Making/Wiring Mono-Pixels - Revision history

ErnieHorning: Added historical note.

2026-07-20T12:17:56Z

Added historical note.

2026-04-16T17:49:34Z

Understanding

2026-04-16T17:46:36Z

Understanding

2024-05-28T16:49:19Z

2024-05-28T16:42:56Z

2017-09-29T12:54:46Z

MonoPixel PCB

2017-09-29T12:52:46Z

Construction Tips

2017-09-29T12:51:48Z

Construction Tips

2017-07-14T17:36:29Z

MonoPixel PCB

2017-07-14T17:36:01Z

MonoPixel PCB

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:17, 20 July 2026
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	[[File:Candy_cane.png \| 200px \|right]]		[[File:Candy_cane.png \| 200px \|right]]
		+
		+	'''Historical Note'''
		+
		+	''This article documents one method of constructing a custom mono-pixel candy cane using individual WS2811 driver boards. While modern seed pixels and miniature RGB pixels now provide simpler alternatives for many projects, the techniques presented here remain valuable for understanding pixel construction and for applications requiring individual monochrome LEDs.''
		+
		+	----
		+
		+
	This is a tutorial on how to make a pixel string manually with regular, single-color LEDs instead of 3-color RGB LEDs. It's a rather labor-intensive project but once finished, the result is quite rewarding and along the way, you'll acquire worthwhile knowledge on how pixels work. You'll also acquire much-improved soldering skills!		This is a tutorial on how to make a pixel string manually with regular, single-color LEDs instead of 3-color RGB LEDs. It's a rather labor-intensive project but once finished, the result is quite rewarding and along the way, you'll acquire worthwhile knowledge on how pixels work. You'll also acquire much-improved soldering skills!

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 [[File:1-understanding.png | 400px | center]]
-::* The four holes along the top of the board are for the four pins of a common-anode RGB led; the RGB LED is soldered directly into these holes on a regular RGB pixel. Monopixels use only a white LED, which is soldered to either the R, G, or B and +V holes.
+::* The four holes along the top of the board are for the four pins of a common-anode RGB led; the RGB LED is soldered directly into these holes on a regular RGB pixel. Monopixels use only a white LED, which connect to either the R, G, or B and +V holes.
 ::* Because the board uses RGB leds of the a common-anode type, switching is done by taking the output control pins to ground, thereby completing the circuit and allowing each respective color to light up.
 ::* Except for the data in and data out pads, the top and bottom sides of the driver board share the same connections.

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 [[File:1-understanding.png | 400px | center]]
-::* The four holes along the top of the board are for the four pins of a common-anode RGB led; the RGB LED is soldered directly into these holes.
+::* The four holes along the top of the board are for the four pins of a common-anode RGB led; the RGB LED is soldered directly into these holes on a regular RGB pixel. Monopixels use only a white LED, which is soldered to either the R, G, or B and +V holes.
 ::* Because the board uses RGB leds of the a common-anode type, switching is done by taking the output control pins to ground, thereby completing the circuit and allowing each respective color to light up.
 ::* Except for the data in and data out pads, the top and bottom sides of the driver board share the same connections.

@@ Line 104: / Line 104: @@
 == MonoPixel PCB ==
-::DIGWDF created a flexible PCB which eliminates the hassle of manually wiring monopixels as shown above. The PCBs are 1/2" wide x 11" long and three or more can be daisy chained together and slid into a plastic cane in place of the manual wiring method. DIGWDF Store link: ''' http://digwdf.org/store/product.php?id_product=254 '''
+::DIGWDF created a flexible PCB which eliminates the hassle of manually wiring monopixels as shown above. The PCBs are 1/2" wide x 11" long and three or more can be daisy chained together and slid into a plastic cane in place of the manual wiring method. If the store link doesn't work (the store closed in 2018), the Gerbers are available from Dirknerkle via the forum. DIGWDF Store link: ''' http://digwdf.org/store/product.php?id_product=254 '''
 [[File:Monopixels.JPG | center | 800px]]

@@ Line 104: / Line 104: @@
 == MonoPixel PCB ==
-::DIGWDF created a flexible PCB which eliminates the hassle of manually wiring monopixels as shown above. The PCBs are 1/2" wide x 11" long and three or more can be daisy chained together and slid into a plastic cane in place of the manual wiring method. DIGWDF Store link: ''' http://digwdf.com/store/product.php?id_product=254 '''
+::DIGWDF created a flexible PCB which eliminates the hassle of manually wiring monopixels as shown above. The PCBs are 1/2" wide x 11" long and three or more can be daisy chained together and slid into a plastic cane in place of the manual wiring method. DIGWDF Store link: ''' http://digwdf.org/store/product.php?id_product=254 '''
 [[File:Monopixels.JPG | center | 800px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:52, 29 September 2017
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	:* When soldering the cables to the led carriers, keep the same wire order throughout so you don't get confused. This carrier is ready for installing the LED. (Grelllbbb, DIGWDF's head engineer made these LED carriers capable of 6 lines on both the top and bottom of the 2-sided PCB. We've found them convenient for interconnecting many different types of cables in addition to their original use as a carrier for RGB or other LEDs. Actually, Grelllbbb is more of a head-case than a head engineer, but that's a story for another time... )		:* When soldering the cables to the led carriers, keep the same wire order throughout so you don't get confused. This carrier is ready for installing the LED. (Grelllbbb, DIGWDF's head engineer made these LED carriers capable of 6 lines on both the top and bottom of the 2-sided PCB. We've found them convenient for interconnecting many different types of cables in addition to their original use as a carrier for RGB or other LEDs. Actually, Grelllbbb is more of a head-case than a head engineer, but that's a story for another time... )
−	::::[[File:5-prep.jpg \|310px]] [[File:6-prep.jpg \|~~270px~~]]	+	::::[[File:5-prep.jpg \|310px]] [[File:6-prep.jpg \|260px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:51, 29 September 2017
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−	:* You'll want to tin the wires so they fit neatly through holes. Twisting the ends rarely works very well, especially with multi-conductor cable. Notice the blip of solder on the black cable: a simple swipe of the soldering iron from the insulation to the tip will smooth that out so it fits through a hole. Tinned wires also take to the dollops of solder faster which lessens heat to the WS2811 chip~~, potentially damaging it~~.	+	:* You'll want to tin the wires so they fit neatly through holes. Twisting the ends rarely works very well, especially with multi-conductor cable. Notice the blip of solder on the black cable: a simple swipe of the soldering iron from the insulation to the tip will smooth that out so it fits through a hole. Tinned wires also take to the dollops of solder faster which lessens heat to the WS2811 chip (which can damage the chip).
	::::[[FIle:4-prep.jpg \| 400px]]		::::[[FIle:4-prep.jpg \| 400px]]