FeatherWing NeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED

FeatherWing NeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED - A Feather board without ambition is a Feather board without FeatherWings! This is the NeoPixel FeatherWing, a 4x8 RGB LED Add-on For All Feather Boards! Using our Feather Stacking Headers or Feather Female Headers you can connect a FeatherWing on top or bottom of your Feather board and make your Feather board strut like a peacock at a rave.

Put on your sunglasses before staring into these 32 configurable eye-blistering RGB LEDs. Arranged in a 4x8 matrix, each pixel is individually addressable. Only one pin is required to control all the LEDs. On the bottom we have jumpers for the DIN line to any of the I/O pins on a Feather.  Works with any/all of our Feathers! You can cut the default jumper trace and use any pin you like. (In particular, the default pin for Feather Huzzah ESP8266 must be moved, try pin #15!) It works with but is not recommended for ESP32 Feather at this time due to a NeoPixel timing issue that makes it hard to control more than 30 pixels.

Frequently Asked Questions AboutFeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED

Q1: What is a FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED?

A FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED is an add-on board for Adafruit's Feather microcontroller boards. It features 32 individually addressable RGB LEDs arranged in a 4x8 matrix, which can be controlled using a single data pin from the Feather board.

Q2: What is the purpose of a FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED?

The purpose of a FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED is to provide an easy-to-use platform for adding a matrix of colorful RGB LEDs to your Feather projects. It can be used for a wide range of applications, such as displaying status information, creating animations, and adding visual effects to your projects.

Q3: What type of microcontroller boards is compatible with the FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED?

The FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED is designed to be compatible with any Feather microcontroller board, including the Feather M0, Feather M4, and Feather nRF52840.

Q4: How is the FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED controlled?

The FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED is controlled using a single data pin from the Feather board. The data pin sends serial data to the LEDs, which allows you to control the color and brightness of each LED individually.

Q5: How many LEDs are included on the FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED?

The FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED features 32 individually addressable RGB LEDs arranged in a 4x8 matrix.

Q6: What is the power requirement for the FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED?

The FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED requires 5V DC power to operate. The maximum current draw is approximately 350mA when all LEDs are at full brightness.

Q7: Is it possible to chain multiple FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED boards together?

Yes, it is possible to chain multiple FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED boards together to create larger LED matrices. Each board requires its own data pin and power source, but the data signals can be daisy-chained from one board to the next.

Q8: What programming languages can be used to control the FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED?

The FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED can be controlled using a wide range of programming languages, including CircuitPython, Arduino, and MicroPython.

Q9: Is it possible to control the FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED using a mobile device?

Yes, it is possible to control the FeatherWingNeoPixel 4x8 RGB LED using a mobile device by connecting the Feather board to the device using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and using a compatible app to send commands to the board.

To make it easy to start, the LEDs are by default powered from either the USB power line or Battery power line, whichever is higher. Two Schottky diodes are used to switch between the two. This power arrangement is able to handle 1 Amp of constant current draw and maybe 2A peak, so not a good way to make a flashlight. It's better for colorful effects.

A level-up shifter converts the 3.3V logic of the Feather to the power line voltage. If, say, you need MORE blinky, you can chain these together. For the second Wing, connect the DIN connection to the first Wing's DOUT. Also connect a ground pin together and power with an independant 5V supply to keep from loading the power supply too much.

Check out our tutorial for pinouts, usage, and more!

TECHNICAL DETAILS