I always thought the 3W size LED beads had the middle section (under the actual LED) soldered to the heatsink. But I’ve just removed some and they’ve got heatsink compound under them.
Can you do either method, or only heatsink compound to minimise heat to the LED?
This is the type of LED I’m talking about.
Both methods should be fine.
They used thermal compound probably because they soldered the LED with soldering iron (middle thermal pad can’t be soldered). With reflow soldering the middle pad can be soldered.
Thanks for confirming.
Now to try and do it…
The first three done - on a GU10 LED bulb for a house light fitting- and they work fine.
Be gone hideous low CRI 6500K light. Original LED’s in the LHS, “Natural white” 90 CRI replaced in the RHS.
Nice work, this reminds me it’s time for me to swap some Sunlikes into my downlight!
Thanks. I ended up changing the LED’s over in eight GU10 bulbs, each has three LED beads. (The beads are only 1 Watt each too, not 3W.)
The bulbs would be over 13yrs old, and out of about 15 only 3 have died in that time. They’re only Banggood cheapies too. Changing the LED’s made more sense than buying new bulbs.
That’s some really impressive longevity, especially for being cheap non-brand lights. Good job swapping the emitters!
