Dumb RGB or Intelligent Pixels??

DC or Digital Solution?

DC LED modules require a "DC Controller". The controller has one output per colour for every section you want to control independently. So, a 27 channel DC controller could control 9 RGB elements with full control over each.

Digital LED modules on the other hand each contain extra electronics and require the use of an "Digital Controller". These modules just have one set of connections (power & data) and each section can be controlled individually, even though they all share the same wiring.

Digital LED modules are more expensive than DC types due to the extra electronics in them. If you want to control each element separately, then digital is the way to go. If you just want to colour change a whole collection of elements together, DC will do and is cheaper to implement.

Standard strip requires a DC controller to process the computer signals to light effects and is often called:

• RGB
• 3-channel RGB
• Legacy RGB
• Dumb RGB
• Simple RGB
• 9-channel RGB
• Chasing RGB (3x RGB controllable segments 123123123)

Over a five metre distance expect to use between 3 and 9 channels in an unbroken standard RGB strip.

Digital strip may require a digital converter controller but ultimately processes the computer signals (in a specific format) into light effects inside the strip and is often called:

• Intelligent RGB
• Digital RGB
• IC Strip
• Intelligent Strip
• Smart Strip
• Pixels

Over a five metre distance expect to use between 150 and 450 channels in an unbroken digital RGB strip.

Any of the above names are perfectly fine!

DC Basic/Dumb RGB LED modules

The following are for use with a DC controller.

• Waterproof Rectangular RGB 12V LED Module (3x 5050 SMD RGB LEDs) [1] [2]
• Waterproof Square RGB 12V LED Module (3x 5050 SMD RGB LEDs) [3][4]
• Waterproof RGB 5V LED Pixel (8mm LED) [5]
• Waterproof RGB 12v LED Pixel (8mm LED) [6]
• Waterproof (Silicone Tubing) RGB 12V LED Strip (30x 5050 SMD LEDs per meter) [7] [8]
• Waterproof (Silicone Tubing) RGB 12V LED Strip (60x 5050 SMD LEDs per meter) [9]

HolidayCoro has a video series that shows all of the above modules and strip: [10]

DC Digital/Smart LED modules

The following are for use with an digital controller.

• Waterproof Rectangular RGB 12V LED Module (3x 5050 SMD RGB LEDs and TM1804 IC) [11]
• Waterproof Square RGB 12V LED Module (3x 5050 SMD RGB LEDs and TM1804 IC) [12]
• Waterproof Rectangular RGB 12V LED Module (3x 5050 SMD RGB LEDs and CYT3005 IC) [13]
• Waterproof Square RGB 12V LED Module (3x 5050 SMD RGB LEDs and CYT3005 IC) [14]
• Waterproof Rectangular RGB 12V LED Module (3x 505 SMD RGB LEDs and 2811 IC) [15]
• Waterproof Square RGB 12V LED Module (3x 5050 SMD RGB LEDs and WS2801 IC) [16] [17]
• Round 44mm RGB 12V LED Module (3x 5050 SMD RGB LED and WS2801 IC) [18]
• Waterproof (Silicone Tubing) RGB 12V LED Digital Strip (30x 5050 SMD LEDs per meter and 6803 IC) [19]

DMX DC Drivers

These controllers are for LED modules and strips that contain just LEDs and resistors. They can also be used with rope light and strings.

• Easy DMX 3 Channel @ 2A Controller (decoder & driver) [20] [21]
• Easy DMX 27 Channel @ 1A (15A Total) Controller (decoder & driver) [22] [23]
• Sealed/Boxed 3 Channel @ 2A (6A Total) Controller (decoder & driver) [24] [25]
• DMX Addressing Tool For Above (Stand Alone Hardware Version) [26] (Software PC/Mac Version) [27]
• DMX 3 Channel @ 3A Controller (decoder & driver) [28]

DMX DC drivers from Aussie Phil

These controllers are for LED modules and strips that contain just LEDs and resistors. They can also be used with rope light and strings.

• TigerDMX48HC DMX 48 Channel (12Vdc - 55Vdc @ 2.5A) Controller [29]
• TigerDMX120LC DMX 120 Channel (12Vdc - 36Vdc @ 100mA) Controller [30]

DMX DC drivers from AVD

These controllers are for LED modules and strips that contain just LEDs and resistors. They can also be used with rope light and strings.

• DA48 DMX 48 Channel (9Vdc - 40Vdc @ 2A) Controller [31]
• DA24 DMX 24 Channel (9Vdc - 40Vdc @ 2A) Controller [32]

DMX digital drivers

DMX digital drivers from Ray Wu's store

These controllers are for LED modules and strips that contain a drive IC such as the 2801, 3005, 1804, etc.

Links to be added to this area soon.

DMX digital drivers from Aussie Phil

These controllers are for LED modules and strips that contain a drive IC such as the 2801, 3005, 1804, etc.

• TP3244 DMX Controller. [33] (retired, no longer available)

DMX digital drivers from AVD

These controllers are for LED modules and strips that contain a drive IC such as the 2801 or 6803.

• P-DMX 25 pixel controller. [34]

E1.31 digital drivers

E1.31 digital drivers from Sandevices

• E682 [35] 16 output

E1.31 digital drivers from Stellascapes

These controllers are for LED modules and strips that contain a drive IC such as the 2801, 6803, etc.

• E2 [36] 2 output
• E16 [37] 16 output

E1.31 digital drivers from J1SYS

These controllers are for LED modules and strips that contain a drive IC such as the 2801, 6803, etc.

• PIXAD8 [38] 8 output

Extra Reading

• E1.31, Hyper DMX and DMX Typical Layout (Version 1.3) PDF by Fasteddy

• RGB Basic Setup PDF by Fasteddy

• RGB Basic Setup PDF by Fasteddy

• A 2 hour video series that covers most all pixel types and interfaces by HolidayCoro.com