Hey there! What's cooler than a single LED? A whole bunch of them! And even better? Double the number of LEDs! With our 16x8 LED Matrix Backpack, we've made it a breeze to fit two 8x8 matrices on one convenient board, doubling your project's matrix capacity. These matrices are multiplexed. Usually, controlling 64 LEDs needs 16 pins, and 128 LEDs would need 24 pins - that's a lot! Driver chips like the MAX7219 can help, but they involve lots of wiring and take up space. Our 16x8 LED matrix backpack solves this problem. It works great with the matrices in our Adafruit shop and makes adding a bright little display super easy. This backpack is perfect for scrolling displays or small video displays. In our example, words flow smoothly from one matrix to the other, just like a sign at a mini car dealership. We powered the demo with a Trinket (not included), so it comes in a neat, compact package. The backpack uses a HT16K33 driver chip. It has a built - in clock to multiplex the display, uses constant - current drivers for ultra - bright and consistent color (the photos are at the dimmest setting to protect our camera), and offers 1/16 step display dimming via a simple I2C interface. Each matrix backpack has three address - selection jumpers, allowing you to connect up to 8 x 1.2 - inch 16x8 units on a single I2C bus. The kit includes a fully tested and assembled 16x8 1.2 - inch LED Backpack, 2 ultra - bright square 8x8 yellow matrices, and a 4 - pin header. You'll need to do a bit of soldering to attach the matrices to the backpack, but it's easy and only takes about 10 minutes. We've also got a detailed tutorial on soldering, wiring, and controlling the display, plus a great library for the backpacks. So, if you've been eyeing matrix displays but were put off by the complexity, this is the perfect solution!
Using this product is a piece of cake. First, you'll need to solder the two ultra - bright square 8x8 yellow matrices onto the 16x8 1.2 - inch LED Backpack. It only takes about 10 minutes. Once soldered, you can connect it to your project. If you're using it for a scrolling or video display, you can power it with a Trinket (not included). The backpack uses a simple I2C interface, which makes it easy to control. We've got a detailed tutorial and a library to help you get up and running in under half an hour. When it comes to maintenance, keep the display clean and away from moisture. Since it uses a HT16K33 driver chip with a built - in clock, there's not much to worry about in terms of internal components. Just make sure not to overload the display. You can use the three address - selection jumpers to connect multiple units on a single I2C bus, but be careful not to exceed the limit of 8 units. And remember, if you have any questions, our detailed tutorial is there to guide you.
