12mm Diffused Digital RGB LED Pixels (Strand of 25) - WS2801

RGB Pixels are digitally-controllable lights you can set to any color, or animate. Each RGB LED and controller chip is molded into a 'dot' of silicone. The dots are waterproof and rugged. There are four flanges molded in so that you can 'push' them into a 12mm drill hole in any material up to 1.5mm/0.06" thick. They're typically used to make outdoor signs.

The pixels are connected by a 4-conductor cable. +5V, ground, data (green) and clock (yellow). Data is shifted down from one pixel to the next so that you can easily cut the strand or attach more onto the end. 

Each dot is digitally controlled, with an internal 8-bit PWM LED driver (24-bit color for 16 million different shades). The pixels must be clocked by a microcontroller, we have an example code linked below that works on an Arduino, it should be simple to adapt it to any other microcontroller. Only two I/O-Pins are used!

The pixels use 8mm diffused RGB LEDs, with a 120 degree beam width. The total max brightness of all LEDs is about 1600mcd but with the light more evenly distributed & mixed than a clear LED. (Please note: mcd ratings of LEDs are notoriously inflated by most LED sellers, so be extra-skeptical when reviewing LED ratings!) 

Sold by the strand, each strand has 25 pixels in series! Each strand has two JST SM 4-pin connectors (GND, Data, CLK, 5V) so you can plug multiple strands in a row, as many as you wish, just watch for how much current they want. Our 5V/2A supply is able to drive at least two of these strands with all LED on.

You can drive these with an Arduino using any two microcontroller digital pins, check this library which also has example code to demonstrate the strands and be sure to read our very detailed tutorial on usage!