Hi everyone! In this video, I’m showcasing these unique 38mm, 3V multicolor rigid COB (Chip-on-Board) LED filaments that I recently purchased from AliExpress for an upcoming build.
Unlike flexible silicone LED strips, these tiny filaments are entirely rigid and packed with dozens of tightly grouped, miniature LEDs. They offer incredible brightness with very low power consumption, but they can be delicate! I’ll show you how to identify the polarity (+/-), how to safely power them using a current-limiting resistor, and what happens when we test their limits. Stay tuned until the end to see what happens when we combine the colors!
What do you think I should build with these? A retro neon-style sign, a custom lamp, or a sci-fi prop? Let me know your ideas in the comments below!
* 0:00 - Introduction to 38mm Rigid COB LED Filaments * 0:13 - Unboxing & Physical Overview (Rigid vs. Flexible) * 0:23 - Microscopic Look & Polarity Identification (+/-) * 0:35 - Safety Warning: Why you need a resistor * 0:45 - Powering and Testing the Colors (3V to 5V Over-voltage test) * 1:03 - Combining Colors to Create White Light * 1:20 - Project Ideas & Outro
Hi everyone, today I'm showcasing these 38mm 3V multicolor rigid chip-on-board LED filaments,
which I recently purchased from AliExpress for an upcoming project. Packaged in these
compact little boxes, these filaments are entirely rigid rather than flexible. However,
they offer fantastic brightness with very low power consumption, perfect for elevating the
look of your next build. Under a microscope, you can see that one of the metal end has a hole in
Unlike standard LEDs, where the long leg is positive, these filaments mark the positive
side with a small hole or notch, while the negative side has no marking. Even though
they are rated for 3V, powering them directly from a bench supply, AA batteries, or a micro
controller can draw too much current, causing them to overheat and burn out fast. To be safe,
always use a current-limiting resistor. At 3V, they are extremely bright. When I tested
one to destruction at 5V, it was painfully bright to look at. They are packed with dozens of tiny
LEDs closely grouped together, which makes them rigid and fairly delicate, not like the flexible
silicon ones. I grabbed a few different colors, and they all look amazing. They give off this
warm glow that somehow grabs more attention than the item they are actually lighting up.
Just for fun, I combined a green, pink, and blue ones together, and as you can see,
the mix produced almost white light. So, any thoughts on what should I make with these?
A retro sign? A lamp? Or a sci-fi project?
