LEDs are subject to heat generation and may suffer from early failure and thermal damage if operated without an appropriate thermal management solution. A suitable cooling solution (usually in the form of a heatsink, fanned heatsink, or cold plate) must be utilized to ensure the junction temperature of an LED is maintained within an acceptable range. Operating LEDs at high junction temperatures can reduce the performance and reliability of the device and the system. This guideline is provided as a resource for the selection of appropriate cooling solutions and the proper method of mounting an LED onto a heatsink.
Disclaimer: Please do not operate Violumas LEDs without a proper cooling solution. Operating the LED without a heatsink may result in immediate failure and Violumas will not be responsible for replacement. Violumas cannot be held responsible for any damages caused by following these guidelines as this document provides generic guidelines for heatsink mounting and does not intend to replace standard engineering practices
A proper cooling solution must be selected by carefully considering the overall wattage, thermal density, and
size of the LED or LED array. The LED datasheet should be referred to for information regarding the thermal
resistance of the LED and absolute maximum ratings for junction temperature. The absolute maximum
ratings for junction temperature should never be exceeded, and keeping the LED junction temperature as
low as possible will result in increased reliability and performance.
Violumas provides heatsink products for testing purposes which are suitable for each of the standard LED
product lines. For the integration of LEDs and LED arrays into specified systems and enclosures, Violumas
provides thermal modeling and design services in order to maintain proper junction temperatures within a
specific system.
Please refer to the Violumas Thermal Products Catalog for more information regarding heatsinks and
thermal services.
For testing purposes, Violumas provides thermal kits for its standard product lines VC1X1 COB Series
and VC2X2 COB Series. The thermal kit includes: heatsink (1), thermal pad (1), and screws (2) which are
suitable for the specified LED product. The following instructions can be utilized for assembly of LEDs to
heatsinks with appropriate thermal pad material.
1) Inspect the contact surfaces.
2) Apply thermal pad as TIM (thermal interface material).
3) Tighten down the LED onto the heatsink surface via screws.
While thermal pads can be easier to install, for high power LED products, such as larger LED arrays with
electrical wattages surpassing 10 W, Violumas recommends the use of thermal grease or paste as an enhanced thermal conduction material.
*There are many thermal grease product options available. The use of a ceramic-based thermal grease
is recommended (as opposed to metal-based thermal grease) due to the lower electrical conductivity.
Violumas recommends a minimum thermal conductivity value of 2W/mK. Please contact the Violumas team
for specific recommendations on appropriate thermal grease materials.
1) Inspect the contact surfaces.
2) Apply thermal grease as TIM (thermal interface material).
3) Tighten down the LED onto the heatsink surface via screws.
Violumas proudly offers a wide variety of standard products as well as customized solutions that are tailored to meet your specifications.
