addressable.wiki
5.4 × 5.0 mm 4 pins top-emitting

SK6812RGBW

5050 · smd · SK6812 RGBW · OPSCO Optoelectronics

1-wire RGBW 3.7–5.5 V active

Also sold as NeoPixel RGBW, SK6812 RGBW, RGBW NeoPixel

At a glance

Colour
RGBW8 bits per channel
Data
1-wiretimed pulses on one line
Supply ≠
3.7–5.5 Vno backup data line
Size
5.4 × 5.0 × 1.6 mm4 pins · top
Max current ≠
—per-channel not recorded
PWM ≠
1.2 kHzreset 80 µs
Library support
FastLED WLED Adafruit

Datasheets disagree

The sources we hold state different values for the facts below. Rather than pick one quietly, both sides are listed with where each was read. Check the datasheet for the exact part number and revision you are buying. How this is shown.

This part, SK6812RGBW

Current per channel

The sheet for this part states no rated current, only a 9 mA test condition; other OPSCO RGBW sheets give 8 mA (RGB) and 16.5 mA (W).

What each source says about current per channel
SourceSaysPage
sk6812rgbw IOUT = 9 mA (test condition for rise/fall time) 4
skc6812rgbw-c5378724 8 mA per RGB channel, 16.5 mA for W 3

What we show. Left blank. Earlier versions of this catalogue showed 20 / 80 mA, which no sheet states.

Protocol SK6812 RGBW

Supply voltage

The 2015 RGBW sheet gives a lower minimum supply than later OPSCO RGBW sheets.

What each source says about supply voltage
SourceSaysPage
sk6812rgbw VDD +3.5 to +5.5 V 4
skc6812rgbw-c5378724 VDD 3.7 to 5.5 V 8

What we show. 3.7 V (the newer sheet) is shown because it is the safer minimum.

PWM frequency

PWM frequency differs between the 2015 RGBW sheet and the SKC6812RGBW sheet.

What each source says about pwm frequency
SourceSaysPage
sk6812rgbw 1.2 kHz 4
skc6812rgbw-c5378724 4.0 kHz 8

What we show. 1.2 kHz is shown, from the sheet the timing set is read from.

The main reason to choose SK6812 over WS2812B. Mixed white from RGB is greenish and inefficient; a dedicated white die is cleaner, brighter per watt, and the only way to get a usable neutral white. The three temperature variants below are physically different parts - you choose at purchase.

Variants

One row per orderable SKU. Everything not listed is inherited from the part above.

Order codeFaceLensWhite PinsSiliconStatusFirst seenDatasheet
SK6812RGBW-WW white clear 3000 K warm 4 — active unknown 01
Warm white, around 3000 K. The usual choice for domestic lighting.
SK6812RGBW-NW white clear 4500 K neutral 4 — active unknown 01PDF ↗
Neutral white, around 4500 K.
SK6812RGBW-CW white clear 6000 K cool 4 — active unknown 01
Cool white, around 6000 K.

Pinout

SK6812RGBW-WWSK6812RGBW-NWSK6812RGBW-CW
SK6812RGBW 5050 package, top and side viewPin 1 is ringed. pin 1 VDD (power), pin 2 DOUT (data out), pin 3 VSS (ground), pin 4 DIN (data in).11 VDDpower22 DOUTdata out33 VSSground44 DINdata in5.4 mm overall5.0 mmtop view1.6 mmside view
  • Power
  • Data
  • Ground
  • Pin 1
  • Cut corner

Outline and pin positions checked against the manufacturer datasheet (mirrored SK6812RGBW sheet (src/datasheets)). Pin numbers follow the 2015 OPSCO SK6812 sheet (1 VDD, 2 DOUT, 3 VSS, 4 DIN); the 2021+ sheets number the same pads from the bottom-right (1 GND, 2 DIN, 3 VDD, 4 DOUT). What this means.

  1. 1 VDD power
  2. 2 DOUT data out
  3. 3 VSS ground
  4. 4 DIN data in

Protocol — SK6812 RGBW

Timings shown from datasheet. Other sources disagree; see the protocol page.

SK6812 RGBW bit timingSK6812 RGBW bit timing: a zero bit is 300 nanoseconds high then 900 low; a one bit is 600 high then 600 low; tolerance plus or minus 150 nanoseconds; reset 80 microseconds low1 · Bit encoding, to scaleDINhighlowbit 0 period 1200 nsbit 1 period 1200 nsT0H 300 ±150 nsT1H 600 ±150 nsT0L 900 ±150 nsT1L 600 ±150 ns"0" bit"1" bit020040060080010001200140016001800200022002400time, ns± tolerance on each falling edge2 · One frame: 32 bits, most-significant bit firstDIN1701100100071001101017001011001711000010bitG · 8 bitsR · 8 bitsB · 8 bitsW · 8 bitsWire order GRBW · frame = 32 × ~1200 ns ≈ 38.4 µs · example data, first bits 1 0 1 …3 · RESET / latchlast bits of frame 1first bits of frame 2LEDs latch the data they receivedRESET: DIN low ≥ 80 µs (not to scale)4 · Cascade: each DOUT feeds the next DINMCULED 1DINDOUTLED 2DINDOUTLED NDINDOUTLED 1 keeps the first 32 bits, re-shapes the signal and sends the rest out on DOUT;LED 2 keeps the next 32, and so on. The last LED's DOUT is left unconnected.
T0H 300 / T0L 900 · T1H 600 / T1L 600 ns · ±150 ns · period 1200 ns · reset 80 µs source: datasheet

Compatibility

  • protocol compatible SK6812

    Identical timing, but four channels rather than three. Driving it with an RGB library shifts colours down the strip, because every pixel consumes one extra byte.

  • protocol compatible of this Inolux PI RGBW (single-trace IC, 32 bit)

    Frame layout only: 32 bit, G R B W, MSB first, one wire, which is the layout the sk6812-rgbw protocol records. The typical T1H here is 750 ns (640 on the PI33QB sheet), not the 600 ns of the SK6812 rev. 02 table. The Inolux sheets never name SK6812.

Dating evidence

Nobody announces these parts, so this records what we can actually cite rather than a release date. Library support proves only that the part existed by that date.

  • 2015-07-31 datasheet revision OPSCO SK6812RGBW specification rev. 01 - the INITIAL revision - dated on its cover page ↗ day
  • 2015-08-10 first library support Adafruit_NeoPixel — first commit introducing NEO_GRBW ↗ day
  • 2015-12-16 first seen listing Adafruit began selling SK6812-based 'NeoPixel RGBW' strip (products 2824 / 2832 / 2847) ↗ day
  • 2020-02-24 first library support WLED — first commit introducing SK6812_RGBW ↗ day
  • 2020-04-09 first library support FastLED — first commit introducing SK6812RGBW ↗ day

Where to buy

Stub data — a few rows so purchase links can grow later. Prices are not tracked.

  • Adafruit 2757 checked 2026-09-04
  • LCSC C5297619 checked 2026-09-04
  • LCSC C5160656 checked 2026-09-04

Similar parts

Same protocol or package first, then the same data scheme and colour channels.

Was this page useful?

0 people found this useful