Ultimate guide to choosing the right addressable led strip

Quick answer

Led light strip dynamic lighting is more flexible and more adaptable to the current mood. Addressable led strip is distinguished from ordinary RGB light strips due to its more dynamic nature. If you want to use the dynamic effects of the led light strip flexibly, you need to understand the working principle of the addressable led lights. What exactly is an addressable led strip, and how is it different from other lights? Now, let us see.

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What is an addressable LED strip? How do addressable LEDs work?

The addressable led strip is unique. It has one more IC chip than other ordinary led tape lights. The addressable led lights receive the digital signal data from the addressable led controller, then delivers the data to IC, and IC controls LED lights. One IC can control one or more LED lights. You can send different control commands to each IC. The LED lights in the adjacent IC control area can have different colors and different brightness. Therefore, it enables us to develop complex illumination effects.

The addressable led strip supports low-voltage work and has a variety of color options. 

The built-in IC of the addressable led strip is embedded in the LED, which is difficult to see with the naked eye. The external IC is placed on the PCB board and can be clearly seen.

Why do addressable led strips have so many IC types? Different ICs lead to differences in the functions of the addressable led strip lights. It may be the color, the voltage, or other aspects.

The larger the LED size, the brighter the brightness and the more energy it consumes.

Addressable LED strip IC comparison: WS2811, WS2812B, SK6812, WS2814, WS2805, WS2813, WS2815, APA102, SK9822

At SuperLightingLED we stock every IC in the list above, and one of the questions we are asked most is how two of them compare. Here are the ICs people ask about, side by side. The data comes from the IC tables further down this page and the product listings in our store; where a value depends on the individual strip, check the product page.

Single signal: pads V+, DIN, GND; the controller sends DATA and GND. Dual signal: pads V+, CLK, DAT, GND; the controller needs both CLK and DAT outputs, and a 3-wire WS2812B controller will not drive them. Breakpoint resume: pads V+, DI, BI (backup in), GND; if one pixel fails, the next pixel reads the copy on BI and the chain keeps running. LEDs per IC is also the cutting unit: 1 means you can cut, and control, every single LED.

WS2814 vs SK6812, WS2805 vs WS2814, WS2814 vs WS2815: which one?

WS2814 vs SK6812

Both come as RGBW strips. SK6812 has the IC built into the LED, runs on 5V, 12V or 24V, comes in White, RGB and RGBW, and controls 1, 3 or 6 LEDs per IC. WS2814 has an external IC on the PCB with RGBW 5050 LEDs: the 24V version is a single-signal strip with 6 LEDs per IC, the 12V version is a breakpoint resume strip with 3 LEDs per IC.

• Choose SK6812 for control of every single LED, or when your project runs on 5V.
• Choose WS2814 for 24V runs (a 24V addressable LED strip runs 10 meters without voltage drop), or the 12V breakpoint resume version when a dead pixel must not stop the chain.
• Controller: both are RGBW, so pick an addressable RGBW controller; our SP617E Bluetooth music controller is listed for WS2814 and SK6812 RGBW strips.

WS2805 vs WS2814

WS2814 is RGBW: RGB plus one white channel. WS2805 goes one step further with RGB plus tunable white: we list it as a 5-in-1 RGBWW addressable strip and as a DC24V RGB CCT addressable COB strip with breakpoint resume. Choose WS2814 when one white is enough; choose WS2805 when you also want to change the color temperature of the white. For WS2805 strips use an addressable RGBCCT controller.

WS2805 vs WS2811

WS2811 is an external-IC, single-signal (3-pin) IC for White or RGB strips at 5V, 12V or 24V, with 1 to 9 LEDs per IC. If RGB chasing effects are all you need, WS2811 gives you the widest choice of voltages. If you need white light with adjustable color temperature on the same strip as the RGB effects, choose WS2805.

WS2814 vs WS2815 (and WS2805 vs WS2815)

WS2815 is RGB with the IC built into each 5050 LED, runs on 12V and controls one LED per IC, so it is individually addressable. It is a breakpoint resume strip with four pads (V+, DI, BI, GND), so one failed pixel does not stop the chain. WS2814 adds a white channel (RGBW) with an external IC: 3 LEDs per IC on the 12V breakpoint resume version, 6 on the 24V version. Choose WS2815 for per-LED RGB effects; choose WS2814 when you need RGBW, or WS2805 when you need RGB plus tunable white.

Keep in mind: the backup line only skips one failed pixel at a time; two dead pixels in a row still stop the signal.

Which is the best addressable LED strip for your project?

There is no single best addressable LED strip, only the best match for your project. Start from what you need:

These wiring diagrams are drawn by the SuperLightingLED engineering team; wire colors follow our house convention (red V+, black V-/GND, green data). Click a diagram for the full notes in our LED strip wiring diagrams library.

Wiring a breakpoint resume strip to a controller with a 3-pin lead? Use a 4-pin input connector with BI tied to GND, or a BI-to-GND jumper at the input.

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What is the difference? Addressable led strip VS Non-addressable led strip

Addressable led strips can be regarded as an upgraded version of non-addressable led light strips. Ordinary led rope lights can only realize the color jump of the whole led strip and the brightness adjustment of single color. The entire rope light can only appear in one color at a time, and two different colors cannot exist at the same time.

Instead, addressable led strip lights can achieve various changes through the control system, including color chasing, multi-color cycling, single color walking, and so on. These change modes are often programmed by the addressable controller engineer and implanted in the controller integrated circuit board. We only need to supply power to the addressable light strip, connect to the addressable led controller, and play the programmed mode.

