addressable.wiki

WS2813

1-wire RGB · WorldSemi · ws281x

Channels
RGB
Bits / channel
8
Supply
4.5–5.5 V
PWM
2 kHz
Backup data
yes
Packages
1

Adds a backup data line: each LED receives data from both its immediate predecessor and the one before that, so a single dead LED does not blank the rest of the run. Worth it for installations you cannot easily reach.

Refresh & flicker

Higher PWM frequency than WS2812B, so less camera flicker.

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.

hilo012502500T0H 375nsT1H 875ns0 bit1 bit
T0H 375 / T0L 0 · T1H 875 / T1L 0 · period 1250 ns · reset 300 µs source: datasheet
SourceT0HT0LT1HT1LPeriodRateReset±
fastled ↗ 320 ns 960 ns 640 ns 640 ns 1280 ns 781 kHz 300 µs —
datasheet ↗ 375 ns — 875 ns — 1250 ns 800 kHz 300 µs 300 ns
The datasheet gives RANGES, not nominals: T0H 300-450 ns and T1H 750-1000 ns; the values here are their midpoints. T0L and T1L are printed as “300ns~100us” - an open-ended minimum rather than a range, so they are recorded as unknown rather than invented. Note that FastLED drives T1H at 640 ns, which is BELOW the datasheet’s 750 ns minimum; it works in practice on real parts, but it is out of spec on paper.

Clones & compatibility

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

  • near clone WS2812B

    Close enough that libraries drive it with WS2812 timings, but it needs a longer reset (300 us) and has a second data input, so it is a 5-pin part on strip. Not pin-compatible.

  • protocol compatible of this WS2814

    Same timing family and backup line, but four channels rather than three.

  • near clone of this WS2815

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

Library support

FastLED
WS2813 ↗
Adafruit_NeoPixel
NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800
WLED
WS281x

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.

  • 2016-05 datasheet revision WS2813 datasheet published by Normand Electronic; the month is taken from the publisher's own upload path (/upload/201605/) ↗ month
  • 2016-07-18 first library support FastLED — first commit introducing WS2813 ↗ day
  • 2018-01-10 first library support WLED — first commit introducing WS2813 ↗ day