# Which LED/SMD is brighter? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [December 17, 2010, 6:07am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305 "2010-12-17T06:07:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rugsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rugsr/32/7474_2.png) [@rugsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rugsr)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 6:07am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/1 "2010-12-17T06:07:00Z")
My parents just picked up a new car and we were talking about the “old days”. We got on topic of my old grand prix which had 16…yes 16 green neons inside and 4 outside LOL. It was out of control. Anyways my parents were saying how it would be cool if they had 2 blue neons above the feet area. Well, neons are out and LEDs/SMDs are in IMO Which one of these is brighter. Everything says “SUPER BRIGHT” but what do you think? LED [http://cgi.ebay.com/1x-NEW-24LED-Strip-Car-Lights-Flexible-Grill-Light-Blue-/310276737089?pt=LH\_DefaultDomain\_0&hash=item483def4841](http://cgi.ebay.com/1x-NEW-24LED-Strip-Car-Lights-Flexible-Grill-Light-Blue-/310276737089?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item483def4841) [http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FLEXIBLE-24-LED-STRIP-LIGHT-NITRO-BLUE-COLOR-\_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem43a3aeb9aaQQitemZ290508945834QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories](http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FLEXIBLE-24-LED-STRIP-LIGHT-NITRO-BLUE-COLOR-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem43a3aeb9aaQQitemZ290508945834QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories) SMD [http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/60cm-24-Car-Truck-SMD-flexible-LED-Light-Strip-Blue-\_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2308f0164aQQitemZ150473807434QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories](http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/60cm-24-Car-Truck-SMD-flexible-LED-Light-Strip-Blue-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2308f0164aQQitemZ150473807434QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories) ---
**Author:** ![ZOMGVTEK](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zomgvtek/32/5063_2.png) [@ZOMGVTEK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ZOMGVTEK)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/2 "2010-12-17T06:25:27Z")
Not the SMD one… Aside from that, its impossible to tell. Generally, cheaper does not mean better and brighter. The first one looks like it might be using 3MM LED’s, and the second looks like 5MM. I vote #2. ---
**Author:** ![rugsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rugsr/32/7474_2.png) [@rugsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rugsr)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 6:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/3 "2010-12-17T06:41:18Z")
HMMMM Yea its had to tell since #1 is pointed on the ground and #2 is pointed at the camera So why arent the SMDs brighter? Is that just how it is? ---
**Author:** ![LUKE\_L](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/luke_l/32/7462_2.png) [@LUKE\_L](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LUKE_L)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 7:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/4 "2010-12-17T07:40:26Z")
> [@rugsr](#): > > So why arent the SMDs brighter? Is that just how it is? You can’t label them without comparing…you will never notice the difference once in the car. I say go with the SMD. You will get a more unifromly lit area. Plus they will be easier to work with judging by the packaging. The other strips are not “peel-n-stick” friendly. SMD are plenty bright in the proper bin/pacakge. Edit: This is in my car… ![http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t167/llorentz/MR2/Mods/LED/Comparison.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/b/d/bda92d5060cad78527902571f3d9469354062d98.jpeg) Left side OEM incandescent bulb and green T1. Right side is a Nichia SMD and a Nichia T1 both powered at .008A. IMO, canister LEDs are great for indicators and surface mount (SMD - Surface Moutn Device) are for illumination. ---
**Author:** ![rugsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rugsr/32/7474_2.png) [@rugsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rugsr)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 10:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/5 "2010-12-17T10:44:06Z")
I read that they can be cut into 3’s…but then how is it wired after that? ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 11:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/6 "2010-12-17T11:09:37Z")
> [@rugsr](#): > > I read that they can be cut into 3’s…but then how is it wired after that? What do mean cut into 3s? Are you speaking about the strips of the SMD LEDs that you linked to? If so, you just need to make sure you have the resistor and LED groups that are wired in series together. Then just solder on wires to the leads for that section. The strips are just a flexible PCB with the resistors and LEDs already soldered on them. You have to cut it in specific areas to keep the circuitry working properly. ---
