SK6813 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: Opsco Optoelectronic (also seen branded Normand)A single-wire, individually addressable 5V RGB pixel with an integrated 8-bit-per-channel controller in each SMD5050 package.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SMD5050 with integrated LEDs |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | No |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5V |
| PWM Rate | 1200Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 40fps |
| Redundant Data Line | No |
Strengths
- Single-wire self-clocking design: only one data conductor plus power and ground, so cabling and connector count stay low compared with two-wire clocked pixels.
- 1200Hz PWM is comfortably above what a 40fps camera needs, giving a sensible flicker-free margin for on-camera and architectural installs without chasing headline refresh figures.
- Integrated per-pixel controller handling 8-bit (24-bit RGB) data with regenerated forwarding, letting pixels cascade in long chains from a single output.
Limitations
- As a data-only single-wire protocol it is timing-sensitive: the pulse windows are tight, so signal integrity, cable length and injection points must be managed carefully over long runs.
- This row specifies no redundant data line, so a single failed pixel or broken joint interrupts every pixel downstream, and 8-bit depth (256 levels per channel) can show banding on slow, very-low-level fades.
Overview
The SK6813 is a 5V, single-wire (data-only) addressable RGB pixel that packages an integrated controller inside each SMD5050 LED. It self-clocks from one timed data line, so no separate clock conductor is needed: pixels cascade in a chain, each latching its 24-bit word (8 bits per channel) and forwarding the rest. Its 1200Hz PWM rate keeps output comfortably flicker-free at up to 40fps, suiting typical on-camera and architectural work. This row specifies no redundant data line and no white channel (RGB only). ENTTEC is not affiliated with Opsco Optoelectronic.
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.