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5.4 × 5.0 mm 6 pins top-emitting

WS2815

5050 · smd · WS2815 · WorldSemi

1-wire RGB 12 V backup data line active

Also sold as WS2815 5050, 12V NeoPixel

At a glance

Colour
RGB8 bits per channel
Data
1-wiretimed pulses on one line
Supply ≠
12 Vbackup data line
Size
5.4 × 5.0 × 1.5 mm6 pins · top
Max current
36 mA12 mA per channel
PWM ≠
2 kHzreset 300 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 WS2815

Reset period

The original sheet asks for 300 µs; the WS2815B-V1 sheet for more than 280 µs.

What each source says about reset period
SourceSaysPage
ws2815 RES 300 µs or more 5
ws2815b-v1-c5446699 RES > 280 µs 3
FastLED led_timing.h (driver-tuned) no reset recorded —

What we show. Both datasheet sets are listed; 300 µs satisfies both.

Bit timing

The bit windows differ widely between the original and V1 sheets, and FastLED’s values sit outside the original sheet.

What each source says about bit timing
SourceSaysPage
ws2815 T1H 750 ns–2 µs, T0L 750 ns–2 µs 4
ws2815b-v1-c5446699 T1H 580–840 ns, T0L 900–5000 ns 3
FastLED led_timing.h (driver-tuned) T1H 1340 ns, T0L 1640 ns, period 1890 ns —

What we show. The datasheet sets are listed in the timing table. For the very wide windows the stored midpoint is not a usable timing; read the windows.

PWM frequency

WorldSemi sheets give 2 kHz and 4 kHz, and one sheet gives both.

What each source says about pwm frequency
SourceSaysPage
ws2815 refresh frequency 2 kHz 2
ws2815b-v1-c5446699 "scan frequency is of 2KHz" and "Refresh Frequency updates to 4KHz" 1
ws2815b-4020-c42417605 port scan frequency 4 kHz 1

What we show. 2 kHz is shown (the original sheet). Later B sheets say 4 kHz.

Supply voltage

The sheets give a window around 12 V that moves between generations.

What each source says about supply voltage
SourceSaysPage
ws2815 VDD +9 to +13 V 4
ws2815b-v1-c5446699 VDD +9.5 to +13.5 V 2

What we show. The nominal 12 V rail is shown, not either window, so the part is found by the “12 V” filter. Stay inside the window on the sheet for your revision.

The 12 V part. Running at 12 V means about a quarter of the current for the same power, so voltage drop over a long run is far less of a problem - the reason it dominates architectural and under-cabinet installations.

Pin numbering is now checked against the mirrored datasheet and the LCSC sheets: 1 NC, 2 VDD (12 V), 3 DO, 4 DIN, 5 GND, 6 BIN (the newer sheets call pins 4 and 6 DIN1 and DIN2). The earlier VDD/DOUT/BIN/VSS/DIN/NC order was wrong. Six pads, three down each long side. In the top view pin 1 is bottom-right, 2 and 3 run up the right side, 4 to 6 come back down the left; the chamfered corner marks pin 1.

The current LCSC WS2815 sheets give a different timing table from the mirrored one (T0L and T1L windows up to 5 us); see the protocol.

Variants

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

Order codeFaceLensWhite PinsSiliconStatusFirst seenDatasheet
WS2815 white clear — 6 — active 2018-08-20 V1.3PDF
WS2815B-V1 — — — 6 V1 active 2018-08-20 V1.3PDF
Stock 485 when checked. Pins named DIN1/DIN2.
WS2815B-B-V1 — — — 6 V1 active 2018-08-20 V1.3PDFPDF ↗
Stock 3,140.
WS2815F — — — 6 — active 2018-08-20 V1.3PDFPDF ↗
Stock 110.
WS2815E-V1 — — — 6 V1 active 2018-08-20 V1.3PDFPDF ↗
Both pin 1 and pin 2 are VDD (no NC). Stock 200.
WS2815B-W — — — 6 — active 2018-08-20 V1.3PDFPDF ↗
Pin 1 is a VCC IC-supply pin that “may float or take a filter capacitor to ground in PCB layout”. Stock 25.
WS2815A-5054MP — — — 6 — active 2018-08-20 V1.3PDFPDF ↗
A different pin order from every other WS2815: a separate 5 V IC supply (VCC) alongside the 12 V LED supply, so it needs both rails, and logic input is 3.7-5.3 V. LCSC lists the package as 5050-6P; the sheet is picture-only for the outline. Stock 65.

Pinout

These variants do not share a pinout. Check which one you are buying before laying out a board.

WS2815
WS2815 5050 package, top and side viewPin 1 is ringed. pin 1 NC (no connect), pin 2 VDD (power), pin 3 DO (data out), pin 4 DIN (data in), pin 5 GND (ground), pin 6 BIN (backup in).11 NCno connect22 VDDpower33 DOdata out44 DINdata in55 GNDground66 BINbackup in5.4 mm overall5.0 mmtop view1.5 mmside view
  • No connect
  • Power
  • Data
  • Ground
  • Backup data
  • Pin 1
  • Cut corner

Outline and pin positions checked against the manufacturer datasheet (WS2815 sheet (mirrored, ws2815.pdf p2)). What this means.

