WS2814 Pixel Protocol
Manufacturer: WorldsemiA single-wire, self-clocking RGBW pixel protocol in an SOP12 package, with a redundant backup data line that keeps the string running if one pixel fails.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Clock Type | Data-Only |
| Color Resolution | 8 Bits |
| Physical Package | SOP12 |
| RGB | No |
| RGBW | Yes |
| Output Pixel Voltage | 5 - 12V |
| PWM Rate | 2000Hz |
| Suitable Camera | Up to 67fps |
| Redundant Data Line | Yes |
Strengths
- Redundant backup data line: if a single pixel fails, the following pixels keep receiving data instead of the whole downstream run going dark, which improves reliability on long chains and permanent installs.
- True RGBW output (dedicated white channel alongside red, green and blue) gives cleaner whites and pastels than mixing white from the RGB channels, at 8 bits per channel.
- Wide 5 to 12V operating range and simple single-wire, 3-conductor wiring (data plus power); higher-voltage operation reduces voltage drop and helps sustain colour consistency over longer runs.
Limitations
- Data-only single-wire timing is self-clocked and timing-sensitive: long data runs need proper signal integrity (short data hops, injection/repeaters where required) since there is no separate clock line to lock onto.
- 8 bits per channel (256 levels per colour) is standard for this family but can show visible banding on very slow, low-level fades compared with higher-bit-depth chips; the 2000Hz PWM is comfortably flicker-free for cameras up to about 67fps but is not aimed at very high-speed cinema capture.
Overview
The WS2814 is a single-wire, self-clocking RGBW pixel IC in an SOP12 package, related to the WS2812 family but with four channels (red, green, blue, and a dedicated white) at 8 bits per channel and a wider 5 to 12V supply range. Each pixel carries a redundant backup data line, so one failed LED does not black out the rest of the string. Its 2000Hz PWM rate stays comfortably flicker-free for cameras up to about 67fps. ENTTEC pixel controllers such as OCTO, PIXELATOR MINI / MK2, DIN PIXIE and PLINK Injectors drive a wide range of pixel protocols; contact ENTTEC about chips not listed. ENTTEC is not affiliated with Worldsemi.
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.