addressable.wiki

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

PL9823 bit timingPL9823 bit timing: a zero bit is 350 nanoseconds high then 1360 low; a one bit is 1360 high then 350 low; reset 0 microseconds low1 · Bit encoding, to scaleDINhighlowbit 0 period 1710 nsbit 1 period 1710 nsT0H 350 nsT1H 1360 nsT0L 1360 nsT1L 350 ns"0" bit"1" bit050010001500200025003000time, ns2 · One frame: 24 bits, most-significant bit firstDIN170110010007100110101700101100bitR · 8 bitsG · 8 bitsB · 8 bitsWire order RGB · frame = 24 × ~1710 ns ≈ 41 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 ≥ 0 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.
T0H 350 / T0L 1360 · T1H 1360 / T1L 350 ns · period 1710 ns · reset 0 µs source: fastled (driver-tuned, not the datasheet)
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