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...
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 is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.
- ESP32
- ESP32 is a family of microcontroller modules with built-in wireless features such as Bluetooth and WiFi. Knowing this product uses an ESP32-based module helps explain how it provides wireless serial communication and firmware update features.
- 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 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.
- PCB
- A printed circuit board is a rigid board with copper tracks that connect electronic parts without loose wires. For this kit, the PCBs also form the airplane shape, so they are both the circuit base and part of the finished model.
- SAMD21
- The SAMD21 is a Microchip microcontroller used in many Arduino-compatible boards. It matters here because USB host library support can depend on the exact microcontroller on your mainboard.
- SAMD51
- A family of 32-bit microcontroller chips used to run the main program on a board. In this kit it handles the display-driving work, so it matters for performance when showing animations and graphics on an LED matrix.
- 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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