Tired of rainbows? Now, we've got monochrome'smart LEDs' for you! Create your own smart Warm White LED setup using the same integrated LED driver as our NeoPixel LED strips. When unlit, they look like egg yolks. Once lit, they're incredibly bright - so bright it might hurt your eyes! And you can control them with 24-bit high-frequency PWM. The phosphor helps blend the three white dies inside for a super bright and consistent light, much better than trying to mix RGB to make white, which never looks quite right.
These tiny 5050 (5mm x 5mm) SMD LEDs are easy to solder. They're the most compact way to add multiple bright LEDs to your design. If you want to prototype, we suggest using our 5050-size LED breakout PCBs. Just solder them on for a breadboard-friendly package.
NeoPixel LEDs use an 800 KHz protocol, so specific timing is needed. Their PWM rate is 400 Hz, which works well but is noticeable if the LED is moving. In contrast, DotStars have a 20 KHz PWM rate, providing smooth blending even when the LED is in motion. We recommend DotStars if you can use them!
NeoPixels are 5050-sized LEDs with an embedded microcontroller inside. You can set the brightness of each of the three individual cool white dies in the case. Each LED acts like a shift register, reading incoming data on the input pins and shifting the previous data out on the output pin. You can control an unlimited number of LEDs by sending a long data string. Just add more or remove unwanted LEDs at the end. The PWM is built into each LED-chip, so once you set the brightness, you can stop communicating with the strip, and it will keep the LEDs lit.
Comes in a pack of 10 individual LEDs. We have a tutorial on wiring, power usage calculations, and example code for NeoPixel usage. Note that the tutorial and code refer to RGB, but this LED has three individual white LEDs (WWW).
Using these NeoPixel Warm White LEDs is a breeze. First, if you're prototyping, solder them onto our 5050-size LED breakout PCBs. This will make them breadboard-friendly. Then, connect them according to the wiring in our tutorial. Remember, these LEDs use an 800 KHz protocol, so specific timing is required for proper control.
When it comes to power, check the power usage calculations in the tutorial to ensure you're providing the right amount. You can set the brightness of each of the three individual white dies inside the LED using the 24-bit high-frequency PWM. Once you've set the brightness, the built-in PWM in each LED-chip will keep the LEDs lit, and you don't need to keep sending commands.
If you want to add or remove LEDs, it's simple. Just tack on more or disconnect the unwanted ones at the end. And if you plan to move the LEDs around, keep in mind that the 400 Hz PWM rate might cause some pixelation. Consider using DotStars if you need smoother blending during movement.
For maintenance, keep the LEDs clean and dry. Avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures or moisture. If you have any other questions, refer to our tutorial, which also has example code for usage.
