Adafruit
Adafruit CharliePlex LED Matrix Bonnet - 8x16 Yellow LEDs
The Adafruit CharliePlex LED Matrix Bonnet features a 16×8 grid of yellow LEDs driven by the IS31FL3731 charlieplex driver over I2C. Simply plug it onto any ...
The Adafruit CharliePlex LED Matrix Bonnet features a 16×8 grid of yellow LEDs driven by the IS31FL3731 charlieplex driver over I2C. Simply plug it onto any Raspberry Pi with a 2×20 header for a bright, programmable 128-LED display — no soldering required.
Each of the 128 LEDs supports individual 8-bit (256-level) PWM dimming, letting you create smooth animations and lighting effects with minimal code. The IS31FL3731 also includes RAM for 8 separate animation frames that can be switched with a single command.
Key Features
- 16×8 Yellow LED Matrix – 128 individually controllable charlieplexed LEDs
- IS31FL3731 Driver – I2C charlieplex controller with 8-bit PWM per LED
- 8 Animation Frames – Built-in frame buffer for storing and flipping between animation states
- I2C Interface – Uses only SDA/SCL, sharable with other I2C devices
- 3.3V Operation – Powered directly from the Raspberry Pi header
- Fully Assembled – Plug-and-play, no soldering required
Also Available
- CharliePlex LED Matrix Bonnet – Blue
- CharliePlex LED Matrix Bonnet – Cool White
- CharliePlex LED Matrix Bonnet – Green
- CharliePlex LED Matrix Bonnet – Warm White
Compatibility
- Raspberry Pi 1 Model B+, Pi 2, Pi 3, Pi 4, Pi 5, and Pi Zero
Ideal For
- Scrolling text displays and status indicators
- LED animations and light art projects
- Compact visual feedback on headless Pi setups
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit CharliePlex LED Matrix Bonnet (8×16 Yellow LEDs)
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- frame buffer
- A frame buffer is memory that stores a complete image before it is shown on a display. Displays without their own frame buffer need the controller to continuously send pixel data, which affects the choice of microcontroller and software library.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.
- PWM
- Pulse Width Modulation is a way for a digital pin to simulate variable output power by switching on and off very quickly. It matters for controlling things like LED brightness, motor speed, or servo-style signals from a microcontroller pin.
- RAM
- RAM is temporary memory used while a device is running, and its contents are lost when power is removed. A “Run in RAM” mode is useful for testing settings without permanently programming the module, but it may not support every feature.
- SDA/SCL
- SDA and SCL are the two signal lines used by an I2C bus: data and clock. Seeing these names helps you identify the correct connections when wiring I2C devices, even though Qwiic cables usually hide that wiring for you.
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