The article will talk about SMD 2835 LEDs, how they differ from others and what advantages they have, as well as their areas of application.
Application
SMD LEDs in form factor 2835 are widely used in LED strips, light bulbs and lamps due to their miniature size and efficiency. SMD 2835 LEDs are used in both lighting and decorative lighting. This is an excellent replacement for “glowing” signs on neon tubes and halogen spotlights for illuminating architectural structures. Strips based on such LEDs serve as a bright and reliable solution for outdoor use and in landscape design.
The LED can be used both as a strip and in discrete form or mounted in a complex on printed circuit boards, and is also combined with a power source enclosed in a sealed housing, which allows the use of such structures even under water, to illuminate ponds or aquariums.
Characteristics
The main characteristics of SMD 2835 are shown in the photo below in table form. It shows that the index 2835 means dimensions of 2.8 mm by 3.5 mm.
The power in comparison with “competitors” is significantly higher, which is also evident from the characteristics table.
The emission angle of LED SMD 2835 is good - 120 degrees, it provides good light dispersion, because in the extreme zone the brightness level reaches 50% or more.
Only high-quality LEDs from well-known manufacturers Philips, Osram and the like can ensure compliance with the specified parameters. Chinese products are often completely far from the declared power, luminous flux, and color characteristics!
The produced SMD 2835 LEDs have different powers: 0.2, 0.5, 1 W. It is worth noting that the higher the power, the more heat it emits. Without cooling, this will lead to overheating of the LED crystal and its rapid degradation (decrease in brightness) or complete failure.
There is also the factor that the rated current is the operating current at temperatures of the order of 30 o C; as the temperature rises, the current must decrease, otherwise an avalanche-like process of increasing current and temperature is inevitable, which will ultimately lead to failure of the light-emitting diode.
To avoid such incidents, it is necessary to provide the LED with effective heat removal by introducing a cooling system -.
It is recommended to use an aluminum radiator with an area of 20-40 square meters per 1 W of LED power. cm. When making calculations, you should take into account the ambient temperature; the higher the operating temperature, the larger the radiator area. Gentle operating mode - below the rated current, will also extend the life of the SMD 2835 LED.
The color rendering coefficient of LED SMD 2835 must be at least 75%. This value is responsible for the correct perception of colors by a person, illuminated objects, by a given LED.
Differences and comparison of LED SMD 3528, 2835, 5050
The 2835 LED was released later than the 3528 and 5050, so it has better technical characteristics and is capable of more accordingly.
The difference between LED 2835 and 3528 is the size of the crystal, it is larger, as is its luminous flux, rated power and luminous efficiency Lm/watt. The new LEDs have larger contact pads, which provides better heat dissipation. High-quality products use body materials with greater thermal conductivity. The height of the 2835 case has been reduced. All this made it possible to improve heat removal from the LED crystal, and accordingly increase the service life.
Light-emitting diodes of the SMD type give off heat primarily through the contact pads.
The SMD 2835 LED has almost the entire emitting surface covered with a layer of phosphor, while the SMD 3528 has only a circular area in the center, this made it possible to significantly increase the light emission area.
The difference between LED 2835 and 5050. An SMD type LED is 3 SMD 3528 crystals in one housing, on the bottom of which there are 6 pins. Therefore, it is larger in size, and its crystals can be included in the circuit separately. This factor makes it possible to obtain RGB LEDs or an elementary brightness control circuit by removing one branch of crystals from operation, without losing the uniformity of the product’s glow. With the same power, the 2835 has a higher luminous flux. Otherwise, the differences are the same as from 3528.
To better understand how light-emitting diodes differ from each other, look at the photo, and everything will immediately become clear. The photo shows the characteristics in comparison.
To consolidate the information received and better understand, we recommend watching a video, the author of which conducts a comparative assessment of the LEDs discussed above.
Varieties
As you know, producing white LEDs is a difficult technology. One of the options is to use a blue crystal, followed by coating it with a phosphor, which actually gives the required shade of white. Depending on your needs, you can buy light-emitting diodes with a warm, neutral or cold glow. Different color temperatures provide choice and allow you to achieve the desired result.
There are SMD 2835 colored LEDs on sale: red, blue, green and others.
