WS2814 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: WorldsemiA single-wire, self-clocking RGBW pixel protocol in an SOP12 package, with a redundant backup data line that keeps the string running if one pixel fails.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SOP12 |
| RGB | No |
| RGBW | Yes |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5 - 12V |
| PWM Rate | 2000Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 67fps |
| Redundant Data Line | Yes |
Strengths
- Redundant backup data line: if a single pixel fails, the following pixels keep receiving data instead of the whole downstream run going dark, which improves reliability on long chains and permanent installs.
- True RGBW output (dedicated white channel alongside red, green and blue) gives cleaner whites and pastels than mixing white from the RGB channels, at 8 bits per channel.
- Wide 5 to 12V operating range and simple single-wire, 3-conductor wiring (data plus power); higher-voltage operation reduces voltage drop and helps sustain colour consistency over longer runs.
Limitations
- Data-only single-wire timing is self-clocked and timing-sensitive: long data runs need proper signal integrity (short data hops, injection/repeaters where required) since there is no separate clock line to lock onto.
- 8 bits per channel (256 levels per colour) is standard for this family but can show visible banding on very slow, low-level fades compared with higher-bit-depth chips; the 2000Hz PWM is comfortably flicker-free for cameras up to about 67fps but is not aimed at very high-speed cinema capture.
Overview
The WS2814 is a single-wire, self-clocking RGBW pixel IC in an SOP12 package, related to the WS2812 family but with four channels (red, green, blue, and a dedicated white) at 8 bits per channel and a wider 5 to 12V supply range. Each pixel carries a redundant backup data line, so one failed LED does not black out the rest of the string. Its 2000Hz PWM rate stays comfortably flicker-free for cameras up to about 67fps. ENTTEC pixel controllers such as OCTO, PIXELATOR MINI / MK2, DIN PIXIE and PLINK Injectors drive a wide range of pixel protocols; contact ENTTEC about chips not listed. ENTTEC is not affiliated with Worldsemi.
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.