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How do I know if my LED strip is addressable?

The connection point of the addressable led strip is different from the ordinary 12V or 24V led strip light. You can judge whether your light strip is an addressable led strip according to the connection point.

Addressable led strip lights can be divided into single signal led strips, dual signal led strips, breakpoint resume series, and DMX512 led strips according to the signal. And these four types are different. 

1. Single Signal LED Strips

From the name, a single signal addressable led strip can only pass through one type of signal. An IC control area is called a pixel. When one of the pixels is broken, the other pixels will stop working. So its connection point is a positive wire, a negative wire, and a signal wire. Take the following figure as an example.

12V represents the positive line.

Din represents the data signal line.

GND represents the negative line.

2. Dual Signal LED Strips

In addition to the data signal passing through the dual signal addressable led strip, it adds a clock function. You can set the time for the LED light to turn on.

5V---Positive line

CKL/CKO---Clock line

SDI/SDO---Digital signal line

GND---Negative line

3. Breakpoint Resume Series

Breakpoint resume series is an upgraded version of a single signal addressable LED strip which is a 4-channel dual data line LED driver control circuit with a data line and a backup data line. After a single data line fails, the backup data line will automatically start and ensure that the signal is not interrupted.

12V---Positive line

DO1---Digital signal line

DO2---Backup line

GND---Negative line

4. DMX512 LED Strips Series

The difference between the DMX512 led strip and other addressable led light strips is that it is more intelligent and can be connected to the DMX system. Control various tricks such as horse racing, running water, chasing, animation, etc. Patterns can be combined at will, and any color can be displayed. If a pixel is broken, the signal transmission will not be affected, and other pixels can be used normally.

GND---Negative line

12V---Positive line

B---Digital line

A---Digital line

DI/DO---Programming address

If you find the above mark on the light strip, it means that your light strip is addressable, and you can control your light strip with different colors and different brightness and different modes.

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Can you cut addressable LED strips?

The cutting unit is closely related to the control of several LED lights by one IC. One IC controls one LED, so a single LED can be cut. The addressable led strip cutting unit is generally 1, 3, or 6 LED lights. Addressable light strips with a cutting unit of 1 LED are called individually addressable led strips.

A voltage drop is manifested as the same color inconsistency or brightness attenuation from the beginning to the end of the led tape light. If there is a voltage drop, separate power supply at both ends of the addressable led strip to ensure that the color and brightness are the same, or power the addressable led strip light every five meters in the long project.

Read more: How to cut led strip lights?

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How do you connect addressable LED strips?

There are two ways to connect two addressable led strip lights together, one is to use a solderless addressable led connector, and the other is to connect two addressable led strips by welding.

To make the addressable led light strip work, connect the addressable led light to the addressable led controller, and then connect the controller to the led power supply. The output terminal of the addressable led controller is connected to the addressable light strip wire one by one, and the input terminal of the controller is connected to the led power supply.

Read more: How to connect led strip lights?

How to connect led strip to the power supply?

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How do you control addressable LED strips?

An addressable led strip controller is required to control an addressable led strip. Single signal, dual signal, and breakpoint resume series addressable led strips choose the SPI controller, and DMX512 led strips use the DMX controller. The two controllers are not compatible.

The addressable led controller that supports WIFI or radio frequency function can use the mobile phone or the remote control to control the change of the addressable led light strip. It makes the control method more convenient and fast while getting a variety of addressable led light changes. For specific control methods, please refer to the product details page in this link.

Read more: How to choose led strip light controllers?

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How to install addressable led strips?

The addressable led strips are installed in the same way as ordinary led tape lights. The indoor IP20 addressable led light strip is installed with adhesive, and the outdoor IP67 waterproof addressable led strip is installed with buckles. 

Read more: How to install led strip lights?

How to wire addressable led strips?

Hope that this article can help you choose your best addressable led strip. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. 

Addressable LED strip FAQ

What is the difference between WS2814 and SK6812?

Both come as RGBW. SK6812 has the IC built into the LED, runs on 5V, 12V or 24V and controls 1, 3 or 6 LEDs per IC. WS2814 has an external IC with RGBW 5050 LEDs: a 24V single-signal version with 6 LEDs per IC and a 12V breakpoint resume version with 3 LEDs per IC.

WS2805 vs WS2814: which should I choose?

WS2814 is RGBW (RGB plus one white). WS2805 is RGB plus tunable white, sold as a 5-in-1 RGBWW strip and a DC24V RGB CCT COB strip. Choose WS2805 when you want to change the color temperature of the white as well as run RGB effects.

Is WS2815 better than WS2814?

They suit different jobs. WS2815 is 12V RGB with one LED per IC and a backup data line, so it is individually addressable and keeps running past one failed pixel. WS2814 adds a white channel (RGBW): 3 LEDs per IC on the 12V breakpoint resume version, 6 on the 24V version.

What is the best addressable LED strip?

The one that matches your project: WS2812B or SK6812 at 5V, or WS2815 at 12V, for control of every LED; a 24V strip for long runs; breakpoint resume (WS2815, WS2813, SK6813) where a dead pixel must not stop the chain; RGBW or RGB plus tunable white ICs when you need white light.

Can one controller run every type of addressable LED strip?

No. Single signal, dual signal and breakpoint resume strips use an SPI controller, and DMX512 strips use a DMX controller; the two are not compatible. Dual signal strips also need a controller with both CLK and DAT outputs; a 3-wire WS2812B controller will not drive them.

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