Adafruit
Adafruit Small 1.2 8x8 LED Matrix w/I2C Backpack - Red
The Adafruit Small 1.2" 8×8 LED Matrix w/I2C Backpack in red combines a bright 8×8 LED matrix with a dedicated HT16K33 driver backpack, letting you add a com...
The Adafruit Small 1.2" 8×8 LED Matrix w/I2C Backpack in red combines a bright 8×8 LED matrix with a dedicated HT16K33 driver backpack, letting you add a compact display to any microcontroller project with just two I2C data lines.
Instead of wiring 16 pins to multiplex 64 LEDs, the backpack handles all the multiplexing, constant-current drive, and 1/16-step dimming over I2C. Three address-selection jumpers let you connect up to eight backpacks on a single I2C bus for larger display arrays.
Key Features
- HT16K33 I2C Driver – Built-in multiplexing and constant-current drive for bright, consistent colour
- 1/16-Step Dimming – Fine-grained brightness control via I2C commands
- I2C Interface – Only two data lines (SDA/SCL) needed, freeing up GPIO pins
- Address Jumpers – Three jumpers allow up to 8 units on a single I2C bus
- 1.2" Red LED Matrix – 8×8 grid of ultra-bright red LEDs
- Simple Assembly – Solder the matrix onto the backpack in about 5 minutes
Also Consider
- Small 1.2" 8×8 LED Matrix w/I2C Backpack – Blue
- Small 1.2" 8×8 LED Matrix w/I2C Backpack – Green
- Small 1.2" 8×8 LED Matrix w/I2C Backpack – Pure Green
- 1.2" 8×8 LED Matrix Backpack – Backpack driver board only (BYO matrix)
Package Contents
- 1× Assembled and tested 1.2" LED backpack (HT16K33)
- 1× Ultra-bright 1.2" 8×8 red LED matrix
- 1× 4-pin header
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.
- GPIO
- General-purpose input/output pins are microcontroller pins you can set in software to read signals, switch devices on and off, or connect to peripherals. The number of GPIO pins matters because it limits how many buttons, LEDs, sensors, and other parts you can wire directly to the board.
- 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.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.
- 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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Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
