PL9823

1-wire RGB · Unknown · ws281x

Channels
RGB
Bits / channel
8
Supply
4.5–5.5 V
PWM
Backup data
no
Packages
1

Manufacturer is recorded as unknown. It was previously attributed to APA Electronic here, but no source could be found that actually establishes who makes it - it is sold widely under the bare part number with no identifiable die maker. An unattributed part is better than a wrong attribution.

A through-hole 5 mm addressable LED, the main alternative to the APA106. Distinct enough from the WS2812B in both timing and colour order that FastLED gives it its own chipset entry.

Timing

hilo017103420T0H 350nsT1H 1360ns0 bit1 bit
T0H 350 / T0L 1360 · T1H 1360 / T1L 350 · period 1710 ns · reset 0 µs source: fastled
SourceT0HT0LT1HT1LPeriodRateReset±
fastled 350 ns 1360 ns 1360 ns 350 ns 1710 ns 585 kHz 0 µs
A 1710 ns bit period, noticeably slower than the WS2812B’s 1250 ns. FastLED’s 0 us reset means “unspecified in the driver”, not “none needed”.

Clones & compatibility

“Compatible” is never stated bare here — each relationship carries how strong the claim is, and what bites if you assume too much.

  • electrically similar WS2812B

    Often sold interchangeably with the APA106 as a through-hole "NeoPixel", but the bit period differs from the WS2812B and the colour order is typically RGB rather than GRB. FastLED carries it as its own chipset for that reason. source ↗

Library support

FastLED
PL9823
Adafruit_NeoPixel
NEO_RGB + NEO_KHZ800

Note the RGB rather than GRB colour order.

Parts using this protocol

Dating evidence

Evidence, not a release date. A library commit proves the part existed by that date and says nothing about how long before.

  • 2015-11-06 first library support FastLED — first commit introducing PL9823 day