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Adafruit NeoPixel Shield for Arduino - 40 RGB LED Pixel Matrix
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Put on your sunglasses before plugging in this shield — 40 eye-blistering RGB LEDs adorn the NeoPixel Shield for a blast of configurable colour. Arranged in ...
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Put on your sunglasses before plugging in this shield — 40 eye-blistering RGB LEDs adorn the NeoPixel Shield for a blast of configurable colour. Arranged in a 5×8 matrix, each pixel is individually addressable using just one pin (Digital #6 by default, changeable by cutting a trace).
This is the RGB version of the NeoPixel Shield. For projects that also need a dedicated white channel, check out the RGBW versions: Warm White (~3000K), Natural White (~4500K), and Cool White (~6000K).
Key Features
- 40 RGB LEDs – 5×8 individually addressable matrix with full 24-bit colour
- Arduino Shield Form Factor – Plugs directly onto Arduino Uno, Mega, Leonardo, and compatible boards
- Flexible Power Options – Powered from Arduino 5 V by default, or via included terminal block for external 4–6 V DC supply with polarity protection
- Chainable – Connect DOUT of one shield to DIN of the next for larger displays
- Headers Included – Both stacking headers and plain headers provided for your preferred configuration
Power Options
- Default: Powered from the Arduino's onboard 5 V supply — suitable for moderate brightness use
- External: Solder the included terminal block (best placed on the underside) to connect a 4–6 V DC supply, which also powers the Arduino
- Isolated: Cut the solder jumper next to the terminal block to power the shield externally while keeping the Arduino on USB/DC power only
Tip: When chaining five or more shields, you may run low on RAM on the Arduino Uno (3 bytes per RGB pixel, 120 bytes per shield). Consider a Mega or other board with more memory for larger installations.
Ideal For
- Arduino-based LED displays and signage
- Scrolling text and pixel art
- Prototyping addressable LED effects
- Interactive art and notification displays
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit NeoPixel Shield – 40 RGB LED Pixel Matrix
- 1× Terminal block for external power
- 1× Set of stacking headers
- 1× Set of plain headers
Note: The terminal block included with your product may be blue or black.
Resources
- NeoPixel Uberguide – Comprehensive guide covering wiring, libraries, and example code
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- DIN
- DIN means data in, the pin where this display receives data from the controller. Connecting DIN to the correct SPI data output pin is needed for the screen to receive pixel and command information.
- Headers
- Rows of metal pins used to plug a module into a breadboard or connect it with jumper wires. Pre-soldered headers make the module easier to use straight away without needing to solder the pins yourself.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Shield
- An add-on board that plugs into a main controller board to give it extra features such as sensing, motor control or communication. Knowing a product supports shields helps you judge whether it can connect neatly into an existing maker-board setup.
- solder jumper
- A solder jumper is a small pair or group of pads on a circuit board that can be bridged or cut with solder to change a hardware setting. It matters because changing modes may require careful soldering rather than just changing software.
- Terminal block
- A connector used to join wires together in a neat, removable, or serviceable way. For this product, it helps split one power input into several outputs without soldering.
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