Pixie - 3W Chainable Smart LED Pixel

NeoPixels are bright, but our Pixie takes it to a whole new level! With a whopping 3W of brightness compared to the 0.2W of a 'standard' NeoPixel, these chainable smart LEDs are a game-changer. Designed by Ytai Ben-Tsvi, they're not just super bright, but also super smart. Each Pixie has a 3W LED and a Microchip PIC microcontroller. You can send it color data at 115200 baud, and it can chain like a shift register. Just send the data once per color change, and the microcontroller handles the PWM for you. To keep things safe, you need to send data at least every 2 seconds (1 second or faster is better). There's also a temperature cut-off to prevent overheating. Each Pixie comes fully assembled, with big pads for power wires and mounting holes for M2 screws. You'll need thick wires and a microcontroller that can send 115,200 baud 8N1 data. Check our easy-to-use Arduino library for more details and get started in 5 minutes or less!

Using your Pixie is a breeze. First, make sure you have a microcontroller that can send 115,200 baud 8N1 data to it. Connect thick wires to the big power pads on the Pixie. To light it up, send the color data you want at the specified baud rate. You only need to send the data once for each color change. Remember, you must send data at least every 2 seconds to prevent the LEDs from staying 'stuck on'. Sending updates every 1 second or faster is even better. Since the Pixie uses a lot of power, it can get hot. Don't worry, though - there's a temperature cut-off. If it gets too hot, the LED will turn off until it cools down. When it comes to maintenance, keep an eye on the temperature and make sure the power connections are secure. And if you want to use it with Arduino, our library is easy to use and will have you up and running in no time.