Adafruit
WS2811 NeoPixel LED Driver Chip - 10 Pack
The WS2811 is the driver IC used in NeoPixel LED strips and pixels. In this SOIC-8 package, it lets you build your own addressable RGB LEDs by driving a sing...
The WS2811 is the driver IC used in NeoPixel LED strips and pixels. In this SOIC-8 package, it lets you build your own addressable RGB LEDs by driving a single common-anode RGB LED or three individual single-colour LEDs. Each output provides ~18 mA constant current, ensuring consistent colour regardless of voltage variation — no current-limiting resistors required.
The chips are chainable by connecting the data output of one to the data input of the next, allowing long strings of individually addressable LEDs from a single data pin. The protocol supports both 400 kHz and 800 kHz data rates.
Key Features
- WS2811 Driver IC – The same chip used in NeoPixel products
- Constant Current Output – ~18 mA per channel, no resistors needed
- Chainable – Connect data out to data in for long LED strings
- Dual Speed – Supports 400 kHz and 800 kHz data rates
- SOIC-8 Package – Compact surface-mount, relatively easy to hand solder
- Common-Anode Only – NPN transistor outputs, not compatible with common-cathode LEDs
Specifications
- Package – SOIC-8
- Output Current – ~18 mA per channel (constant current)
- Data Rates – 400 kHz / 800 kHz
- Minimum Processor Speed – 4 MHz (at 400 kHz data rate)
- Quantity – 10 per pack
Ideal For
- Custom addressable LED projects
- Building your own NeoPixel-compatible strips
- LED art installations and wearables
- Arduino and microcontroller lighting projects
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- AVR
- AVR is a family of 8-bit microcontrollers used in many classic Arduino-style boards. If a USB host library mentions AVR support, it suggests the examples or compatibility may be aimed at those older microcontroller boards.
- common-anode
- A wiring style for multi-colour LEDs where the positive side is shared and each colour channel is controlled on the negative side. This matters because common-anode and common-cathode LED strips are not interchangeable without a suitable driver.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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