WS2811
1-wire RGB · WorldSemi · ws281x
- Channels
- RGB
- Bits / channel
- 8
- Supply
- 5–24 V
- PWM
- —
- Backup data
- no
- Packages
- 0
The ancestor of the family: a standalone three-channel constant-current driver rather than an LED. Included because “WS2811” is what a lot of 12 V strip is sold as, and because the WS2812 is essentially this IC bonded into a 5050 package with the LEDs.
Refresh & flicker
An external driver IC, not an integrated LED. It drives three channels of discrete LEDs, which is why it appears in 12 V strip modules of three LEDs per IC rather than in a single package.
Timing
| Source | T0H | T0L | T1H | T1L | Period | Rate | Reset | ± |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fastled ↗ | 500 ns | 2000 ns | 1200 ns | 1300 ns | 2500 ns | 400 kHz | 280 µs | — |
| FastLED also ships an 800 kHz WS2811 variant (250/350/650). Later WS2811 silicon is commonly 800 kHz; early parts are 400 kHz. Which one you have is a coin toss without testing. | ||||||||
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 of this
UCS1903
Both are external three-channel drivers used in 12 V strip at a similar data rate, but the bit timings differ and they are not interchangeable without reconfiguring the driver.
Library support
- FastLED
WS2811↗- Adafruit_NeoPixel
NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ400- WLED
WS281x
Ubiquitous. Every library supports it.
Parts using this protocol
No package is catalogued for this protocol yet — it is seeded for family completeness, or it is a driver IC that drives external LEDs rather than shipping as an integrated package.
Dating evidence
Evidence, not a release date. A library commit proves the part existed by that date and says nothing about how long before.