Adafruit
Adafruit NeoPXL8 Friend - 8 x Strands NeoPixel Level Shifter
Drive up to 8 strands of NeoPixels simultaneously with DMA — no more blocking your code to push pixel data. The NeoPXL8 Friend is a standalone level-shifting...
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Drive up to 8 strands of NeoPixels simultaneously with DMA — no more blocking your code to push pixel data. The NeoPXL8 Friend is a standalone level-shifting breakout board that converts 3.3 V logic to 5 V for 8 independent NeoPixel outputs, with a breadboard-friendly form factor that works with any SAMD21 (M0) or SAMD51 (M4) board.
Unlike the FeatherWing versions (Feather M0 and Feather M4), the Friend is board-agnostic — it works with Arduino Zero, Metro M0 Express, ItsyBitsy M0/M4, and other compatible boards. You can even use it with ESP32, Teensy, or STM32 for the level-shifting capabilities alone.
Key Features
- 8-Channel Level Shifter – Converts 3.3 V logic to clean 5 V NeoPixel signals
- Switch-Cap Converter – Generates a clean 5 V supply for the level shifters (~10 mA draw)
- 100 Ω Series Resistors – Reduces signal ringing on long wiring runs
- Breadboard Friendly – Plugs into a breadboard or perfboard for easy prototyping
- DMA Support – Works with the NeoPXL8 library for non-blocking pixel output on SAMD21/SAMD51 boards
- Up to 2,000 Pixels – 250 per strand on M0 (theoretical max 340); significantly more on M4
Connection Options
Comes as a kit — solder in the connectors you prefer:
- 2×8 Header – Ground and 5 V-logic signal pairs for each strand
- 2× RJ-45 Jacks – Ethernet-style connectors with ground and signal per twisted pair (OctoWS2811-compatible pinout)
Recommended Pin Configuration
- Arduino Zero / Metro M0 Express: Pins 0–7 (best supported)
- Feather M4: Pins 2–7, 10, and 11
- ItsyBitsy M0/M4: See library examples for pin configurations
Power
NeoPixel power is not routed through the Friend — the PCB copper would be too limiting for the currents involved. Provide 5 V power directly to your NeoPixel strips using terminal blocks or bus bars connected to a dedicated 5 V supply. The Friend itself draws only ~10 mA from a 3–5 V source for the level-shifting circuitry.
Ideal For
- Large-scale NeoPixel installations with non-Feather boards
- Breadboard prototyping of multi-strand LED projects
- Level shifting 8 NeoPixel data lines from 3.3 V to 5 V
- Art exhibits, stage lighting, and DJ installations
- Multi-strand costume and wearable projects
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit NeoPXL8 Friend PCB (connectors not soldered — kit assembly required)
Resources
- NeoPXL8 Arduino Library – Library and example code on GitHub
- NeoPixel Uberguide – General NeoPixel wiring and usage guide
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- ESP32
- ESP32 is a family of low-cost microcontroller chips and modules from Espressif with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. They support programmable firmware and over-the-air updates, and are commonly programmed with toolchains such as the Arduino core and ESP-IDF.
- FeatherWing
- A FeatherWing is an add-on board made to plug into the Feather microcontroller board layout. Knowing a product is a FeatherWing helps you check whether it will physically and electrically fit your Feather-style mainboard.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode (LED) is a small electronic component that emits light when current flows through it in the correct direction. Because it only conducts one way, its polarity matters, and a through-hole LED must be soldered the correct way around to light up.
- 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.
- PCB
- A printed circuit board (PCB) is a board, usually rigid, with etched copper tracks that connect electronic components together without loose wiring. Components are mounted on the board and signals route between them through the copper layout.
- SAMD21
- The SAMD21 is a Microchip (formerly Atmel) 32-bit Arm Cortex-M0+ microcontroller used in many Arduino-compatible boards. The exact chip affects which libraries, clock speeds and peripheral features are available, so software needs to support the SAMD21 specifically.
- SAMD51
- A family of 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller chips from Microchip, often used to run the main program on a development board. When a board is built around a SAMD51 it generally offers more speed and memory than basic 8-bit microcontrollers, which helps with demanding tasks such as graphics, audio or fast data handling.
- STM32
- STM32 is a family of microcontroller chips commonly used in embedded electronics. Knowing a product uses an STM32 can help when looking at firmware updates, pin connections, or low-level serial control options.
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