Flaws
They have no shortcomings as such. The only thing is that you won’t find multi-color LED SMD 2835 RGB on sale, only single-color ones.
Results
SMD 2835 LEDs are characterized by their small dimensions, good heat dissipation and high luminous flux. Thanks to the enlarged luminous surface, a wider angle of light emission is obtained. Today, SMD 2835 are the most advanced in almost all respects, and have replaced the classic 5050 and 3528. When choosing, you should first of all pay attention to this type.
LEDs of the SMD series measuring 2.8 mm by 3.5 mm are characterized by the same luminous efficiency as models with similar external properties, for example, 5730. At the same time, they are more compact and less energy-consuming, which means they are more efficient for assembling LED lamps for various purposes.
Let's consider what design features, appearance, characteristics LEDs 2835 smd led have, as well as their parameters, scope of application, features and main differences from the analogue with dimensions 3528.
The 2835 SMD diode is made from polymer materials. Outwardly it resembles 3528, but differs significantly from it in characteristics. The main feature of its design is the polymer base. It can withstand temperatures of more than two hundred degrees. In this case, the role of a heat sink is performed by the cathode-anode system. From the decoding of the abbreviation name (smd) it follows that such a solid-state light source is intended for surface installation.
Other design parameters of 2835 LED luminaires include:
- The body is made of thermoplastic material, and the lens is made of a light-transmitting epoxy base.
- An extensive panel to remove the heat generated during the glow.
- Connecting LEDs is only permissible through resistors or feed drivers that act as a stabilizer.
- When connecting contacts, polarity must be taken into account. The cathode conductor has a small cut and a shorter length.
- The light-emitting crystal is made from nitrogen, galium and indium.
Advice! When connecting 2835 smd led at the same time, you must use a serial circuit. In this case, all LEDs must have the same parameters. The power supply must have sufficient power and voltage, slightly greater than its total value for all ice lamps.
Specifications
LED 2835 LEDs have the following set of technical characteristics:
Varieties of 2835 smd led are determined by different combinations of the following characteristics:
- Voltage drop – from 3.1 V to 9.8 V.
- The luminous flux power is from 20 to 145 per diode.
- Current parameters are from 60 to 300 mA.
Here is another table of technical characteristics of 2835 smd led
The higher the power of the LED element, the higher its temperature. Likewise, the higher the operating heating parameters, the lower the rated current should be. As a result of overheating, the LED crystal is destroyed, which ultimately leads to a decrease in its brightness.
To eliminate the negative consequences in this case, it is necessary to select an effective radiator. So, for every watt of power there should be from 20 to 40 square centimeters of aluminum alloy cooler.
Scope of application
SMD 2835 light elements are used as a light source both in single LED lamps and in LED strips. Minimum dimensions, reliability, long service life and high light density allow them to be used as decorative lighting. This includes advertising signs, lighting of architectural objects and decorative elements in the room, decoration in auto tuning and landscape design, and display of underwater objects in artificial reservoirs, aquariums, swimming pools (when enclosed in a sealed housing).
Features of LED strips based on LED 2835
LED strip based on SDM diodes measuring 2.8 by 3.5 mm is characterized by a number of advantages:
- LEDs of the smd 2835 type are similar in appearance to the 3528 analogue, but at the same time they have better parameters. They have a flatter shape. Height is only 0.8 mm. This makes it possible to expand the scope of their application.
- Less heating of LED elements due to better pressing of them to the base.
- A high-quality two-layer board 1 centimeter wide ensures high electrical conductivity of the tape and heat dissipation.
- Good performance characteristics.
- LEDs of various colors are common on sale - red, blue, green, etc.
- Based on the glow temperature, LED elements can be warm, cold or neutral.
Among the disadvantages of tapes based on 2835 smd led, the following features stand out:
- Installation is only permissible on a base that dissipates heat well.
- Connection and switching on is possible only through a circuit that contains a power supply.
- Crystals can only glow with one given light, there are no multi-color 2835 ones.
According to the density of the LED elements, the strips differ in two popular types - 60 and 120 units per meter. The minimum line segment is 5 cm. It contains only three LEDs of the 2835 smd modification. An LED strip with 120 elements can actually be used as a full-fledged alternative to chandeliers, shades and other household lamps. In this case, the light will be bright enough and without annoying effects - flickering and unevenness.
