APA109 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: APA Electronic (Shiji Lighting)
A single-wire, individually addressable RGBW LED pixel with an integrated 8-bit-per-channel driver IC, running at 5V with a 1200Hz PWM refresh.
Specifications
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SMD5050 with integrated LEDs |
| RGB | No |
| RGBW | Yes |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5V |
| PWM Rate | 1200Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 40fps |
| Redundant Data Line | No |
Strengths
- Single-wire, self-clocking interface: only data, 5V and ground are needed, so cabling is simpler and cheaper than two-wire clocked pixels with no clock conductor to route or shield.
- True RGBW in one SMD5050 package: the dedicated white channel gives cleaner whites and pastel tints than mixing from RGB alone, useful for architectural and stage washes.
- 1200Hz PWM is comfortably flicker-free at the rated 40fps, so it holds up on camera for typical broadcast and event capture without visible banding of the refresh.
Limitations
- As a data-only single-wire chip, timing is tight and cumulative down the chain: long runs need clean 5V, level-shifted data and power injection, or the signal degrades.
- No redundant data line, so one failed pixel or broken joint kills every pixel downstream; plan for backup paths or spare-pixel access on critical installs.
- 1200Hz PWM and 8-bit depth are adequate rather than generous: fine to the rated 40fps but with little headroom for high-speed cinema capture beyond it, and 8 bits per channel can show steps on slow, subtle fades.
Overview
The APA109 is a single-wire, self-clocking addressable pixel: data, 5V power and ground only, no separate clock line. Each SMD5050 package houses an integrated driver plus RGBW emitters, so it carries a dedicated white channel alongside red, green and blue at 8 bits per channel. Pixels are daisy-chained, latching their own byte and forwarding the rest down the line. Its 1200Hz PWM is comfortably flicker-free for on-camera work up to the rated 40fps, suiting architectural runs and moderate broadcast use. It is commonly attributed to APA Electronic (Shiji Lighting). ENTTEC is not affiliated with APA Electronic.
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.