What could be better than smart RGB LEDs? Smart RGB+White LEDs! These NeoPixel sticks are packed with 4 LEDs (red, green, blue, and white) to create amazing lighting effects. They're super fun and glow beautifully, and you can control each LED individually! Design your own LED setup with this NeoPixel stick. This is the Cool White RGBW version. We also offer it in Warm White, Natural White, and classic RGB. The NeoPixel is 'split': one half is the beloved RGB, and the other half is a white LED with a yellow phosphor. Unlit, it looks like an egg yolk. When lit, it's incredibly bright. You can control it with 8-bit PWM per channel (32-bit color overall). It's perfect for adding colorful and white dots to your project. We've placed 8 tiny 5050 (5mm x 5mm) smart RGBW LEDs on a PCB with mounting holes and a chainable design. You only need one microcontroller pin to control as many as you can chain. Each LED is addressable because the driver chip is inside. It has a ~18mA constant current drive, so the color remains consistent even with voltage changes, and no external choke resistors are needed. Power it with 5VDC (4 - 7V works) and you're good to go. NeoPixel LEDs use an 800 KHz protocol, so specific timing is required. The PWM rate is ~400 Hz, which works well but might be noticeable if the LED is moving. In contrast, DotStars have a 20 KHz PWM rate, offering smoother blending. (We recommend DotStars if possible.) The LEDs are chainable by connecting one stick's output to another's input. It has a single data line with a timing - specific protocol. It requires a real - time microcontroller like an AVR, Arduino, PIC, mbed, etc. It can't be used with Linux - based microcomputers or interpreted microcontrollers. Our well - written Neopixel library for Arduino supports these pixels. An 8MHz or faster processor is needed. We have a tutorial for wiring, power usage calculations, and example code. Note that you'll need a NeoPixel library with RGBW support, which isn't always available. Our Adafruit NeoPixel library supports RGBW. It comes as a single stick with 8 individually addressable RGBW LEDs, already assembled and tested. Our detailed NeoPixel Uberguide has all you need for using NeoPixels in any form, including ready - to - go library and example code for various Arduino models.
Using this NeoPixel stick is a breeze. First, power it with 5VDC (4 - 7V also works). Then, connect it to a real - time microcontroller like an Arduino. You only need one microcontroller pin to control multiple sticks if you chain them together by connecting the output of one stick to the input of another. When coding, make sure to use a NeoPixel library with RGBW support. Our Adafruit NeoPixel library is a great choice. If you use a plain 'RGB' library, you'll get strange results. As for the processor, it should be 8MHz or faster. When it comes to maintenance, keep the stick in a dry and clean place. Avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures or moisture. If you notice any LED not working, check the connections and power supply first. Also, be careful when handling the tiny 5050 LEDs as they are delicate. Have fun creating amazing lighting effects with your NeoPixel stick!