Recommendation! Not all manufacturers supply quality products to the market. To reduce costs, they often resort to such tricks as, for example, inserting a 3528 chip into the base of the strips. In addition, low-quality LED lamps based on 2835 SMD can be identified by such parameters as - low price, very thin contact wires, width boards that do not reach the standard value (1 cm), and most often equal to about 0.7-0.8 cm. The value of the luminous flux does not exceed a record low of 7-9 lm, instead of the standard 50 lm.
How to distinguish LEDs of type SMD 2835 from 3528
2835 smd led was developed and put into production much later than the 3528 series. Thanks to this, it has better technical and operational parameters. For example, the 2835 has a larger die size. This significantly increases the luminous flux, power, and luminous efficiency. In addition, the new diode stands on a wider heat-dissipating base, which means it heats up less and does not lose its original qualities after a long service life.
Lighting is an important condition for human work and comfort. For a long time, incandescent lamps were used as light sources, then fluorescent lamps; for powerful spotlights and lanterns, halogen lamps, DRL and HPS were used.
In the 21st century, there has been a change in generations of lighting devices, and more than half of the market is occupied by LED lamps; they are often called LED lamps or lamps in a foreign manner. Depending on the design and power, they are either COB LED arrays or assemblies.
Types of LEDs
The first LED lamps and lamps were built on the basis. They were not characterized by high energy efficiency, price and reliability, but this was the first step in the development of a new light source. For a long time, such LEDs were used as indicators for household and industrial equipment and as emitters for wearable flashlights.
Later they were replaced by LEDs made in leadless packages, the so-called SMD (surface mounted device, Russian devices for surface mounting).
If 5 mm LEDs were mounted into the board through holes, then SMDs are soldered directly onto the surface of the board, which speeds up their assembly and reduces the cost of the lamp. Instead of legs, they have metal contact pads, from 2 or more pieces, depending on the number of colors and crystals in one case.
In general, there are three types of LEDs:
1. Outputs (3, 5, 10 mm - flask diameter and others).
2. SMD (we will look at their variety in this article).
3. COB LEDs are matrices of crystals located on a board under a single layer of phosphor. Stands for Chip-On-Board, Russian. chips on the board. Their appearance is in the picture above.
SMD LEDs are used in spotlights, LED strips, tabletop LED lamps and other lighting devices.
Characteristics of SMD LEDs
Initially, the most popular LED models were 3528 and 5050; now they are found mainly; they are practically not used in lamps, giving preference to 5630 LEDs and other modern models.
SMD LEDs in their markings contain their overall dimensions - length and width, while in the original LEDs in each type of housing, regardless of whether it is 3528 or 5730, its own type of LED crystal with special characteristics is installed.
Unfortunately, Chinese manufacturers, under the guise of modern 5730s, do not hesitate to sell 3528 crystals in a new case. I will not indicate the supply voltage in the review, because... for all white LEDs it usually lies in the range of 2.8 - 3.4V.
SMD3528 technical specifications
3528 LEDs are something like a standard 5mm LED, but in an SMD package. Have characteristics:
current - 20 mA;
power - 0.06 W;
luminous flux - 5-7 lm;
dimensions - 3.5x2.8x1.4 mm;
temperature up to 80 °C;
There is a cut on the front part of the case - on this side is the cathode (minus).
In LED strips they are installed in quantities of 30, 60, 120 pcs/m, used mainly for illumination, less often for lighting, because quite weak. A tape of 120 pcs/m out of 3528 consumes 9.6 W/m.
SMD5050 technical specifications
The 5050 LED contains in its body three of the same crystals as in the 3528, which means it is three times more powerful.
The design is very interesting: on its “belly” you will see 6 pins, these are anodes and cathodes, one pair from each crystal.
current - 3x0.02 A = 0.06 A total current with parallel connection of crystals;
power - 3x0.06 W total up to 0.02 W;
luminous flux - up to 20 lm
cathodes on the cut side at the corner of the housing.
30 and 60 diodes per meter are usually installed on the tape. A strip with 60 LEDs of type 5050 consumes 14.4 W/m and can be successfully used for lighting. Often found in RGB and RGBW versions.
