This is a quick guide about WS2812B, WS2811, SK6812, and WS2815. They are some popular types of dreamcolor LED strip lights, which are also known as addressable LED strips and programmable LED lights.
How to choose the right dream color LED strip lights for your project from WS2812B, WS2811, SK6812, and WS2815? Which one is suitable for your needs? This is the main purpose of this blog to help those who are just getting started with addressable LED strip lights.
WS2812B, WS2811, SK6812, and WS2815 are always discussed together like WS2812B vs WS2811, WS2812B vs SK6812, and WS2812B vs WS2815. This blog combines these central ideas to give you a more comprehensive understanding of their usage and installation.
Comparing the Characteristics of WS2812B, WS2811, SK6812, and WS2815
- WS2812B – WS2812B is a kind of RGBIC LED strip that lighting users are most familiar with. Its features are a 5VDC drive and each LED on the strip can be individually addressed.
- WS2811 – WS2811 is known for its single-wire data transmission, high refresh rate, high PWM frequency, high current drive, low power consumption, compatibility, and cost-effectiveness, making it a popular choice for many addressable LED lighting applications.
- SK6812 – SK6812 is a special one among them, it not only has RGB color, but is also compatible with single white, dual color temperature, and RGBW color. The conventional impression is that SK6812 is a single data line for signal transmission, but you don’t know that SK6812 also has a breakpoint resume version of RGBW/RGB LED strips. And not all SK6812 strips are individually addressable.
- WS2815 – WS2815 has two data lines, which adds a layer of security to the data delivery. In addition to the classic RGB LED strips, we have recently introduced the WS2815 single white running strip lights to offer more options to your project. WS2815 is also an individually addressable LED strip.
LED Strip Specifications For WS2812B, WS2811, SK6812, And WS2815
| Type | WS2812B | WS2811 | SK6812 | WS2815 |
| IC Placement | Built-in | External | Built-in / External | Built-in |
| Working Voltage | 5VDC | 5/12/24VDC | 5/12/24VDC | 12VDC |
| Data Transmission | Single signal | Single signal | Single signal, dual signal | Dual signal |
| Refresh Rate | 400 Hz | 800 KHz | 2 MHz | 2 MHz |
| PWM Frequency | 2.25 MHz | 880 Hz | 2.25 MHz | 2.25 MHz |
| Cut Segment | 1-LED | 1-LED /3-LED /4-LED/ 6-LED /12-LED | 1-LED /3-LED | 1-LED |
| LED Color | RGBIC | Single white addressable, RGBIC, RGBW addressable, RGBIC+CCT | Single white addressable, WWA (color temperatures addressable), RGBIC, RGBW addressable | Single white addressable, RGBIC |
| LED Density | 30/60/72/ 74/96/144 LEDs/m, 160/288/332 chips/m | 30/32/60/72/84/90 /120/144/168/240 LEDs/m, 160/316/240/648/720 chips/m | 30/54/60/72 /74/84/90 /96/120/144 LEDs/m | 30/60/74 /96/144 LEDs/m |
| PCB Width | 3mm /4mm /5mm /10mm /12mm | 4mm /5mm /6mm /7mm /8mm /10mm /12mm /15mm /16mm /20mm /40mm | 3mm /4mm /5mm /7mm /8mm /10mm /11mm /12mm | 10mm /12mm |
| Waterproof Rating | IP20/65/67/68 | IP20/65/67/68 | IP20/65/67/68 | IP20/65/67/68 |
| Price | $1.79/1.64ft – | $2.29/1.64ft – | $7.98/3.28ft – | $21.98/16.4ft – |
How to Choose From WS2812B, WS2811, SK6812, And WS2815?
When choosing between WS2812B, WS2811, SK6812, and WS2815 LED strips, you should decide which one is right for you based on the specific requirements of your project. In general, these are the factors you need to consider：
LED Light Color
If color accuracy and consistency are important to your application, you may want to consider WS2815 or SK6812 LED strips, which offer more accurate color reproduction compared to WS2812B or WS2811 LED strips. Compared with non-individually addressable LED strips, the color presentation of individually addressable strips is generally much more vibrant and bolder.
Voltage Drop
LED strips can experience a voltage drop along the length of the strip, which can affect the brightness of the LED chips. If you need to cover a long distance with your LED strip, you may want to consider DC12V WS2815 LED strips, which have a low voltage drop and can maintain consistent brightness over longer distances.
Performance
If you need to control multiple LED chips with a single data line, you may want to consider WS2812B or SK6812 LED strips. Both of these types of LED strips use a single data line to control multiple LED chips, which makes them a good choice for applications where ease of use and flexibility are important. WS2811 LED strips may also be a good choice, but they use a separate data line for each LED chip, which can make them more complex to use.
Lighting Control Compatibility
Some addressable LED strips may be more compatible with certain microcontrollers or programming tools than others. If you already have a specific microcontroller or programming tool in mind, you may want to choose a pixel LED strip that is compatible with that tool.
Project Complexity
For home projects or small DIY projects within 5 meters (16.4ft) or 10 meters (32.8ft), the most complicated operation may be the power supply at both ends of the light strip.
If you are a lighting engineer and are looking for reliable and fantastic RGBIC light, the engineering version strip is your first choice. Our WS2815 with built-in resistor model engineering light strip was recently upgraded to GS8208 external capacitor model, which is even better after the upgrade.
Troubleshooting Common Issues With WS2812B, WS2811, SK6812, and WS2815
An overview of common issues that users may encounter in dream color LED lighting applications helps users understand which aspects should be checked.
To troubleshoot issues with WS2812B, WS2811, SK6812, and WS2815 LED strip lights, you must first identify the root cause of the issue. Once you have identified the root cause, you can take steps to resolve the issue.
LED Strips Not Lighting Up
This could be due to a number of issues, such as incorrect wiring, incorrect power supply voltage, or damaged LED chips.
The arrow imprint on the PCB represents the flow direction of the data, it should be like this direction – controller→pixel strip. For hardwired installations, sometimes it may be the effect of the outer skin of the wire.
Inconsistent Brightness and Color
This is mostly owing to a voltage drop along the length of the digital LED strip or insufficient power.
Both ends of the addressable LED strip come with separate 2-pin power cables for timely power injection to ensure the consistency of light color and brightness.
Incorrect wiring, incorrect programming, or damaged LED chips also affect the light color. When controlling WS2812B/WS2811/SK6812/WS2815 LED strip lights, you need to establish the correct line sequence in order to program the effect you want.
LED Strip Light Flickering
This could be some issues with the power supply, data transmission, the microcontroller or programming, LED strip damage, or electromagnetic interference.
Flickering can occur if the voltage supplied to the LED strip is inconsistent or if the LED voltage drop is too large. Inconsistent voltage can cause the brightness of the LED chips to fluctuate, resulting in flickering.
If the data transmission between the addressable controller and the LED strip is disrupted or if the data transmission rate is too slow, the LED light will also flicker.
Final Words
Understanding the different features and specifications of WS2812B, WS2811, SK6812, and WS2815, is critical to making an informed choice for your LED lighting application. With the right information and tools, users can achieve stunning lighting effects.
