can be used for around twelve thousand to seventeen thousand hours and are priced within an affordable price range.

COB Growth Light:

COB Growth Lights is the choice of growers who want the best for their plants and are not reluctant to invest in a good product for the yield of their plants. The density of COB Lights is higher, and all plants get the light uniformly. These lights also offer a broad spectrum, which is another advantage. Since COB lights are based on modern and smart technologies, they consume all the power that is supplied to them.

This eventually reduces the amount of heat that these lights produce. These lights are small and compact in size and have operational hours that range from fifty thousand hours to sixty thousand hours. These lights are a bit expensive as compared to the other growth lights that are available in the market, but their performance and efficiency make them worth every penny that is spent on them.

Purchasing COB lights can be considered a long term investment as they do seem expensive in the beginning. Still, at the end of the day, their efficiency in terms of power consumption and the positive impact on the yield of the plants is an excellent return in exchange for the money that one has spent on these lights.

This part of the article has compared the performance, build, lifespan, heat generation, and price of COB lights and all the other growth lights that are available in the market. Now it is up to the readers to determine which light is the most suitable for them according to their needs and budget. 

Comparing SMD and COB:

People are generally in favor of COB lights, which seems like a Hippocratic move. But in reality, it is an acknowledged fact that COB lights are an improved form of SMDs. Both SMDs and COBs are good at what they do. But here are a few significant differences between the two:

Both COB and SMD seem to have a panel of the same size, yet the number of LEDs in a COB light is more than the number of LEDs in an SMD.

The COB lights have a better intensity, and thus the light is stronger compared to the light of an SMD.

SMD lights are enormous. The COB lights, on the other hand, are compact and smart.
The heat production is significantly lesser in COB lights as compared to SMD lights.
SMD allows the users to change the colors of the lights as desired, but COB Lights lack this feature.

The spectrum and a coverage range of an SMD are far better than that of a COB light.
The penetration of light generated by an SMD light is stronger as compared to the penetration power of the light generated by a COB Light.

People generally tend to confuse the COB and SMD lights. Here are a few noticeable differences between the two that can help one distinguish between a COB light and an SMD light.

The ambiguity between the two lights often leads to people being mistaken when they go to purchase COB lights. Being aware of these differences and being able to distinguish between the two is essential to ensure one picks the right light.

Conclusion:

A large number of COB lights are available in the market. Each COB light has its own features and functions and pros and cons. The ones that are included in this article are listed as the top choices of marijuana growers. Therefore, it can be rightfully stated that these are worth the investment despite the high price range.

However, which COB light is the best suited according to your needs is a choice that you yourself have to make. Each of these lights will have a positive impact on your cannabis growth and will increase the yield by a significant factor. Use this article as a buying guide and determine which light is worth your investment.

This article covered everything that one should know about LED COB lights and also provided you with a buying guide and tips to make the best use of your COB lights. If you found it helpful, feel free to spread the word and share it with your friends and family members.