Help with LED SMD comparison
 

So I just got 6000K HIDs on my WhiteOut FRS. They are awesome and I'm going to swap the lower yellow DRLs next month with a kit. My concern now is the highbeams/DRL lights that I did not change. I would like to swap in some LEDs to have more of a 6000k HID "look" during the day but even through searching online I am unable to find the real difference between 1210 SMD and 5050 SMD. If anyone already has experience with this please answer the following...

Which is brighter?
Which matches 6000k more closely?
Will 1220 SMD be bright enough to see during the day?

Mainly, i've been eyeing the bulbs many people already have from ijdmtoy but I like shopping around. Also, if 5050 SMD are brighter from another site then it's something I may want to consider. :sigh:

http://www.ijdmtoy.com/ebay/LED_Fog/...s-5050-SMD.jpg

i don't know where the '1210' number comes from, as that number is usually the height and width of the led chip-- that's where the 5050 comes from-- 5.0mm x 5.0mm....

1210 is a valid led size, but is way too small to be useful in the type of lighting you're interested in.. the correct term for that led size would be 3528 or plcc2...


generally speaking, 5050 chips have 3 chips within them, so they are brighter, but because the led is larger to accommodate all 3 chips, that means there's more spacing between each physical led. the 3528's would allow smaller spacing between led's, which will provide a more even output.

overall, i've used both in a few different custom projects, and i'd say it's a wash.. the 5050 looses some ground because of the larger physical size, and the 3528 gains some ground because of the smaller size...

personally, i prefer designing things around the 3528's because each chip only has a pair of contact pads to design for instead of 3 pairs..

Sir, you are the LED guru of this forum. :thanks:

3528 makes way more sense. So I guess it is safe to say, anytime I see 1210 SMD they actually mean 3528. So in the case of the DRL/highbeam bulbs I am looking for, 5050 would look a lot better than 3528/1210. What does the number of pieces in the unit have to do with brightness? For example, In your opinion which would be brighter...

24 pieces 5050 OR 68 pieces 3528/1210?

Do you have any of these set up on your ride? I'd like to see pictures if you do.

The 1210 vs. 5050 is a reference to the "packaging" of the LEDs.

The actual color of the LED depends more on the binning tolerances used during the production of the LEDs vs. the type of packaging the actual LEDs are placed in.

Our Stage 3 DRL LEDs use CREE LEDs that will be considerably brighter than the 5050-SMD style LED DRLs we sell as a Stage 1. However, the color of our SMD 5050's (Stage 1) are much closer to a 6000K HID color than our Stage 3s.

Feel free to email us if you want to learn more about LEDs: contact@diodedynamics.com

Nick C.

3x the elements certainly does not equal 3x the brightness.

And 1210 LED package means 0.12 inches by 0.10 inches.

^thanks! i thought they always used the millimeter dimensions.. i didn't realize some mfg's went over to inch measurements..

i'd probably end up preferring the 3528, because it will allow a little smoother output.. but that said:

no, i don't do plug-n-play led's on my cars.. this was my last project car:
http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/show...lipse-led-swap

and the brz shall undertake a similar fate under the soldering iron. ;)

Our G's and PT-Max LED DRLs are rated at 6000k HID-like color output, which goes along with your 6000k LEDs and HIDs. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Visit our online store for photos and product information. Both models are much brighter than SMD LEDs and will outlast SMD LEDs :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Jesus. The difference between information and sales is astounding (in reference to the vendors who posted in this thread).

I know who I would buy from.

but what about those of us that despise 6000k?

We have 5000k LEDs as well for FR-S DRLs and BRZ Foglights too :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Do you mind sharing who? I'm still learning about lighting and want to go with the best.

I'm not sure what 'K' the factory BRZ headlights are, but here are my fog light LED's from HID Powerhouse and they match. I'm sure Ken can tell you what these fog replacements are. I know the FR-S is set up different as far as lighting goes, but he can probably tell you what 'K's' are what and get you matched up.
Attachment 70128

The one who is sharing information, not trying to sell product.

OEM HID color temperature is 4300K.