ElectroMage
Gamma-corrected GS8208 12V LEDs - 5m strip
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Why choose these pixels?
Relatively new, the GS8208 is the best 12V individually-addressable full-color pixels. They have a much better brightness curve than the similar WS2815. People typically choose 12V LEDs because:
- You can run ~2.5X more LEDs before you need to re-inject power (people experienced with large projects prioritize reducing this labor)
- Car and marine systems already have 12V power
- They're well-suited for use with 3S LiPo batteries
Something to note about all 12V pixels is that they appear about 75% as bright as 5V pixels, and are less power efficient in terms of lumens-per-watt. Since they use the unclocked 800 KHz NeoPixel data protocol, a strip of 300 is about half-as-fast as our SK9822s in terms of the frame rate you can achieve. This effect is diminished in relative speed loss when using more channels on an output expander, or when the total number of pixels per controller is less than about 300.
We're excited to be the first store to stock GS8208 LEDs in the US for fast shipping.
What is it?
These are flexible RGB (full color) LED strips using the GS8208 chipset. If you've heard of 12V WS2815 or SK6813-HV chips, these are similar but better. While they're powered by 12V, it still uses a 5V data signal, so it plays well with Pixelblaze and other controllers. While the pixels and controller will use different power supplies, the ground must be connected between your 12V pixels and the 5V Pixelblaze. To provide Pixelblaze with 5V from your 12V LEDs, use our $4 Mini Buck DC-DC converter.
These use the common, unclocked WS281x "neopixel" protocol for data transmission. For redundancy, there's a backup data line that will leapfrog a pixel that goes bad or a broken data. The first pixel's backup data line, labeled D2 or BI, should be connected to GND.
Connectors for input, output, and a 2.1mm x 5.5mm power jack are installed. We also include a loose input pigtail.
Available in pixel densities of 30 or 60 pixels per meter.
These LED strips come sealed in waterproof flexible silicone tubes to protect against the elements (IP67). They can be easily cut to any length, and have solder tabs between every LED.
What makes these LEDs special?
The GS8208 features a 12-bit internal gamma curve, which enables smoother gradients and more elegant fades to black. In contrast, popular pixels like Neopixels, WS281x, or SK681x struggle with subtle shades at lower brightness, often appearing flickery during fades. To see the difference, check out this video.
Please be aware that previous iterations of the GS8208, like the ones you might have come across on YouTube, had a built-in demo mode that wasn't exactly popular. Thankfully, the version we offer is free from that particular annoyance. They may flash white for a moment when initially powered on with some controllers, including Pixelbaze; this is a "feature" 😕.
Why buy from us?
- Only vendor of GS8208s in the US
- Arrives as fast as Amazon for most US-based customers
- No import duties
- Thorough, verified spec sheet
- Guaranteed best Pixelblaze compatibility
- World-class tech support
- Supports a small independent business
Notes on this batch
- The DC barrel connector has a 2.5mm pin, whereas some other LED strips have a 2.1mm pin. Some power supply connectors have a 2-sided inner mating conductor that's compatible with either size.
- Manufacturers vary greatly on the order of the pins within the JST-SM. Please confirm visually and with a multimeter before connecting power or a Pixelbaze.
Specs
| Voltage | 12V (9-15V max) No brightness dip above 8.4 V Cutout/flicker at 5.9 V |
|---|---|
| Density | 30 pixels/m (9.2/ft, 33.4mm pitch) 60 pixels/m (18.3/ft, 16.7mm pitch) |
| Brightness per-pixel, white |
.3 - 3,100 lux @ 1" (range .15 mlm - ~1.6 lumens) |
| Current at full white |
12.3 mA/pixel (10.0 mA variable + 2.26 mA quiescent) 5 Meter 30/m = 1.8 A (.37 A/m, .11 A/ft) 5 Meter 60/m = 3.7 A (.73 A/m, .22 A/ft) |
| Power at full white |
.15 W/pixel 5 Meter 30/m = 22.1 W (4.4 W/m, 1.35 W/ft) 5 Meter 60/m = 44.1 W (7.9 W/m, 2.69 W/ft) |
| Power vs color | Overall current draw per pixel is proportional to the brightest component color's current draw; a single full-intensive red, green, or blue draws the same power as full-intensity white. |
| Pad order (label) | Ground (GND, black), backup data (DI2, green), data (DI1, yellow), +12 Volts (12V, red) |
| Connectors & wiring | JST-SM 4-position locking (3A max) NOTE: Carefully check your wire colors/order DC Barrel jack (5.5mm OD / 2.5mm pin) |
| Environmental | IP67: waterproof (removable silicone sleeve, no gel filler) |
| Strip color | Black |
| Size | SMD5050 (5mm x 5mm) chips 10mm wide strip IP67 sleeve: 4mm height x 12mm width; allow 8mm (h) x 16mm (w) for cap |
| Color order | BGR |
| Wavelengths | R: 625nm, G: 520nm, B: 465nm |
| PWM | 8KHz, excellent for filming. For PoV effects, we recommend the SK9822 instead for the faster frame rates. |
| Data Speed | 800Khz, which comes out to 33K pixels/second before frame overhead. 5 m (150 pixels): 204 FPS 5 m (300 pixels): 107 FPS On Pixelblaze, the default set of patterns render at an average of 68K pixels/s, but range from 15-155K pixels/s (median 80% range is 35-135 Kpixels/s). Using a single channel of any NeoPixel protocol LEDs (such as these or WS2812s) will limit you to 33K pixels/sec -- Any pattern that's computation is under this will have its frame rate limited by Pixelblaze computation instead of by the LED transmission speed. Using an Output Expander and splitting the LEDs across 2 or more channels increases the effective max pixel data transmission speed to 66K pixels/sec. If maximizing frame rate is important for your application, look into using the clocked 5V SK9822 pixels. |
| Manufacturer's datasheet |
GS8208 (pdf) from Normand ↗ If you find a conflict, we suggest that you use our measured values. |
Embedded Gamma Curve Data
