WS2815B Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: WorldsemiA 12V single-wire addressable RGB pixel protocol with an integrated per-LED controller and a backup data line for chain resilience.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SMD5050 with integrated LEDs |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | Yes |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 12V |
| PWM Rate | 2000Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 67fps |
| Redundant Data Line | Yes |
Strengths
- 12V operation cuts voltage drop compared with 5V single-wire chips, supporting longer, more even runs before injection is needed.
- A redundant (backup) data line carries the signal past a dead pixel, so one failure no longer blanks the rest of the chain.
- 2000Hz PWM is comfortably flicker-free for typical camera use, holding steady up to the row's rated 67fps.
Limitations
- As a data-only single-wire protocol it is timing-sensitive: signal integrity, cable length between pixels, and level shifting matter, and long runs still need data re-clocking or power injection.
- 8-bit-per-channel colour is standard but can show visible banding in slow, very low-level fades where more bit depth would help.
Overview
The WS2815B is a single-wire (data-only, self-clocking) addressable pixel protocol running at 12V, with an integrated controller IC inside each SMD5050 package handling 8-bit-per-channel colour. Unlike 5V WS2812-class parts, the 12V supply reduces voltage drop across a string, and a redundant backup data line lets the chain keep running past a single failed pixel. Its 2000Hz PWM is comfortably flicker-free for camera work up to 67fps. The row also marks RGBW as supported alongside standard RGB. 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.