SMD 5630 technical specifications
LEDs 5630 are more modern and technologically advanced; they are used in spotlights, lamps, and are installed on LED strips. There are 4 pins on the body.
You can see the pinout in the figure above, the cathode from the side of the cut corner.
Characteristics:
Current - 0.15-0.2 A;
Power - 0.5 W;
Maximum crystal temperature - 130 °C;
Luminous flux 40 lm.
Dimensions 5.6x3x0.75 mm
60 pcs/m are most often supplied in tapes, as well as metal rulers with the number of diodes 72 pcs, power supply 12V. This tape consumes up to 18 W/m and can be used for basic room lighting or decorative lighting, for example. They come in RGB versions.
SMD 5730 - technical specifications
Very similar to the previous ones, they are available in versions 5730-05 and 5730-1, at 0.5 and 1 W, respectively. They have a slightly higher luminous flux. Unlike the 5630, the 5730 has two pins, and their length is slightly longer.
Characteristics:
current - 0.15/0.3 A;
power - 0.5/1 W;
luminous flux - 55/110 Lm;
Dimensions including the length of the leads - 5.7x3x0.75 mm.
You may have noticed that this and the previous LED, in addition to the connection pins, have a metal pad on the bottom; it is needed for heat removal. This design solution made it possible to successfully use high-power chips. By the way, this will also help determine the pinout of the LED; the heat sink on them is shifted towards the ANODE.
SMD 2835 - technical specifications
This is not a typo, the 2835 marking is often confused with 3528, but these are completely different generations of LEDs. LED 2835 is more modern and brighter. The first difference that catches your eye is that the area covered with phosphor in the 3528 is round, while in the 2835 it is closer to a rectangle. The luminous flux of the first is up to 40 Lm/W, while the 2835 is more than 110 Lm/W, which is 2-3 times brighter, with the same power consumption.
The increase in power made it necessary to improve heat dissipation, so the 2835 case was made thinner and the contact pads were larger. The industry produces 0.2, 0.5 and 1W. However, do not forget that the greater the power, the more heat is generated and with such small sizes this is very important.
Characteristics:
Current - 0.06 A;
Power - 0.2 W;
Luminous flux - 25 Lm;
Operating temperature - 65 °C;
Dimensions - 2.8x3.5x0.95 mm.
They are also mounted on LED strips in quantities of 30, 60, 120 pieces per meter. For example, a strip with an LED density of 60 pcs/m consumes a power of 4.8 W/m; due to its characteristics, it is much more efficient in terms of energy saving and lighting than 3528, and can be used as a light source and decorative lighting.
Summary table of characteristics of SMD 3014, 7020, 3020
I decided to consider LEDs that are less common all together in a summary table.
3014 LEDs are very compact, better suited for decorative lighting, their appearance is shown below.
Personally, I am skeptical about classic flexible strips with 7020s due to the high power of LEDs, but such 60 pcs/m are available for sale.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, the quality of most LED products leaves much to be desired. Manufacturers either neglect diode switching circuits or power supplies, or even purchase low-grade counterfeits for their devices. That's why I didn't specify such a parameter as . It greatly depends on the quality of the phosphor.
Moreover, there is information on the Internet that they have learned to deceive the system for determining the CRI color rendering index; the phosphor consists of components that form a luminous flux with peaks in the spectrum at the required wavelengths to successfully pass the test.
It turns out that with a high index, the real difference in colors by the eye suffers. It is pointless to indicate the service life; for LEDs it is usually from 30 to 50 thousand hours, but it strongly depends on the power source (or rather, the quality of the power supply), thermal conditions and operating conditions in general.
I also did not indicate the glow angle, since on all SMD LEDs it lies in the range of 105-135°, and the most common is 120°.
As a result, the conclusion suggests itself that such a popular product as an LED is actually difficult to find of proper quality. If you want to get decent light, it is better to pay attention to products from trusted manufacturers, such as OSRAM, Philips, CREE.
Alexey Bartosh
Super-bright LEDs, which appeared relatively recently, have already become common light sources. They are built into lamps and strips, sold separately and assembled into modules. The most popular today are smd 2835 diodes. Possessing good characteristics and relatively low cost, they are widely used in lighting equipment for a wide variety of purposes. In this article we will talk about these semiconductor devices, find out what they are and how they differ from other types of LEDs.
