SK6822 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: Opsco Optoelectronic (Normand)
A 5V single-wire, individually addressable RGB pixel in an SMD5050 package with a built-in controller and a redundant data line for run reliability.
Specifications
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SMD5050 with integrated LEDs |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | No |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5V |
| PWM Rate | 1200Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 40fps |
| Redundant Data Line | Yes |
Strengths
- Single-wire, self-clocking control: one data conductor per run means simpler cabling and no separate clock line to route, terminate, or shield.
- Built-in redundant data line: pixels can keep receiving data past a single failed joint or dead IC, improving reliability on longer installed runs.
- 1200Hz PWM refresh is comfortably flicker-free for on-camera work up to 40fps, and 8-bit-per-channel (24-bit RGB) gives standard smooth colour mixing in a familiar SMD5050 footprint.
Limitations
- As a data-only, timing-sensitive protocol, the SK6822 depends on precise pulse widths: long data leads, marginal level-shifting, or noisy 5V distribution can corrupt the stream, so the first-pixel feed and power injection need care on longer runs.
- 8-bit-per-channel resolution means colour depth is standard, not extended, so very low-level dimming and slow fades can show visible stepping compared with higher-bit-depth chips; RGB only, with no dedicated white channel.
Overview
The SK6822 is a 5V, individually addressable RGB pixel that carries its integrated controller inside an SMD5050 package. It is a data-only, single-wire protocol: one self-clocking line feeds 8-bit-per-channel (24-bit RGB) data down the chain, with each IC latching its slot and forwarding the rest. It refreshes at a 1200Hz PWM rate, comfortably flicker-free for capture up to 40fps, and adds a redundant data line so a single broken joint need not kill the pixels beyond it. It suits gradients, animation, and general architectural runs. ENTTEC is not affiliated with Opsco Optoelectronic.
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.