APA105 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: APA Electronic (Shiji Optoelectronics)The APA105 is a single-wire, self-clocking RGB pixel with an integrated 8-bit-per-channel driver in an SMD5050 package, rated across a wide 5V to 24V supply.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SMD5050 with integrated LEDs |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | No |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5 - 24V |
| PWM Rate | 1200Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 40fps |
| Redundant Data Line | No |
Strengths
- Single-wire, self-clocking protocol keeps cabling simple: only power, ground and one signal line per run, with no separate clock conductor to route, terminate or fault.
- Wide 5V to 24V supply range allows higher-voltage runs that reduce voltage drop and the number of power-injection points over long chains, compared with fixed 5V pixels.
- 1200Hz PWM is comfortably flicker-free for video capture up to 40fps, adequate for typical architectural and stage installations without chasing unnecessarily high refresh figures.
Limitations
- As a self-clocked single-wire part, timing is strict: the protocol depends on precise pulse widths, making it sensitive to cable length, signal integrity and controller timing accuracy over long runs.
- No redundant data line and only 8-bit-per-channel depth: a single failed pixel breaks everything downstream, and low-end greyscale gradients are coarser than 12- or 16-bit parts. It is RGB only, with no dedicated white channel.
Overview
The APA105 is a single-wire, self-clocking RGB LED with an integrated driver in an SMD5050 package, commonly attributed to APA Electronic (Shiji Optoelectronics). It is electrically similar to the WS2812 family but rated across a wide 5V to 24V supply. Each pixel latches 8 bits per channel (24-bit colour) and passes the remaining data down the chain. Its 1200Hz PWM is comfortably flicker-free for capture up to 40fps, suiting architectural and stage work rather than high-speed cinematography. ENTTEC pixel controllers (OCTO 71521, PIXELATOR MINI / MK2 70067/70068, DIN PIXIE 73539, PLINK Injectors) drive a wide range of pixel protocols; contact ENTTEC about chips not listed. ENTTEC is not affiliated with APA Electronic.
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.