Design and appearance
Externally, the LED looks like a ceramic rectangle measuring 2.8 mm x 3.5 mm (hence the digital marking). On one side of this rectangle there is an LED crystal filled with a protective compound, on the other there are contacts for surface mounting (hence the smd - surface mounted device). These contacts serve to power the crystal and at the same time act as a radiator that removes heat from the semiconductor.
Appearance of smd 2835 LEDTo improve the spectral characteristics and slightly change the color temperature, a special phosphor is added to the compound. If you look closely, you can see a crystal with current-carrying wires through the protective coating.
The LED crystal is clearly visible through the compound Specifications
Today, smd 2835 LEDs are available in three versions:
- 0.2 W;
- 0.5 W;
- 1 W.
All of them are identical in appearance and differ only in the power of the crystal installed in the case. Separate from these three types of LEDs is a Chinese development with a power of 0.09 W. In fact, this is an ordinary fake that has a standard marking, but is equipped with a low-power crystal with a luminous flux of 8 lm.
Such an LED is inexpensive, but the worst thing is that it is very difficult to distinguish it externally from a normal branded LED - the crystal is not always visible through the compound, and it can be impossible to visually determine its dimensions. In the accompanying documentation for the devices, our Chinese friends can indicate anything they want. The only way to avoid falling for a fake is not to buy suspiciously cheap devices.
I summarized the remaining characteristics of the LEDs, including the Chinese version, in a table:
Main characteristics of smd led 2835
Expert opinion
Alexey Bartosh
Ask a question to an expertThe characteristics of Chinese LEDs may differ significantly from those indicated in the table, and, as a rule, for the worse. Everything will depend on the ingenuity of a particular manufacturer and the characteristics of the crystal that urgently needed to be sold under the guise of smd 2835.
Application
Due to their good light output, large dispersion angle, compactness and relatively low cost, SMD 2835 diodes are widely used in lighting technology. LED lamps for general and local lighting are assembled from them, they are built into LED strips, which, in turn, are used both for lighting and for decorative purposes.
You can find smd 2835 in pocket flashlights and tactical flashlights. Low-voltage lamps assembled on their basis are successfully used by motorists, installing them in headlights and headlights instead of incandescent light bulbs.
These devices are very popular among electronics engineers and designers, since smd 2835 can be purchased separately or assembled into modules of various shapes, sizes and power.
SMD diodes of this series can be purchased separately or built into ready-made lighting fixtures LED strip on led 2835
LED strips (SL) are widely used for both lighting and decorative purposes. Therefore, this product, assembled on SMD 2835 LEDs, is worth talking about separately, as the most popular and affordable.
The smd 2835 LED strip is usually assembled from a 0.2 W smd LED, since cooling more powerful strip devices with relatively thin conductive paths is very problematic. The number of SMD semiconductors per 1 m of SL can be different - 60 or 120. The supply voltage is 12, 24 or 220 V, and its value depends on the design and the presence of a power supply, and not on the number of LEDs per meter. For a product with an LED density of 60 pcs/m, the specific power and luminous efficiency will naturally be 2 times lower.
Important. LED strip based on SMD LEDs of this type has a relatively high power, and therefore it only needs to be mounted on a metal (usually aluminum) profile, which will serve as a radiator.
By design, the LED strip differs in:
- hermetic;
- dust and waterproof;
- weakly protected;
- without protection.
When choosing a device, be sure to consider the conditions in which it will have to work. Buy tape only with the appropriate degree of environmental protection.
Now for power and light output. Knowing the power of one LED, it is easy to calculate the specific power of the SL itself. For a product with 60 diodes per 1 m, the power density will be 0.2*60=15 W/m. For a 120-diode strip, respectively, 30 W/m.
Expert opinion
Alexey Bartosh
Specialist in repair and maintenance of electrical equipment and industrial electronics.
Ask a question to an expertThe actual power density of the LED strip is somewhat lower, since the manufacturer slightly underestimates the current through the semiconductors. This increases the reliability of the line without significantly deteriorating its other characteristics.
