What Is SCOB LED Strip? Silicon COB Explained (2026 Guide)
- 2026-09-21 11:03
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- Arraystar LED
SCOB (Silicon/Surface Chip On Board) is a fully silicone-encapsulated COB LED strip: the chips are covered in a milky, high-transmittance silicone body, often in an arc-shaped hollow profile, for a completely dot-free, diffusion-free line light. It is the default choice for channel letters, sign faces and sealed outdoor runs where even light and long life matter.
What Does “SCOB” Mean?
SCOB stands for Silicon (or Surface) Chip On Board — a step beyond the better-known COB process. In a classic COB strip, LED dies are bonded directly to the PCB and covered with a thin layer of yellow phosphor. In SCOB, the same chips are additionally encapsulated in a high-transmittance silicone body, frequently extruded into an arc-shaped, hollow profile. The result looks and performs like a finished diffused light, not a bare strip.
On the street, SCOB is the technology behind the smooth, even glow of modern channel letters, sign faces and sealed linear signage — the kind where you cannot see individual LED points even up close, and where the light stays uniform for years outdoors.
How SCOB Is Made
The SCOB process adds a second encapsulation stage on top of COB chip-on-board mounting:
- Die bonding — LED chips are mounted directly onto the flexible PCB (the “Chip On Board” step).
- Phosphor + silicone encapsulation — the chips are sealed under a moulded or extruded layer of milky, UV-stable silicone that mixes the light before it leaves the housing.
- Arc-shaped hollow profile — many SCOB strips are extruded as a curved, hollow silicone body (often 7×10 mm or 8 mm), which flexes around corners and diffuses the beam in all directions.
- Sealed ends and leads — factory end caps and power leads bring the whole unit to IP65/IP67, ready for outdoor signs.
Because the light has to pass through a thick silicone body, SCOB uses higher LED density and better binning than a bare COB strip, so output stays even despite the diffusion.
SCOB vs Standard COB at a Glance
Standard COB strip versus SCOB
| Aspect | Standard COB Strip | SCOB (Silicon COB) |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Bare PCB; optional sleeve/channel | Fully encapsulated milky silicone body, often arc/hollow |
| Dot visibility | Very low, but visible behind a diffuser | None — diffusion is built in |
| Beam angle | ~120° top-emitting | 160–180°, curved/omnidirectional |
| IP rating | IP20 bare; IP65/67 with extra coating | IP65/IP67 as standard (sealed silicone) |
| Typical use | Coves, shelves (inside a profile) | Channel letters, sign faces, neon replacement, outdoor lines |
Where SCOB Wins
SCOB is the right choice when the lamp has to look finished on its own — no aluminum channel, no diffuser cover:
- Channel letters and sign cabinets — the arc/hollow housing clips into letter returns and lights the face evenly.
- Neon replacement — the curved silicone body mimics bent glass neon but runs on safe, breakproof LEDs.
- Outdoor sealed runs — the fully encapsulated body is the protection; there is nothing extra to seal.
- High-voltage signs — 220 V SCOB reels run 50–100 m straight from mains.
Where standard COB still wins: invisible cove lighting, where the strip hides inside a dedicated aluminum channel and you want maximum efficiency and the lowest surface temperature.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is SCOB better than COB?
Not “better” overall — it is a different product. SCOB has built-in diffusion and a sealed silicone body for signs and neon replacement; a bare COB strip is more efficient and cheaper when it sits inside an aluminum channel. Choose SCOB if the strip must be visible; choose COB if it is hidden.
Can SCOB LED strips be used outdoors?
Yes. SCOB is manufactured as a fully encapsulated silicone housing, typically IP65/IP67, which is why it is the standard for outdoor channel letters, sign faces and roofline lines. Always seal cut ends with matching end caps.
What is the difference between SCOB and neon flex?
They look similar, but SCOB is a chip-on-board line with built-in diffusion in a straight or gently curved silicone profile; neon flex is usually a circular tubular housing for bended letter shapes. For fully round, tight-radius neon effects choose neon flex; for flat sign-face backlighting choose arc-shaped SCOB.
What CRI and color temperatures does SCOB come in?
Standard SCOB covers 2700K, 3000K, 4000K and 6000K with CRI around Ra80; high-CRI versions and tunable white are available on request. Match the CCT to the brand or sign brand color.
Need a SCOB or COB quote for your sign or project?
Factory-direct SCOB and COB strip with matched drivers, connectors and IP-sealed ends. Free samples and a custom layout within 24 hours.
Email: info@arraystarled.com | Phone: +86-0755-2103-6746 | WhatsApp: 0086 1581 8514 077
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