Where do you guys buy Citizen COBs these days?

ThuperDuper

Active Member
In the past I've always purchased through CobKits, but they're out of stock of the CLU048-1818's I need. They told me back in January they'd have more stock in about 4 weeks, but I emailed them again this past Tuesday for an update and never heard anything back. So I'm assuming the situation isn't good, lol.

Where else do you guys buy Citizen COBs? Alibaba seems kind of sketch depending on which vendor you deal with, and shipping, I imagine kind of sucks. Digikey offers some Citizen COBs too, but they seem to be marked up pretty high.

I finished building an LED light over a month ago...but I can't find any COBs to buy to put into it! XD

Ty!
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
In the past I've always purchased through CobKits, but they're out of stock of the CLU048-1818's I need. They told me back in January they'd have more stock in about 4 weeks, but I emailed them again this past Tuesday for an update and never heard anything back. So I'm assuming the situation isn't good, lol.

Where else do you guys buy Citizen COBs? Alibaba seems kind of sketch depending on which vendor you deal with, and shipping, I imagine kind of sucks. Digikey offers some Citizen COBs too, but they seem to be marked up pretty high.

I finished building an LED light over a month ago...but I can't find any COBs to buy to put into it! XD

Ty!
Jerry from Kingbrite will have legitimate chips.
 

gwheels

Well-Known Member
Kingbrite...those prices are amazing. I am checking shipping now because it would be nice to give people an option like hey dont buy that mars 300 get this 300 samsung light for about the same price (maybe less).
 

ThuperDuper

Active Member
Internet search engine? ;)
LOL, I use DuckDuckGo and it didn't find the cdiweb link you posted. Thank you!!

They are out of the CLU048-1818 3000K 90CRI that I am looking for, but they at least have the 3500k! Hmm...

Kingbrite...those prices are amazing. I am checking shipping now because it would be nice to give people an option like hey dont buy that mars 300 get this 300 samsung light for about the same price (maybe less).
In addition to shipping cost, I would be curious how long it takes to get to the US too.

Doesn't Timber sell them from their website?
It's entirely possible that I'm simply dense and just don't see them, but I don't see an option to buy individual COBs-- they only seem to be available as complete kits.
 

TEKNIK

Well-Known Member
Luminus are just as good as citizens cobs, the guys from luminus are nicer to deal with too. Better to save some money and buy those.
 

CobKits

Well-Known Member
In the past I've always purchased through CobKits, but they're out of stock of the CLU048-1818's I need. They told me back in January they'd have more stock in about 4 weeks, but I emailed them again this past Tuesday for an update and never heard anything back. So I'm assuming the situation isn't good, lol.

Ty!
sorry i didnt get back to you. citizen seems to be in a bit of disarray since the LM80 scandal last year, ordering and stock is not as smooth as it was. where the gen3 luminus were better than 1818s at low currents and equivalent at higher currents, the gen4s whoop the 1818s handily across the board, and are cheaper, i have a small stock of 1818 coming in sometime, but am moving away from them in general

i have the gen 4s in stock in 3000, 3500, and 4000k 80. should be up on site this weekend the 90 cri are taking a bit longer

heres gen 4 vs gen 3 in the 24" sphere


im setting up to do a full test but i need to round up the current offerings from vero and cree to do so. i also have samples of the high current citi chips but they arent really cost effective imo

at their price point i expect the gen4 cxm22 to be the best cob going for our application
 
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ThuperDuper

Active Member
Luminus are just as good as citizens cobs, the guys from luminus are nicer to deal with too. Better to save some money and buy those.
I'll definitely start looking into the Luminus COBs then. I was looking for the 1818s because I built another light and had great success with them. But it sounds like I need to pay more attention to the latest offerings. Thank you very much for your suggestion!

sorry i didnt get back to you. citizen seems to be in a bit of disarray since the LM80 scandal last year, ordering and stock is not as smooth as it was. where the gen3 luminus were better than 1818s at low currents and equivalent at higher currents, the gen4s whoop the 1818s handily across the board, and are cheaper, i have a small stock of 1818 coming in sometime, but am moving away from them in general

i have the gen 4s in stock in 3000, 3500, and 4000k 80. should be up on site this weekend the 90 cri are taking a bit longer

at their price point i expect the gen4 cxm22 to be the best cob going for our application
No problem! I'm happy to hear from you here. I will start reading about the CXM22s and likely buy those from you over the 1818s. I wasn't able to find 1818s I was looking for today anyway, which in hindsight was probably serendipitous.

Thank you!
 

CobKits

Well-Known Member
I'll definitely start looking into the Luminus COBs then. I was looking for the 1818s because I built another light and had great success with them. But it sounds like I need to pay more attention to the latest offerings. Thank you very much for your suggestion!
if the 1818s worked for you you have already mastered all the intricacies of LED. a luminus rig side by side would do the same exact thing for you with a few more bucks in your pocket and a slightly reduced power bill every month
 
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