SK6805 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: Opsco Optoelectronics (Normand)
A single-wire, individually addressable 5V RGB/RGBW pixel LED with an integrated 8-bit-per-channel controller in a compact SMD2427/5050 package.
Specifications
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SMD2427/5050 with integrated LEDs |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | Yes |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5V |
| PWM Rate | 1200Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 40fps |
| Redundant Data Line | No |
Strengths
- Single-wire, self-clocking: timing is embedded in the data signal, so installs need only power plus one data conductor per run, with no separate clock line to route, terminate, or fail.
- Compact SMD2427/5050 package with an integrated controller and 8-bit-per-channel (24-bit RGB) resolution, available in RGB and RGBW variants for tight-pitch strips, tiles, and small fixtures.
- 1200Hz PWM keeps the output comfortably flicker-free and camera-safe for typical broadcast and on-camera work up to 40fps.
Limitations
- No redundant data line: because the single data line is daisy-chained pixel to pixel, one failed IC or broken joint blanks every pixel downstream, so long runs benefit from data injection points.
- Being self-clocking, it is timing-sensitive: line length, connector quality, and signal integrity matter more than on a clocked two-wire part, and the 1200Hz PWM, while flicker-free up to 40fps, is a modest ceiling for high-speed camera work well above that frame rate.
Overview
The SK6805 is a single-wire, self-clocking addressable pixel LED: data and timing travel on one line, so no separate clock conductor is run. Each device carries an integrated controller driving 8 bits per channel (24-bit RGB, or RGBW where the four-channel part is used) and passes remaining data down the chain. It runs at 5V in a compact SMD2427/5050 package with integrated LEDs, and its 1200Hz PWM keeps it comfortably flicker-free for typical use up to 40fps. There is no redundant data line, so a single break stops all downstream pixels. The SK68xx family is commonly attributed to Opsco Optoelectronics (Normand). ENTTEC is not affiliated with Opsco Optoelectronics (Normand).
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.