Adafruit
Medium 16x32 RGB LED matrix panel
A 16×32 RGB LED matrix panel with 512 individually controllable LEDs at 6 mm pitch. Two IDC connectors on the back (input and output) allow panels to be dais...
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A 16×32 RGB LED matrix panel with 512 individually controllable LEDs at 6 mm pitch. Two IDC connectors on the back (input and output) allow panels to be daisy-chained for larger displays. Driven at a 1:8 scan rate using 12 digital pins and a 5V supply.
These panels are designed for high-speed processors and do not include built-in PWM. On an Arduino Uno, you can achieve 12-bit colour (4096 colours) at about 20% CPU usage. For larger or smoother displays, use a 32-bit microcontroller with the Protomatter library.
Specifications
- Resolution – 16×32 pixels (512 RGB LEDs)
- Pixel Pitch – 6 mm
- Scan Rate – 1:8
- Data Interface – 12 digital pins (6 data + 6 control) via IDC connector
- Power – 5V DC, up to 2 A per panel
- Chainable – Output IDC connector for daisy-chaining panels
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- DC
- DC means direct current, where electricity flows in one constant direction, as supplied by batteries, USB ports and many plug-pack power supplies. When a product specifies DC, it runs from a DC supply rather than mains AC, so you need to provide the correct voltage and polarity.
- IDC connector
- An IDC (insulation-displacement contact) connector clamps onto a flat ribbon cable to carry many signals at once in a neat, keyed bundle. When a product uses an IDC connector it can be joined to a matching ribbon cable without wiring each signal separately, and the keying helps prevent reversed connections.
- 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.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.
- 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.
- RGB
- Short for red, green and blue, the three primary colours of light that are mixed in varying amounts to make a wide range of colours. In electronics RGB can refer to an LED or pixel that blends these three colours, or to a colour signal or interface that carries separate red, green and blue channels.
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