Source for high quality (robust) RGBW SMD LEDs?

[Cameron]

Hi all, new to the forum, let me know if this isn't the right place for this question.

I'm working on a PCB with a range of addressable LEDs in specific locations for an outdoor decoration. I intend to drive it with an ESP32 and WLED. There will be about 140 LEDs per part, so I will be getting the boards assembled by JLCPCB. The boards will be 12V, kept outdoors for extended periods in the summer, and accessing them will be a pain so reliability is a key priority for the part selection. The LEDs should be RGBW with a warm white, probably in a 5050 package.

Right now I'm looking at using external WS2814 ICs as the driver for the individual LEDs, mainly due to the dual data line, RGBW, WLED operability, 12V and availability on the JLCPCB parts library. I'm also thinking having the IC and the LEDs separate rather than integrated may help slightly for heat management.

My challenge now is finding decent RGBW capable LEDs. The options I'm finding on digikey are more than $1 each, which is way too much. I'm finding more reasonable options on the JLCPCB parts library, but as all the datasheets are in chinese and I don't know the companies I'm not sure which options are likely to be more robust. It's also a massive pain searching on the JLCPCB parts library.

Does anyone know any good sources for LEDs for outdoor applications which can be used with JLCPCB assembly? Names of companies with a good reputation?

I'm also open to using an integrated LED and driver chip such as SK6812, but I haven't been able to find any on the JLCPCB parts library in 12V and warm white RGBW. Anyone with some suggestions there?

Thanks!

[BennoG]

The quality of the leds does not matter much as long as you don't overdrive them.

your biggest problem will be moisture. (rain fog ...)
At 12VDC this will cause a lot of problems with oxidation. So potting or other kind of water resistant measurements should be taken.
My experience is you will fail at the last part in about 90% of the times. (unless you mount them indoors)

Benno

[Cameron]

Thanks! I'm still a bit lost in all the manufacturers, hard to tell regarding other factors like how broad the white channel spectrum is (for light quality etc) with these chinese datasheets.

Waterproofing I'm less worried about as that's handled by my friend who's been doing decorations in coastal environments for the last 10 years or so, he'll have the headache of tropicalising it all, but ideally I can make his life as easy as possible.

[themadhippy]

hard to tell regarding other factors like how broad the white channel spectrum is (for light quality etc)

If the rgbw does that matter as you can chuck a bit of extra red or blue in with the white