Naturally, these calculations are valid only for branded products made from real LEDs, and not from fakes. But the catch here is that 90% of tapes on the world market are made based on Chinese smd 2835! Moreover, sellers often position them as “premium”, misleading the buyer. How can you determine whether it is a real “premium” product or if they are trying to sell you a low-power fake?
How to find out the power of the LEDs used in the strip
First of all, the price. The cost of a low-power tape is several times different from the price of a real product. Next, power density. Anyone who is familiar with arithmetic can easily calculate which LEDs are installed in the strip. To do this, just look at the accompanying documentation and press the 4 buttons of the calculator.
To experiment, go to the Internet and look at the product. I went to a seemingly decent site and chose two bands: “premium” and “economy”. The first is exactly 6 times more expensive than the second:
- LED strip smd 2835 120 СW Premium.
- LED strip smd 2835 120 CW Economy.
smd 2835 120 CW Premium (left) and smd 2835 120 CW Economy Characteristics of the first:
- LEDs per 1 m – 120;
- specific power – 8.4 W/m;
- specific luminous flux – 635 lm/m;
- supply voltage - 12 V.
Characteristics of the second:
- LEDs per 1 m – 120;
- specific power – 9.6 W/m;
- specific luminous flux – 360 lm/m;
- supply voltage - 12 V.
Let's see what kind of premium this is. We calculate the power of 1 LED: 8.4/120=0.07 W. Luminous flux of one LED: 635/120=5.3 lm. We have arrived... This “premium” is assembled using Chinese LEDs with a power of 0.09 W and a luminous flux of 8 lm. Moreover, in order for this miracle to work longer, the designers provided the diodes with a light mode. They greatly reduced the power consumption of current-limiting resistors, which caused a decrease in luminous flux by one and a half times.
What then did they insert into the economy feed? We count. LED power: 9.6/120= 0.08 W. We will not calculate the luminous flux: it is obvious that it is 2 times lower than that of the previous model. What kind of crystal did the resourceful developers plug into the smd 2835 LED housing? Only the manufacturer himself knows about this. One can only assume that the craftsmen built a crystal from smd 3528, or even something worse, into the smd 2835 case. Or maybe, for the sake of attractiveness, they simply overestimated the power density, but forgot to recalculate the luminous flux, who knows.
Expert opinion
Alexey Bartosh
Specialist in repair and maintenance of electrical equipment and industrial electronics.
Ask a question to an expertDespite the low light characteristics, inexpensive strips are quite suitable for decorative lighting. The only thing is that the likelihood that the product will work out its intended service life is much lower than that of a branded one.
As I said above, low-quality fakes are often accompanied by documentation in which the characteristics can be significantly overestimated. Therefore, the calculation method based on the stated characteristics may not work. Here all that remains is to focus only on cost and visual brightness.
There is another option: measure the resistance of the current-limiting resistor, calculate the current through it, and use the current to judge the power of the LEDs included in its circuit (usually there are 3, less often 5). But this method requires special knowledge, and therefore I will not consider it here.
How to distinguish SMD 2835 from 3528
There is another type of LED that is often confused with 2835 - this is smd 3528. Not only are the numbers misleading, but both models have the same dimensions. Nevertheless, these are completely different devices, and the 3528 LEDs have much more modest characteristics:
- Power – 0.06 W.
- Luminous flux - 6 lm.
- The radiation angle is 100 degrees.
Thus, if you confuse these devices, then you will end up with, for example, a strip or lamp with a specific power of 3.6 W/m instead of the expected 14.4 and with a luminous flux of 360 lm/m instead of 1200.
How to distinguish one type of LED from another? This is not difficult to do, since the design features of each of them are visible even to the naked eye:
Appearance of smd 3528 and smd 2835 LEDs Firstly, the crystal in the smd 2835 is covered with a compound over the entire area of the case, while in the 3528 model the coating occupies only a small round area. By the way, it is precisely because of such a small spot that the dispersion angle of the latter is narrowed to 100 degrees.
Many people confuse the SMD 2835 LED strip with another type of SMD 3528, believing that these are almost equivalent products.
In fact, this is far from the case. These are two completely different LEDs.
Differences and characteristics
This model appeared not so long ago and for many it has even supplanted another popular type of SMD 5050. And this is not without reason. 
