What's even cooler than smart RGB LEDs? Smart RGB + White LEDs! These NeoPixels pack 4 LEDs (red, green, blue, and white) for amazing lighting effects. Create your own smart RGBW LED setup using the same integrated LED driver as our NeoPixel LED strips. This version features RGB + natural white with a sleek black casing. It comes in a pack of 10 individual LEDs that you can solder into any design you dream up. There are plenty of NeoPixel LEDs to choose from! The NeoPixel is unique - one half is the familiar RGB, and the other half is a white LED with yellow phosphor. When off, it looks like a school bus. When lit, it's super bright! You can control each channel with 8-bit PWM, giving you 32-bit color overall. These 5050 (5mm x 5mm) SMD LEDs are easy to solder and are the most compact way to add multiple bright LEDs to your project. If you're prototyping, we suggest our 5050-size LED breakout PCBs for a breadboard-friendly option. NeoPixel LEDs use an 800 KHz protocol, so specific timing is needed. The PWM rate is 400 Hz, which works well but might be noticeable if the LED is moving. DotStars have a 20 KHz PWM rate, offering smoother blending. Each NeoPixel has an embedded microcontroller inside. You can set the brightness of each R/G/B/W. LEDs act like shift registers, passing data along. You can control as many LEDs as you want. The PWM is built - in, so once you set the brightness, you can leave it. We have a tutorial for wiring, power usage, and example code. You'll need a NeoPixel library with RGBW support, which isn't always available. Our Adafruit NeoPixel library supports RGBW, but other libraries might need some adjustment.
Using these NeoPixel RGBW LEDs is easy. First, if you're prototyping, solder them onto our 5050 - size LED breakout PCBs. This makes them breadboard - friendly. For your actual project, solder the 10 individual LEDs into the design you've planned. Remember, they use an 800 KHz protocol, so make sure your setup has the right timing. When it comes to controlling the LEDs, you'll need a NeoPixel library with RGBW support. Our Adafruit library works great, but if you're using another one, you might have to make some adjustments. You can set the brightness of each red, green, blue, and white channel. Each LED acts like a shift register, so you can connect as many as you want. For power usage and wiring details, check out our tutorial. As for maintenance, keep the LEDs clean and avoid physical damage. Since they're quite bright, don't look directly at them for too long to protect your eyes.
