kSM1616·WS2813j
Image: Adafruit Industries

WS2812

active

by WorldSemi

Active5050353520202040
Datasheet

Overview

release year
2012
other links
WS2812 Pixel Protocol Overview | Advatek Lighting
price
$0.107
$0.066
$0.061
spec update year
2018

Data & Protocol

type
WS2811/12
clocked
No
bitrate
800kHz
pixel size bits
24
backup line
No
pixel rate max
33.3 kpx/s

Color & Brightness

order
GRB
brightness bits
8
pwm frequency
2.0kHz
pwm frequency notes
400Hz is an old PWM spec. Newer WS2812b (post 2018) use updated IC with 2.0kHz PWM rate same as WS2813

Electrical

led voltage
5V
led voltage notes
Datasheet claims "26V Vds, Max" but LEDs are built-in and share power with 5V VDD
vcc voltage
5V
gpio
min
3.0V
max
5V
channel current
18.5mA
channel current notes
Datasheet states max 49mA current, but graph for 5050 package shows R=19mA, G,B=22mA. 3535 package has lower current
quiescent current
0.7mA
wattage
92.5mW

Datasheet

discrepancies
Datasheet claims max 49mA but actual is ~18-22mA per channel, Vds max of 26V is misleading - LEDs are integrated at 5V

Physical

package sizes
5050353520402020
pin count
4

Variants

WS2812B (B)Most common variant, improved thermal pad
WS2812C (C)Further thermal improvements
WS2812E (E)Extended temperature range

Related Products

Succeeded by
WS2813
Variants
WS2851

Notes

Individually addressable RGB pixel; cheap and everywhere

Technical Notes

  • PWM frequency updated from 400Hz to 2.0kHz in 2018 silicon revision
  • Datasheet max current (49mA) differs from actual measured values (19-22mA)
  • Available in many package sizes with varying current specs