The APA102 RGB LED strip is a high-performance, individually addressable light strip that features full-color RGB LEDs. It allows you to create stunning lighting effects and animations for various applications, such as holiday decorations, stage lighting, signage, or architectural lighting.
Product Parameters
| Item | Voltage | Power | Pixel Qty | LED Qty | Cutting Unit | Break Continue | PCB Width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STB-TTL-3pin-RGB-30-5V | DC5V | 7.2W/m | 30 | 30 | 33.33mm | No | 10mm |
| STB-TTL-3pin-RGB-60-5V | DC5V | 14.4W/m | 60 | 60 | 16.67mm | No | 10mm |
| STB-TTL-3pin-RGB-144-5V | DC5V | 28.8W/m | 144 | 144 | 6.9mm | No | 12mm |
APA102 RGB LED Strip Series
Product Features
APA102 RGB LED strip lights can be used for a variety of purposes, including:
• Stage/events lighting – RGB LED strips are commonly used for stage lighting, event lighting, and other entertainment industry applications. They can provide intense colors and be synchronized to music.
• DIY lighting projects – The flexible LED strip lights are great for DIY lighting projects. You can use them in custom furniture, wall art, holiday decorations, and more. They can be cut to size and bend to almost any shape.
• Backlighting – They work well for backlighting monitors, TVs, and other displays. The RGB LEDs allow you to customize the backlight color.
And many more anywhere that flexible, customizable RGB colorful lighting is needed.
Related Products You May Need:
Accessories:
Cable Connectors:
Controllers
APA104 vs APA102 vs APA102C
Nowadays, there are some new built-in IC light strips on the market such as APA102, APA102C and APA104, so do you know what is the difference between them? Don’t worry if you don’t know. This article will help you organize your thoughts. Let’s introduce their differences to you. At the end of this article, you’ll know more about them.
Similarities and differences between APA104, APA102, and APA102C LED strip?
Table: APA104 vs APA102 vs APA102c
| Item | APA104 | APA102 | APA102C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voltage | DC5V~12V | DC5V | DC5V |
| Color | RGB | RGB | RGB |
| PWM Rate | 400 HZ | 1920 HZ | 1920 HZ |
| IC Type | Built-in IC | Built-in IC | Built-in IC |
| Cut Unit | 1 LED | 1LED | 1LED |
| Break Continue | No,signal channel transmission | Yes,dual signal channel transmission | Yes,dual signal channel transmission |
APA104 LED strip
This pixel protocol was designed by APA Electronics Corporation of Taiwan. APA104, also known as “Superled”, is one of the most commonly used protocols for pixel lighting displays. The control circuitry and LEDs are integrated into a 5050 SMD package, which provides a small physical size for each pixel.
APA104 Advantages: Voltage up to 12, which allows for longer cable length.
APA104 Disadvantages
1. Low PWM rate makes the pixel not suitable for camera use.
2. Data-only limit refresh rate is limited by protocol speed, which makes it slower.
3. Only 8 bits per color makes the dimming curve not smooth.
4. Data is not redundant.
APA102 LED strip
The APA102 LED strip can be seen as an upgraded version of the WS2812 strip. The APA102 LEDs use SPI so you can push data much faster than with the WS2812’s 800KHz protocol and they also have a higher PWM refresh rate with less flickering, especially at low brightness.
APA102 Advantages:
1. The presence of the clock allows faster refresh rates.
2. High PWM rates allow these pixels to be captured with cameras up to 64fps.
APA102 Disadvantages:
1. Limited to 5v resulting in short cable length.
2. Only 8 bits per color makes the dimming curve not smooth.
3.No data redundancy.
4. Lower heat dissipation efficiency than APA102C.
APA102C LED strip
The APA102C addressable light strip uses a 2-wire communication protocol consisting of clock and data lines. While this requires one more wire than a standard WS2812 addressable LED, the advantage is faster data and refresh rates, making it ideal for Persistence of Vision (aka POV) projects.
APA102C Advantages
1. The presence of the clock allows for faster refresh rates.
2. High PWM rates allow these pixels to be captured with cameras up to 64fps.
3. More efficient heat dissipation than APA102.
APA102C Disadvantages
1. Limited to 5v resulting in short cable length
2. Only 8 bits per color makes the dimming curve not smooth
3. No data redundancy
APA102C is the clone of APA102, both can be build in IC in the 5050 chip as same as ws2812b and ws2811, but they are much expensive than APA104. In addition to this, since the refresh rate of APA102 and APA102C is faster than APA104, it is more stable and the lighting effect is better. If you are looking for cost-effective light strip, we recommend APA104 led strip, conversely, if you pursue better lighting effect, we suggest you to choose APA102 or APA102C.
Conclusion
The APA102 RGB LED strip is a type of individually addressable LED strip that allows for precise control over the color and brightness of each LED. It uses the APA102 LED driver IC, which supports a high data transfer rate, a 24-bit color depth, and a two-wire serial interface. This allows for smooth dimming, color mixing, and other complex lighting effects. The APA102 LED strip is easy to install and can be cut to a specific length using scissors. It is widely used in a variety of applications, including decorative lighting, architectural lighting, and stage lighting, among others. Overall, the APA102 LED strip offers a high degree of control and flexibility, making it a popular choice for designers, lighting professionals, and DIY enthusiasts.
FAQs related to the APA102 RGB LED strip light
1. Is it possible to connect multiple APA102 RGB LED strips together?
Yes, you can connect multiple APA102 RGB LED strips together to create longer strips or larger installations. But please supply power every 5 meters to avoid voltage drop, and confirm whether the LED controller supports controlling multiple pixels.
2. Can I use the APA102 LED strip to create a music control lighting effect?
Yes, you can use the APA102 LED strip to create dynamic lighting effects that respond to music or other sounds. Just need to connect the strip with the controller that support sound control. There are many sound controllers available that are compatible with the APA102 LED strip, such as the SP series mini controllers and the popular Madrix controllers.
3. Can I control each LED on the APA102 RGB LED strip individually?
Yes, with the APA102 LED Driver IC, you can control each LED on the APA102 strip individually. This allows precise control over the color and brightness of each LED, making it ideal for creating complex lighting effects.
4. Can I use an APA102 LED strip with an Arduino board?
Yes, you can use the APA102 RGB LED strip with an Arduino board by connecting the strip to the Arduino board’s digital pins and using the appropriate code to control the strip.