WS2818A Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: Worldsemi
A single-wire, individually addressable 5V RGB pixel protocol with an integrated 8-bit driver IC and a backup data line for break-point resilience.
Specifications
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SOP8 |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | No |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5V |
| PWM Rate | 2000Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 67fps |
| Redundant Data Line | Yes |
Strengths
- Redundant (backup) data line means a single failed pixel does not necessarily kill the rest of the run, a genuine advantage for long installs where a break-point would otherwise dark out everything downstream
- Single-wire, self-clocking design needs only one data conductor plus power and ground, keeping cabling and connector count low
- 2000Hz PWM is comfortably flicker-free at the rated 67fps, so it is safe for typical on-camera use without over-specifying refresh
Limitations
- As a data-only single-wire protocol the timing is tight and self-clocked: long leads, marginal levels, or electrical noise can corrupt the signal, so injection points and clean 5V distribution matter over distance
- 8 bits per channel (256 levels) is standard-depth colour; slow fades and very low-level dimming can show visible banding compared with higher-bit-depth drivers
- 5V operation causes noticeable voltage drop along a run, so longer strings need regular power injection to hold colour accuracy at the far end
- RGB only, with no dedicated white channel, so pastel and true-white mixes rely on combining the three colours rather than a separate white LED
Overview
The WS2818A is a single-wire, self-clocking RGB pixel protocol from Worldsemi, closely compatible with the WS2812 family. Each 5V pixel carries an integrated driver that latches 24-bit colour (8 bits per channel), regenerates the signal, and forwards the remainder down the chain. Its defining feature is a redundant data line: if one pixel's forward output fails, a backup path lets the rest of the run keep receiving data, improving reliability on long strings. PWM runs at 2000Hz, comfortably flicker-free for cameras up to 67fps. Pixels ship in an SOP8 package. ENTTEC is not affiliated with Worldsemi.
Compatible ENTTEC controllers
Sku: 71521
Sku: 73539
Sku: 70067
Sku: 70068
Sku: 73-545
Sku: 73924
ENTTEC has been engineering lighting control in Australia since 1999, and shipping LED pixel controllers since the original Pixelator in 2014.