400 Chips/m COB LED Strip: A Buyer’s Guide to Specifications, Applications, and Selection
A 400 chips/m COB LED strip is a flexible linear light source with 400 LED chips arranged along each meter of strip and integrated into a continuous phosphor-coated light-emitting surface. Its dense layout helps create a smooth line of light, especially when the strip is visible through a shallow or clear diffuser. The right choice still depends on more than chip density: buyers should confirm voltage, power, brightness, color quality, cut interval, strip width, thermal conditions, and dimming compatibility. In this guide, we explain how to assess those details and prepare a useful supplier inquiry.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide is for lighting distributors, contractors, OEM buyers, and project specifiers comparing COB linear lighting for indoor applications. It is especially relevant when a project calls for a continuous-looking light line rather than clearly separated points of light. Buyers should use the information as a selection framework, then verify all final values against the exact product datasheet and project requirements. At ENTA Lighting, we work with B2B customers to discuss product requirements and identify suitable options for their applications.
What 400 Chips/m Means
Chip density and the COB light surface
COB stands for chip-on-board: multiple LED chips are mounted closely on a flexible circuit board and covered by a phosphor layer. In a 400 chips/m model, the stated density is 400 chips for every meter of strip. If the chips are evenly distributed, this corresponds to a nominal spacing of about 2.5 mm between chip positions, although the finished light appearance also depends on phosphor coverage, optics, and installation conditions.
Compared with a strip where individual LED packages are visibly spaced apart, a COB strip is designed to produce a more continuous-looking luminous surface. This can be useful in profiles with a shallow cover or in installations where the light source is close to the viewer. It does not guarantee a perfectly uniform result in every fixture: diffuser material, channel depth, viewing angle, and surface finish can all affect what people see.
Types and Specification Options to Compare
Electrical and light-output details
Chip density does not tell you the strip’s total electrical load or brightness. Request the rated input voltage, power per meter, luminous output per meter, and any relevant measurement conditions for the exact model. Confirm whether the product is constant-voltage or uses another driver arrangement, and match the power supply to the manufacturer’s requirements and the planned installation length.
Color temperature, color rendering, and color consistency matter just as much as density. For a retail display, hospitality interior, or other color-sensitive space, specify the required color appearance and ask for the available color-rendering data and binning information. If the project needs dimming, check that the strip, controller, and power supply use compatible dimming methods.
Board, protection, and installation format
Compare strip width, copper-board design, adhesive backing, and the product’s stated operating and storage conditions. These details affect whether the strip fits the selected aluminum profile and how the installer can mount it. Silicone or other protective coatings may be available for some product configurations, but do not assume a coating makes a strip suitable for a wet location; verify the rated protection level and installation instructions.
Cut intervals and connection methods vary by model. Ask for the cut-mark spacing, recommended connectors or soldering method, and maximum run guidance from the datasheet. A 400 chips/m density does not determine any of these values, so avoid designing around an assumed cut length or assuming every reel can be connected in the same way.
Match the Strip to the Application
Where a continuous-looking line can help
400 chips/m COB strips may suit cove lighting, cabinet details, shelves, display cases, reception areas, and architectural accents where a smooth line is important. They can also be considered for linear fixtures when the strip and optical system are designed to work together. For task lighting, assess delivered light at the work surface rather than relying only on the strip’s appearance or chip count.
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For a project with a visible strip, compare the light line at the actual viewing distance and through the intended diffuser. For a concealed cove, evaluate how the strip illuminates the ceiling or wall, including possible brightness variation along the run. A sample installed in a representative profile can help stakeholders review color, glare, and visual continuity before a larger order.
A Practical Selection Framework
Step 1: Define the lighting objective
Start with the purpose of the light: ambient illumination, accent lighting, shelf visibility, or a fixture component. Record the required color temperature, color quality, approximate brightness target, and whether dimming is needed. This gives suppliers a project brief that is more useful than requesting “400 chips/m” alone.
Step 2: Check physical and electrical fit
Measure the profile’s internal width and available depth, then compare them with the strip dimensions and recommended thermal setup. Calculate the total strip length and connected load using the product’s rated power per meter. For example, if a design uses a 5 m run, multiply the confirmed watts-per-meter figure by 5 to estimate the nominal strip load, then follow the supplier’s instructions for power-supply sizing and feed placement.
Step 3: Confirm control, cutting, and operating conditions
Check the supply voltage, dimming system, connector plan, and cut interval before approving the bill of materials. Review the manufacturer’s guidance for maximum run length, voltage drop, heat management, and ambient conditions. If the installation includes long runs, enclosed profiles, or multiple branches, share a wiring diagram or layout with the supplier for review rather than extrapolating from a short sample.
Step 4: Request a representative sample and documentation
Ask for a sample of the intended configuration, its current datasheet, and any available photometric or electrical documentation relevant to the project. Test the sample in the intended profile with the proposed driver and controls. Record approved specifications in the purchase documents so that evaluation samples and production orders are compared on the same basis.
Pricing, MOQ, and Lead-Time Considerations
Price depends on the exact electrical and optical specification, board and coating options, order quantity, packaging, and customization requirements. Minimum order quantities and lead times are supplier- and configuration-dependent, so buyers should request them with the quotation rather than assume a standard value. For project planning, ask whether the quoted schedule covers samples, production, inspection, and shipment, and clarify how changes to the specification may affect cost or timing.
For a comparable quotation, provide the target quantity, required voltage, power and brightness targets, color temperature, color-rendering needs, strip width, cut interval, dimming method, protection requirements, and destination. If any item is undecided, identify it as an open requirement instead of treating an assumed value as confirmed. This reduces the risk of comparing offers for products that look similar by chip density but differ in practical performance or installation fit.
Supplier Evaluation Checklist
- Can the supplier provide a datasheet for the exact 400 chips/m configuration being quoted?
- Are voltage, watts per meter, light output, color data, dimensions, and cut interval clearly stated?
- Can the supplier explain compatibility with the planned driver, dimmer, connector, and profile?
- Are sample availability, MOQ, quotation validity, lead time, packaging, and shipping terms clear?
- Can changes to the specification be documented and confirmed before production?
At ENTA Lighting, we encourage buyers to share the project conditions and required specification before choosing a COB strip. As a manufacturer, supplier, and exporter focused on indoor lighting, we can discuss product matching, configuration questions, and quotation requirements with B2B customers. Product availability, customization, and commercial terms should be confirmed for each inquiry rather than assumed from the chip-density description.
Key Takeaways
- 400 chips/m describes LED chip density; it does not specify brightness, power, color quality, or cut interval.
- A nominal 2.5 mm chip-position spacing follows from an even distribution of 400 chips over 1 m, but optical performance depends on the complete installation.
- Confirm electrical, optical, physical, and control requirements against the exact model datasheet.
- Use a representative sample and a complete project brief to compare suppliers and reduce specification gaps.
Conclusion: How to Choose the Right 400 Chips/m COB LED Strip
A 400 chips/m COB LED strip is a suitable candidate when a project needs a dense, continuous-looking indoor light line, but chip density alone is not enough to approve a product. Define the visual and electrical requirements, check fit and thermal conditions, verify controls and cut details, and evaluate a sample in the intended fixture. Then request a quotation that states the exact configuration, MOQ, lead time, and supporting documentation. Contact ENTA Lighting with your application, target quantity, and specification priorities to discuss suitable options for your project.