Adafruit
Adafruit IS31FL3741 13x9 PWM RGB LED Matrix Driver
The Adafruit IS31FL3741 RGB LED Matrix features 117 individually addressable RGB LEDs arranged in a 13×9 grid with 3 mm pitch spacing. Each 2×2 mm LED is dri...
The Adafruit IS31FL3741 RGB LED Matrix features 117 individually addressable RGB LEDs arranged in a 13×9 grid with 3 mm pitch spacing. Each 2×2 mm LED is driven by the ISSI IS31FL3741 controller chip over I2C, providing 8-bit PWM per colour channel for full 24-bit colour across the entire display.
Unlike NeoPixel or DotStar LEDs, this matrix uses a single controller chip for all LEDs, with an adjustable global current driver for brightness control without losing colour resolution. The board supports 3.3V to 5V power and logic (5V recommended for best green and blue LED performance), and up to four boards can share one I2C bus for tiled displays.
Key Features
- 117 RGB LEDs (13×9 Grid) – 2×2 mm LEDs with 3 mm pitch spacing
- IS31FL3741 Controller – I2C-driven with 8-bit PWM per channel (24-bit colour)
- Adjustable Global Current – Brighten or dim the entire display without losing colour resolution
- STEMMA QT / Qwiic Connectors – Solderless I2C connection with daisy-chain support
- 3.3V & 5V Compatible – Works with a wide range of microcontrollers (5V recommended)
- Tileable Design – Place boards side-by-side; address jumpers support up to 4 on one I2C bus
- Four Mounting Holes – Easy to secure in enclosures and projects
Ideal For
- Compact RGB LED displays and status indicators
- Simple animations and colour patterns
- Wearable and portable LED projects
- I2C-based projects where simple wiring is preferred over HUB75
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit IS31FL3741 13×9 RGB LED Matrix (assembled)
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- Address jumpers
- Address jumpers are small solder pads or links used to change a device’s bus address. They matter when you want to connect multiple identical displays to the same controller without their addresses conflicting.
- HUB75
- HUB75 is a common connector and signalling standard used by many RGB LED matrix panels. If a controller supports HUB75, it can plug into compatible matrix panels without custom wiring, but you still need to match the panel size and power requirements.
- 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.
- NeoPixel
- A type of addressable LED system where colour data is sent along a single digital data line from one LED or controller to the next. Compatibility matters because the timing and signal format must match for the lights or driver board to respond correctly.
- 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.
- Qwiic
- Qwiic is a plug-in connector system for I2C devices that uses small 4-pin cables, so you can connect compatible sensors without soldering. It matters because your controller or adapter also needs Qwiic, or you will need a cable or breakout to wire it up.
- RGB
- Short for red, green and blue, usually referring to an LED that can mix those three colours. It matters because controlling an RGB LED teaches how separate outputs combine to create different colours.
- STEMMA QT
- A small plug-in connector system for I2C boards that lets you connect compatible sensors and controllers without soldering. It matters because it can make wiring faster and less error-prone, especially when adding several small modules to a project.
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Related Tutorials
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