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SK6812 RGBW

1-wire RGBW · OPSCO Optoelectronics · sk68xx

Channels
RGBW
Bits / channel
8
Supply ≠
3.7–5.5 V
PWM ≠
1.2 kHz
Backup data
no
Packages
3

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.

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 SK6812 with a real, dedicated white die. Sold in fixed white temperatures - the OPSCO sheet defines the ranks as WS (warm) 2700-3000 K, NW (natural) 4000-4500 K and BW (blue-white) 6000-7000 K, which the catalogue rounds to about 3000, 4500 and 6000 K - and you must choose one at purchase, since it is a property of the die and cannot be changed in software.

Timing

Sources disagree. This is normal and worth understanding: FastLED's numbers are tuned to drive real parts reliably, including clones, while the datasheet gives the manufacturer's nominal figures. Both are recorded here rather than picking one and hiding the conflict.

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
SourceT0HT0LT1HT1LPeriodRateReset±
fastled ↗ 300 ns 900 ns 900 ns 300 ns 1200 ns 833 kHz 80 µs —
Same signalling as the RGB part. The difference is that each pixel takes 32 bits rather than 24, so a run of the same length takes a third longer to send.
datasheet ↗ 300 ns 900 ns 600 ns 600 ns 1200 ns 833 kHz 80 µs 150 ns
Note the disagreement with FastLED on the ONE bit: the datasheet splits it 600/600, FastLED drives it 900/300. Both total 1200 ns, so the bit period matches and both work, but the duty cycle differs substantially. The datasheet also states TH+TL = 1.25 us +/- 600 ns while its own four figures sum to 1.20 us - an inconsistency within its own tolerance.

Clones & compatibility

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

  • 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.

Library support

FastLED
SK6812 ↗
Adafruit_NeoPixel
NEO_GRBW + NEO_KHZ800
WLED
SK6812 RGBW

Adafruit_NeoPixel needs an explicit RGBW colour order constant; FastLED’s RGBW support arrived later than its RGB support.

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.

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