  1. 1 NC nc
  2. 2 VDD power
  3. 3 DO data out
  4. 4 DIN data in
  5. 5 GND ground
  6. 6 BIN backup data in
WS2815B-V1WS2815B-B-V1WS2815F
WS2815 5050 package, top and side viewPin 1 is ringed. pin 1 NC (no connect), pin 2 VDD (power), pin 3 DO (data out), pin 4 DIN1 (data in), pin 5 GND (ground), pin 6 DIN2 (backup in).11 NCno connect22 VDDpower33 DOdata out44 DIN1data in55 GNDground66 DIN2backup in5.4 mm overall5.0 mmtop view1.5 mmside view
  • No connect
  • Power
  • Data
  • Ground
  • Backup data
  • Pin 1
  • Cut corner

Outline and pin positions checked against the manufacturer datasheet (WS2815 sheet (mirrored, ws2815.pdf p2)). What this means.

  1. 1 NC nc
  2. 2 VDD power
  3. 3 DO data out
  4. 4 DIN1 data in
  5. 5 GND ground
  6. 6 DIN2 backup data in
WS2815E-V1
WS2815 5050 package, top and side viewPin 1 is ringed. pin 1 VDD (power), pin 2 VDD (power), pin 3 DO (data out), pin 4 DIN (data in), pin 5 GND (ground), pin 6 BIN (backup in).11 VDDpower22 VDDpower33 DOdata out44 DINdata in55 GNDground66 BINbackup in5.4 mm overall5.0 mmtop view1.5 mmside view
  • Power
  • Data
  • Ground
  • Backup data
  • Pin 1
  • Cut corner

Outline and pin positions checked against the manufacturer datasheet (WS2815 sheet (mirrored, ws2815.pdf p2)). What this means.

  1. 1 VDD power
  2. 2 VDD power
  3. 3 DO data out
  4. 4 DIN data in
  5. 5 GND ground
  6. 6 BIN backup data in
WS2815B-W
WS2815 5050 package, top and side viewPin 1 is ringed. pin 1 VCC (power), pin 2 VDD (power), pin 3 DO (data out), pin 4 DIN (data in), pin 5 GND (ground), pin 6 BIN (backup in).11 VCCpower22 VDDpower33 DOdata out44 DINdata in55 GNDground66 BINbackup in5.4 mm overall5.0 mmtop view1.5 mmside view
  • Power
  • Data
  • Ground
  • Backup data
  • Pin 1
  • Cut corner

Outline and pin positions checked against the manufacturer datasheet (WS2815 sheet (mirrored, ws2815.pdf p2)). What this means.

  1. 1 VCC power
  2. 2 VDD power
  3. 3 DO data out
  4. 4 DIN data in
  5. 5 GND ground
  6. 6 BIN backup data in
WS2815A-5054MP
WS2815 5050 package, top and side viewPin 1 is ringed. pin 1 BIN (backup in), pin 2 GND (ground), pin 3 VCC (power), pin 4 DO (data out), pin 5 VDD (power), pin 6 DIN (data in).11 BINbackup in22 GNDground33 VCCpower44 DOdata out55 VDDpower66 DINdata in5.4 mm overall5.0 mmtop view1.5 mmside view
  • Backup data
  • Ground
  • Power
  • Data
  • Pin 1
  • Cut corner

Outline and pin positions checked against the manufacturer datasheet (WS2815 sheet (mirrored, ws2815.pdf p2)). What this means.

  1. 1 BIN backup data in
  2. 2 GND ground
  3. 3 VCC power
  4. 4 DO data out
  5. 5 VDD power
  6. 6 DIN data in

Protocol — WS2815

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

WS2815 bit timingWS2815 bit timing: a zero bit is 350 nanoseconds high then 1375 low; a one bit is 1375 high then 350 low; tolerance plus or minus 300 nanoseconds; reset 300 microseconds low1 · Bit encoding, to scaleDINhighlowbit 0 period 1725 nsbit 1 period 1725 nsT0H 350 ±300 nsT1H 1375 ±300 nsT0L 1375 ±300 nsT1L 350 ±300 ns"0" bit"1" bit050010001500200025003000time, ns± tolerance on each falling edge2 · One frame: 24 bits, most-significant bit firstDIN170110010007100110101700101100bitG · 8 bitsR · 8 bitsB · 8 bitsWire order GRB · frame = 24 × ~1725 ns ≈ 41.4 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 ≥ 300 µs (not to scale)4 · Cascade: each DOUT feeds the next DINMCULED 1DINDOUTLED 2DINDOUTLED NDINDOUTLED 1 keeps the first 24 bits, re-shapes the signal and sends the rest out on DOUT;LED 2 keeps the next 24, and so on. The last LED's DOUT is left unconnected.BIN (backup): tied to the previous pixel's DIN
T0H 350 / T0L 1375 · T1H 1375 / T1L 350 ns · ±300 ns · period 1725 ns · reset 300 µs source: datasheet

Compatibility

  • near clone WS2813

    Same backup-data-line concept, but 12 V and a different bit period. Do not assume WS2813 timings will drive it.

  • electrically similar of this GS8208

    Both are 12 V single-wire parts with a backup data line, and both are driven with WS2812-family timings, but they are different silicon with different specifications.

  • near clone of this WS2818

    Both are 12 V parts with a backup line; the bit periods differ (1200 ns vs 1890 ns), so they are not interchangeable without changing timings.

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.

  • 2018-08-20 datasheet revision WorldSemi WS2815B-V1 datasheet Modify Record: V1.0 "New" ↗ day
  • 2020-01-13 first library support WLED — first commit introducing WS2815 ↗ day
  • 2024-09-12 first library support FastLED — first commit introducing WS2815 ↗ 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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