**Author:** ![rugsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rugsr/32/7474_2.png) [@rugsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rugsr)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 11:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/7 "2010-12-17T11:24:37Z")
ah ok, thats pretty cool i should be able to hook this up to a 15amp fuse in the car right…like an accessory fuse or something ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 11:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/8 "2010-12-17T11:27:53Z")
Oh easily; it should draw maybe 1/4 amp. ---
**Author:** ![rugsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rugsr/32/7474_2.png) [@rugsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rugsr)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 11:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/9 "2010-12-17T11:31:21Z")
check out these 2 links 2nd link is brighter…more expensive too In one of the pics in the 2nd link you can see how every 3 SMDs are grouped together [http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/60cm-24-Car-Truck-SMD-LED-Light-Strip-flexible-White-\_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2308f01657QQitemZ150473807447QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories](http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/60cm-24-Car-Truck-SMD-LED-Light-Strip-flexible-White-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2308f01657QQitemZ150473807447QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories) [http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/White-24-0603-SMD-Flexible-30-pcs-LED-Strip-Lights-L67-\_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1c12749e77QQitemZ120568716919QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories](http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/White-24-0603-SMD-Flexible-30-pcs-LED-Strip-Lights-L67-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1c12749e77QQitemZ120568716919QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories) ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 11:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/10 "2010-12-17T11:35:44Z")
Both are the same product; just photographed differently. ---
**Author:** ![rugsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rugsr/32/7474_2.png) [@rugsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rugsr)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 11:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/11 "2010-12-21T11:41:00Z")
I will be picking up some SMD strips. I read that they can be cut into lengths every 3 LEDs. Im guessing i will need an adapter to hook up to them. Ive looked but cant find any for sale. Anyone know if they can be purchased? ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 11:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/12 "2010-12-21T11:54:47Z")
why would u need an adapter? You’ll need to solder wires onto the pcb you’re going to be cutting. You’ll need some solder flux for that. Where are you located? If you’re in buffalo area, let me know when you get the strips and I’ll help ya cut them and get wires onto them. I’ve got everything that’s needed. ---
**Author:** ![ZOMGVTEK](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zomgvtek/32/5063_2.png) [@ZOMGVTEK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ZOMGVTEK)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/13 "2010-12-21T17:27:30Z")
I didn’t mean ALL SMD LED’s are terrible, just those in particular. They are 0603 SMD LED’s. And based off the price and pictures, I assume they’re the BIN’s they cant use elsewhere. I have thousands of sample SMT LED’s laying around. The 0602s were about as dim as they get. Also, This image scares me… ![http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/3/6/9/8/0/3/webimg/388617228_tp.jpg](http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/3/6/9/8/0/3/webimg/388617228_tp.jpg) If the LED’s are that poorly binned in both luminosity and color, I would greatly question reliability. I assume the application isn’t very critical, however? The fact that they are running them in strings of 3 is also questionable… It is most likely due to them wanting to be able to use the terrible BIN LED’s that have high Vf’s, without worry of them lighting with a 12V drive. PLCC-2 SMT LED’s can be quite bright, and being a SMD, they generally have no optics for wide angles. But a 0602 has a TINY die size… I would definitely pick standard T5’s over that… ---
**Author:** ![rugsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rugsr/32/7474_2.png) [@rugsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rugsr)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/14 "2010-12-21T22:18:36Z")
97formula thx I’ll let you know. I’m located in Amherst So what about 5050 smds? Are these the brightest? [http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=150537472847&index=1&nav=SEARCH&nid=41637195274](http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=150537472847&index=1&nav=SEARCH&nid=41637195274) ---
**Author:** ![ZOMGVTEK](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zomgvtek/32/5063_2.png) [@ZOMGVTEK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ZOMGVTEK)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-led-smd-is-brighter/207305/15 "2010-12-21T22:38:37Z")
5050’s are HUGE for SMD’s… They claim to be 3 chip as well, which would mean they’re quite bright…