30mm Dots - 12V Digital RGB LED Pixels (Strand of 20) (WS2801)

These 12V RGB Pixel LEDs combine bright, individually addressable lighting with a weather-resistant design, making them ideal for illuminated signs, outdoor displays, decorative lighting, and large-scale animated installations.

RGB Pixels are digitally-controllable lights you can set to any colour, or animate. Each round 'pixel cluster' contains 3 RGB LEDs and a controller chip soldered to a PCB. The pixel is then encased in a translucent white 'dot' to make it weatherproof. These are fairly large pixels but they are easy to mount, with two plastic flanges. They're typically used to make outdoor signs. Compared to our other LED dots, these are much bigger and much brighter, good for larger scale installations. The pixels are connected by a 4-conductor cable. +12VDC, ground, data and clock. Data is shifted down from one pixel to the next so that you can easily cut the strand or attach more onto the end. Each dot is digitally controlled, with an internal 8-bit PWM LED driver (24-bit colour for 16 million different shades). The pixels must be clocked by a microcontroller, we have an example code linked below that works on an Arduino, it should be simple to adapt it to any other microcontroller. The pixels use 3 x 5050 RGB LEDs, and the dot has full 180 degree colour spread due to to the translucent nature. All of the LEDs are controlled at once so you cannot have one pixel with the three LEDs different colours. (Colour control is per single dot 3-LED pixel only) The total max brightness of all LEDs is about 4000mcd. (Please note: mcd ratings of LEDs are notoriously inflated by most LED sellers, so be extra-sceptical when reviewing LED ratings!) Sold by the strand, each strand has 20 pixels in series! Each strand has two JST SM 3-pin connectors so you can connect multiple strands in a row, as many as you wish, just watch for how much current they want. The two power wires are brought out separately to make wiring easier, a 2.1mm terminal block adapter is handy to attach a DC power supply. We have a 12V/5A supply that should be able to drive 2 or more strands (depending on current use). The LEDs are constant-current driven so you'll have even colours through-out the strand as long as you have a stable 12V supply You can drive these with an Arduino using any two microcontroller digital pins, check this library which also has example code to demonstrate the strands and be sure to read our very detailed tutorial on usage! Since these are nearly identical in how they work to the 36mm pixels, that guide will get you blinking.

Features

* Digitally-controllable RGB LEDs with 24-bit colour (16 million shades)

* Each strand contains 20 pixel clusters in series

* Each pixel cluster contains 3 x 5050 RGB LEDs with internal 8-bit PWM driver

* Large, bright pixels suitable for outdoor signage and large-scale installations

* Weatherproof translucent white encasing with 180-degree colour spread

* Easy mounting with two plastic flanges

* Connected via 4-conductor cable (12VDC, ground, data, clock)

* Data-shiftable design allows cutting or extending strands

* Maximum brightness approximately 4000mcd

* Constant-current LED driver ensures even colours throughout strand

* Compatible with Arduino and other microcontrollers

* Requires stable 12V DC power supply

* Multiple strands can be chained together

* JST SM 3-pin connectors for strand connection

* 2.1mm terminal block adapter compatible for power supply connection

Specifications

* 30mm diameter (1.4")

* 75mm / 3" apart on the strand

* Total length: 208cm / 82"

* 20 pieces per strand

* These pixels use a WS2801 chip for full 24 bit colour, constant-current drive

* 12VDC power, 60mA maximum per pixel (LED on full white)

* 2-pin SPI-like protocol

* Brightness per pixel: 4000 mcd combined (we'll try to get a datasheet for the LEDs)

Resources

* WS2801 Datasheet (The chip inside each pixel)

Package Contents

* 1x 30mm Dots - 12V Digital RGB LED Pixels (Strand of 20) (WS2801)