NeoPixel

Connects over

GPIO pins

Made by

Worldsemi (WS2812 / WS2812B / SK6812)

Datasheet

cdn-shop.adafruit.com

Use it

hardware {
    device neopixel: NeoPixel(pin: 16, leds: 8)
}

every 1s {
    neopixel.set(1, 1, 1, 1)
}

The NeoPixel is wired to ordinary GPIOs: give each of its pins (pin) as a named argument. The compiler checks every pin can do its job.

Methods

• neopixel.set(index: int, r: int, g: int, b: int)

  Set pixel color

• neopixel.clear()

  All pixels off

• neopixel.fill(r: int, g: int, b: int)

  Fill all pixels

• neopixel.show()

  Update LED strip

• neopixel.set_brightness(brightness: int)

  Global brightness 0-255

Wiring

Specifications

Voltage

4.5V – 5.5V (some 3.3V variants exist — see SK6812)

Current

≈ 60 mA per LED at full white

Data rate

800 kHz NRZ — strict timing

Color depth

24-bit (8 per RGB channel) or 32-bit on SK6812 RGBW

Tips

• Add a 1000 μF capacitor across VCC/GND at the strip input — prevents the inrush spike from killing the first LED.
• Level-shift the data line — 3.3V MCUs are borderline for a 5V WS2812; failures are intermittent and maddening.
• Disable interrupts during transmission if the MCU is busy — even a few μs of pause corrupts the frame.
• First LED is often DEAD on cheap strips — solder a header to feed past it.

Alternatives worth knowing:

• SK6812: RGBW variant (adds a white channel) — same protocol.
• APA102: SPI-style two-wire (clock + data) — no timing constraints, more robust on Pi/Linux.