APA105 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: APA Electronic (Shiji Optoelectronics)The APA105 is a single-wire, self-clocking RGB pixel with an integrated 8-bit-per-channel driver in an SMD5050 package, rated across a wide 5V to 24V supply.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SMD5050 with integrated LEDs |
| RGB | Yes |
| RGBW | No |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5 - 24V |
| PWM Rate | 1200Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 40fps |
| Redundant Data Line | No |
Strengths
- Single-wire, self-clocking protocol keeps cabling simple: only power, ground and one signal line per run, with no separate clock conductor to route, terminate or fault.
- Wide 5V to 24V supply range allows higher-voltage runs that reduce voltage drop and the number of power-injection points over long chains, compared with fixed 5V pixels.
- 1200Hz PWM is comfortably flicker-free for video capture up to 40fps, adequate for typical architectural and stage installations without chasing unnecessarily high refresh figures.
Limitations
- As a self-clocked single-wire part, timing is strict: the protocol depends on precise pulse widths, making it sensitive to cable length, signal integrity and controller timing accuracy over long runs.
- No redundant data line and only 8-bit-per-channel depth: a single failed pixel breaks everything downstream, and low-end greyscale gradients are coarser than 12- or 16-bit parts. It is RGB only, with no dedicated white channel.
Overview
The APA105 is a single-wire, self-clocking RGB LED with an integrated driver in an SMD5050 package, commonly attributed to APA Electronic (Shiji Optoelectronics). It is electrically similar to the WS2812 family but rated across a wide 5V to 24V supply. Each pixel latches 8 bits per channel (24-bit colour) and passes the remaining data down the chain. Its 1200Hz PWM is comfortably flicker-free for capture up to 40fps, suiting architectural and stage work rather than high-speed cinematography. ENTTEC pixel controllers (OCTO 71521, PIXELATOR MINI / MK2 70067/70068, DIN PIXIE 73539, PLINK Injectors) drive a wide range of pixel protocols; contact ENTTEC about chips not listed. ENTTEC is not affiliated with APA Electronic.
Compatible ENTTEC controllers
Mapping an installation? ELM, ENTTEC's free LED pixel mapping software, drives the controllers above over Art-Net and sACN, from a single fixture to building-scale maps.
ENTTEC has been engineering lighting control in Australia since 1999, and shipping LED pixel controllers since the original Pixelator in 2014.