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
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| 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).
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.