Their characteristics are not only similar, but in some aspects they are superior to the 5050 tape. At the same time, the price is a quarter less.
This is due to the smaller size of the LEDs. It's one thing to make a large 3-crystal LED. 
And it’s completely different - a small crystal. In the second case, you will need significantly less material.
The name SMD 2835 stands for Surface Mounted Device. The numbers indicate the size of the LEDs. Width – 2.8mm, length – 3.5mm. 
The cut in the corner indicates the location of the cathode. 
On the one hand, it seems strange, 3528 tapes have the same dimensions as 2835, why do they have completely different characteristics?
This is explained by the fact that completely different chips or crystals are used in production here. Although the LED is the same size, there is a different design inside it, with a much larger light source. 
A high-quality LED SMD 2835 has a luminous flux of 20-22 lumens (at a current of 60mA). This is the same lumen output as the 5050. 
Power consumption for 1 meter is 14.4 W. This corresponds to SMD5050 models with 60 diodes per meter. 
However, do not forget that this applies to premium quality models.
The standard options are no different from cheap SMD 3528 and their power is only 4.8 W/m with a luminous flux of up to 360 Lm/m.
The color rendering index of premium 2835 tapes reaches 94%, which is more than in 5050 diodes. There the figure is no more than 80%.
The color rendering index is a characteristic that shows how much real colors are distorted by a particular light source. That is, how much green light is really green, how red is red, etc.
For example, if you stand under a DRL mercury lamp at night, which shines with yellow light, you will be quite surprised at how the colors of your clothes visually change.
RGB models
For those looking to purchase the 2835 multicolor strip, keep in mind that it implements RGB as follows:
- the first LED is red
- the second is green
- third – blue
Then in the next module everything is repeated. That is, there is no full-function support when one LED lights up in different colors.
This can only be realized in three crystal SMD5050. So if you bought the RGB option and thought that all the backlight would glow solid red, then green, etc. - this is wrong. 
You will definitely have large dark stripes from unused elements - a bright area, a dim area, etc. 
But with the help of such an RGB strip you can easily implement the “traveling wave” effect with any controller. In many other types, for this you need to purchase either special models or another controller with this function.
Varieties
The most common versions of this tape are 60 and 120 diodes per meter.
The first one has 3 LEDs in one module. Module length 5cm. 
The minimum length into which the tape can be cut is equal to the length of the module, i.e. 5cm.
What is the main external difference between 2835 and the more common version 3528 and how not to confuse them with each other?
In 2835, almost the entire LED is filled with phosphor. That is, the entire rectangle is covered in yellow and its surface is used to emit light to the maximum.
Model 3528 has a round emitting part on the LED. It does not completely occupy the entire surface. Accordingly, the luminous flux here is less. 
Another advantage of this type is better heat transfer from the surface of the diode. This was achieved by increasing the area of the contact pads. 
Theoretically, due to this, it heats up less, and accordingly its service life should be longer.
However, much of course depends on the operating conditions. Manufacturers claim a warranty of 3 years or more.
The SMD 2835 tape must be glued to the aluminum profile, since the power of 14.4 W/m can significantly overheat it. 
The model has 120 diodes per 1 meter, the supply voltage can be either 12V or 24 Volts.
The power of one meter is 23W. In terms of its light characteristics, it is slightly inferior to SMD 5050/120 led.
But its width remains the same 10mm, versus 20mm for the 5050. The luminous flux is 2400 lumens per meter. 
The use of a profile is mandatory - since the backlight here gets very hot.
In fact, products with 120 diodes can be used not just for illumination, but for complete illumination of the room. It can easily replace conventional incandescent and fluorescent lamps.
You will feel the difference immediately. The light will be uniform, bright, without annoying flicker.
A tape of 120 diodes is cut in the same way as 60, that is, 5 cm each. However, there will already be 6 LEDs within 5 cm.
When purchasing and choosing this model, always pay attention to the class of the product. Because all the above and actual characteristics directly depend on its quality. 
If this is a premium class, then indeed SMD-2835 is a direct competitor to SMD 5050. But if you buy a standard or economy tape, then its luminous flux and power will be no more than that of a regular SMD 3528. 
