At a glance
- Colour
- RGB8 bits per channel
- Data
- 1-wiretimed pulses on one line
- Supply ≠
- 3.7–5.3 Vno backup data line
- Size
- 5.4 × 5.0 × 1.6 mm4 pins · top
- Max current
- 15 mA5 mA per channel
- PWM
- 2 kHzreset 280 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.
Protocol WS2812C
Supply voltage
V6 sheets state a lower minimum supply than the earlier WS2812C sheets.
| Source | Says | Page |
|---|---|---|
| ws2812c-c114587 | VDD +3.7 to +5.3 V | 2 |
| ws2812c-v6-c55109521 | VDD +3.3 to +5.3 V | 2 |
What we show. 3.7 V is shown, the safer minimum.
The WS2812C in the full-size package. Same pinout and 5050 outline as the WS2812B, but the sheet specifies a 5 mA per-channel drive instead of 12 mA, which is the practical difference: lower brightness, lower power. In the 5050 the mechanical drawing is shared with the WS2812B sheet (5.0 x 5.4 x 1.57).
Variants
One row per orderable SKU. Everything not listed is inherited from the part above.
| Order code | Face | Lens | White | Pins | Silicon | Status | First seen | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS2812C | — | — | — | 4 | — | active | 2017-05-23 | |
| Stock 9,825 when checked. | ||||||||
| WS2812C-B | — | — | — | 4 | — | active | 2017-05-23 | PDFPDF ↗ |
| Chinese-language sheet; same pinout and timing figures as WS2812C. Stock 895. | ||||||||
| WS2812C-V6 | — | — | — | 4 | V6 | active | 2017-05-23 | PDFPDF |
| V6 revision: 3.3-5.3 V supply, 1 uA quiescent current. V6 and later WorldSemi sheets state that DIN and DOUT may be swapped: the part takes data on either port and forwards it out of the other, so it has no fixed direction. | ||||||||
Pinout
- Power
- Data
- Ground
- Pin 1
- Cut corner
Outline and pin positions checked against the manufacturer datasheet (C114587 WS2812C sheet p2 (same drawing as WS2812B V5)). What this means.
- 1 VDD power
- 2 DOUT data out
- 3 VSS ground
- 4 DIN data in
Protocol — WS2812C
Timings shown from datasheet. Other sources disagree; see the protocol page.
Compatibility
-
drop in
WS2812B
Sold as fully compatible with the WS2812B and driven identically by every library; the difference is packaging and cost, not signalling.
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.
- 2017-05-23 datasheet revision WorldSemi WS2812C datasheet (LCSC C114587) Modify Record: 'V1.0 N New 20170523' ↗ day
Where to buy
Stub data — a few rows so purchase links can grow later. Prices are not tracked.
Similar parts
Same protocol or package first, then the same data scheme and colour channels.
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