With the evolution of electronic technology, PCB creates a solid basis for various electronic goods. A great example is the creation of the LED PCB assembly. The LED is affixed to the circuit board and has a chip that generates the light when electrically connected.
It is difficult for an LED PCB board to cool using standard techniques since it produces significant heat. So, metal core PCBs are typically selected for LED application as their improved capacity to bear the heat. This article will see different aspects of LED PCBs and their application.
What is an LED PCB?
LED is an abbreviation for light-emitting diode, which is semiconductor diodes. The LED is attached to the printed circuit board and has a chip that generates the light when electrically linked.
Mainly aluminum is widely utilized to manufacture LED light circuit board assembly. The aluminum PCB often incorporates a thin layer of thermally conductive dielectric material that can transport and disperse the heat considerably more efficiently than a regular rigid PCB.
In general, the aluminum PCB comprises a thin layer of thermally conductive dielectric material that can transport and disperse the heat with considerably more efficiency than a standard rigid PCB.
Application of LED PCB
When it comes to LED applications, SMD packaging is now the most common. For the most part, the amount of light output by a single LED component is restricted. Consequently, a single light needs numerous LED components to provide bright light.
The best way to connect LED components electrically is through PCB, as with other semiconductor devices. A LED PCB assembly is a printed circuit board (PCB) that has LED components connected to it.
Benefits of using LED PCBs
There are two primary reasons for the LED PCB’s popularity, apart from the fact that it boosts the fixture’s light output by connecting numerous LEDs.
By merging LED components with varying color temperatures onto the same PCB, it is possible to fine-tune the color function.
With boards of varied forms, sizes, and materials, it is possible to build numerous light fixtures to fulfill various lighting needs.
Other LED PCB benefits include the following:
- Low-profile, lightweight
- Sturdiness in the dimension
- Expansion due to heat
- Dispersion of heat
- Backlit membrane switch at a lower price
- Resistant to dust and water
- To simplify integration into complicated interface assemblies, it should:
- Low power consumption and high efficiency
- Additionally, you may utilize LED light circuit board assembly in both silver-based and copper-based membrane switches.
LED Lighting is a Growing Business
There has been an increase in LED lighting or light-emitting diode; thus, it’s common to extend the lifespan and lessen the environmental effect. LED lighting has the following advantages over conventional lighting sources:
- LED lights to use less electricity than standard lights, which may be six to seven times more efficient. So, it may reduce your home’s energy use by as much as 80%.
- LED lights have a 25-times longer lifespan than conventional light bulbs, which may last up to 25,000 hours, or three years of continuous usage.
- Incandescent lights emit heat at a rate of 90 percent or more of the energy they use. LED lights may reduce this by as much as 20%.
- You can use LED lights in a wide variety of applications due to their small size. (laptops, cellphones, automobiles, and traffic lights)
- LED lights are mercury-free, unlike other lighting alternatives. As a result, LEDs are better for the environment and needless specific disposal processes than incandescent bulbs.
- In the case of non-LED lighting, reflectors must be used to guide light in a specific direction, and a portion of the light never exits. On the other hand, LEDs emit light in a particular order, making it easy to direct it to the desired location and ensuring that all light from the fixture is released.
- LED lights are mercury-free, unlike traditional forms of illumination, which contain mercury. They are safer, more ecologically friendly, and more convenient to dispose of because of this feature.
In short, LED illumination and led light circuit board assembly to have a wide range of applications because of their various advantages.
In What Situations is LED PCB Used?
PCB LED lights are in use in many lighting applications due to their high energy efficiency, cheaper cost, and a high degree of design freedom. LEDs have a significant capacity to dissipate heat. As a result, the use of aluminum-based LED PCBs enhances their functionality.
- Automotive Industry
Aluminum PCB LEDs are also employed in automotive applications, including indicators, brake lights, and headlights. Aluminum PCBs are perfect for use in the automobile sector because of their durability and low cost.
- Computer Programming
More and more computer programs use LED displays and indicators, becoming more popular. Since computer equipment runs hot, metal PCB LEDs are a good choice. Anodized aluminum printed circuit boards, apart from LEDs, are also employed in computer components such as power supplies and CPU boards because of their heat dispersal and transmission capabilities.
- Medical Tools
Because of the durability and heat transfer capabilities of aluminum PCB LEDs, medical lighting tools used in surgeries and examinations are frequently equipped with high-powered LED lights. This ensures that medical equipment functions appropriately no matter how many patients pass through a medical office. Medical scanning equipment, like lighting tools, often uses aluminum printed circuit boards (PCBs).
SMD LEDs for PCB Design
Surface-mounted components are used in several devices, including LEDs. Through-hole pieces that use thin wires run the risk of seeming flimsy from the outside if they flex significantly. If you solder the SMD LED correctly, it will be firmly attached to the circuit board.
In addition, the SMD LED may be hidden behind a screen, while LEDs that employ a bulb are less expensive but will protrude from the package. As a result, your packaging’s SMD LED may be hidden behind a thin screen, making it more attractive for your item.
- Vias
LEDs are often mounted on printed circuit boards that use the multilayer FR-4 substrate. This means that a pattern of closely spaced plated through vias is required beneath each LED to transmit heat.
Vias may be used if your LEDs have a tiny footprint and are surface-mounted. This means that solder may drip into the vias and generate weak solder joints, which is why it’s best to use SMD LEDs on an LED lighting array.
- Single LED
Using a single LED that produces a reasonable amount of power will not cause your board to overheat. When it comes to lighting applications, you’ll have to deal with a lot of heat on the board that supports your LEDs, which will make it difficult to cool using typical ways.
- Metal Core Boards for LED
Using a heatsink is impossible since the LEDs are so tiny, and a heatsink would obstruct the emitted light anyhow. LED lighting uses metal-core boards because of their high heat dissipation capacity, making them ideal for this application.
For LED lighting applications, aluminum is generally employed as the metal core in PCBs. It’s also worth noting that aluminum is by far the most common core material among the various metal core PCBs. In addition to copper and iron, metal core PCBs are in use for manufacturing.
Four Easy Steps to Solder an LED into a Circuit Board
You need to solder an LED into a circuit board for the LED PCB assembly. Now we will see the process of soldering an LED light here. For this purpose, you need to have following things:
- Board of Relay
- 8mm RGB LED Lamp Cathode Common.
- Insert the LED leads into holes on the circuit board, turn it over, and bend the leads outward at a 45-degree angle.
Process
Step 1: Flip the circuit board over and bend the leads outward at a 45-degree angle.
As you turn on your soldering iron, place the tip of your iron on top of a copper pad and an LED lead.
Step 2: Allow 3-4 seconds of holding the soldering iron on the pad and lead before moving on.
Step 3: Continue holding your soldering iron on the copper pad and LED lead. Bring your solder over and make contact with the junction using your solder.
Make sure you don’t contact the tip of your soldering iron directly to the solder. Removing your soldering iron at this point will let the solder cool on its own. Once the LEDs are connected, cut the excess wires.
Conclusion
LEDs are friendly to the environment since they require less energy than other bulbs, resulting in fewer emissions during power generation. So, it is the recommended option for cost-effective lighting by using LED light circuit board assembly for your business.
To construct LED lights and sophisticated LED PCBs, you’ll need a company with the experience and world-class equipment to get the job done correctly. So, selecting the right and reputable service provider is a must for manufacturing-LED PCB assembly.