Adafruit Pixie Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: AdafruitA single-wire, self-clocking addressable RGB/RGBW LED protocol whose integrated per-pixel driver latches 8-bit colour and forwards remaining data down the chain.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | Yes |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5 - 24V |
| PWM Rate | 500Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Flickering may be visible |
| Redundant Data Line | No |
Strengths
- Single-wire topology carries data plus power only, needing one fewer conductor than clocked two-wire chips and avoiding the EMI and extra failure point of a separate high-frequency clock line.
- 8-bit-per-channel resolution across both RGB (24-bit) and RGBW variants per the row, with the added white channel giving cleaner whites and pastels where the RGBW option is used.
- Wide 5 to 24V operating range per the row supports higher-voltage strings, which reduces volt-drop and power-injection frequency over longer runs compared with strict 5V-only parts.
Limitations
- At 500Hz PWM the row flags this protocol as likely to show visible flicker on camera: that refresh reads as visible flicker or banding at typical shutter speeds, so it is a poor fit for broadcast, film, or any on-camera installation even though it looks steady to the naked eye.
- Data-only single-wire timing is sensitive and there is no redundant data line (row: No), so a single failed pixel or bad joint breaks every pixel downstream, and signal integrity depends heavily on cable quality and total run length.
Overview
The Adafruit Pixie is a single-wire, self-clocking addressable LED protocol: each pixel holds an integrated driver IC that latches its 8-bit-per-channel colour and forwards the rest of the stream down the chain, so no separate clock line is required. The row specifies RGB and RGBW options, a 5 to 24V operating range, and a 500Hz PWM refresh. ENTTEC pixel controllers (OCTO 71521, PIXELATOR MINI and MK2 70067/70068, DIN PIXIE 73539, PLINK Injectors) drive a wide range of pixel protocols; contact ENTTEC about any chip not listed. ENTTEC is not affiliated with Adafruit.
Mapping an installation? ELM, ENTTEC's free LED pixel mapping software, drives the controllers above over Art-Net and sACN, from a single fixture to building-scale maps.
ENTTEC has been engineering lighting control in Australia since 1999, and shipping LED pixel controllers since the original Pixelator in 2014.