Introduction
WS2811 has become a “sweet potato” in the market because of its low price, simple operation and wide application range. Now let’s go over everything you should know before buying a WS2811 LED strip.
What is WS2811?
The WS2811 is a three-output channel LED driver circuit. The WS2811 LED driver chip is widely used to control LED strips. WS2811 LED strip is usually 30 to 60 LEDs per meter. The voltage is 5V, 12V and 24V. Usually, 12V is more common.
For more WS2811 LED technical parameters, please click WS2811 Datasheet PDF Download.
5V, 12V and 24V WS2811 LED Strip
Figure 1 is a WS2811 LED strip with different voltages. WS2811 LED strip is an external IC. The WS2811 IC is mounted externally on the PCB. They are voltage compatible and have various cutting devices.
- WS2811 5V LED Strip: Each LED can be cut and one WS2811 IC controls each LED.
- WS2811 12V LED Strip: Three RGB lights can be cut and one WS2811 IC controls the brightness and color of these three lights at the same time.
- WS2811 24V LED Strip: Six RGB LED lights can be cut and one WS2811 IC controls the brightness and color of these six lights at the same time.
WS2811 White vs WS2811 RGB
WS2811 not only only has RGB color, but also has more light colors to choose from (As shown in Figure 2 ). For example, addressable white light (3000K warm white or 6000K daylight white), addressable RGB+W, addressable RGB+CCT, etc.
ws2811 programmable white LED strip
WS2811 digital RGB + White LED strip
WS2811 programmable RGB+CCT LED strip
Figure 2. WS2811 Color: White vs RGB
What kind of WS2811 LED strip do you need? 5V, 12V or 24V? What color WS2811 LED strip? White, RGB, or RGB+W? Uledsupply can provide customized WS2811 LED strips according to your engineering needs. Please contact us.
Different Types of WS2811 LED Strip Products
Pros & Cons of WS2811
Given the wide range of applications for 12V WS2811, we will use a 12V WS2811 LED strip as an example to see the benefits and drawbacks of WS2811.
Pros of WS2811:
- The 12V working voltage can control more LEDs in the strip.
- Operating with a large number of LEDs is easy.
- The 12V voltage allows for longer cable lengths.
Cons of WS2811:
- The minimum control granularity is 3 LEDs because one IC controls 3 LEDs.
- High power consumption due to operation under 12V voltage.
- The 8-bit data limitation for each color results in a less smooth dimming curve.
- No data redundancy is available.
How to Use WS2811
WS2811 LED strip has three wires V+, Data and GND, as shown in the Figure 3.
Next let us understand how to control and connect the WS2811 LED strip.
Connect WS2811 LED Strip
Video 1 shows how to connect the controller quickly and the WS2811 led strip.
If you want to learn more about the specific connection steps, please click Control, Connect and Wire WS2811 LED Strip.
Video 1. How to Connect WS2811 LED strip
WS2811 Wire Diagram
Figure 4 displays the wiring diagram for the WS2812 RGB LED strip and offline K-1000C LED controller.
Customized Your WS2811 LED Strip
As one of the leading suppliers of pixel light strips in China, Uledsupply provides you with LED strip customization services. Whether residential, commercial or even industrial, meet all your lighting needs. ODM & OEM are available.
Optional customized content as shown in Figure 6:
- Number of LEDs
- PCB color and shape
- Color, can be white, RGB and RGBW
- Waterproof function: IP20, IP65, IP67
- 3M adhesive tape
- Logo on PCB and package
Please tell us your design or proposal, and Suntech Lite will give you a satisfactory idea.
LED Strip Light Controllers for WS2811
YC3000A Artnet LED Controller
K1000C Pixel LED Controller
Simple Control Addressable Controller
Other Products Using WS2811 LED
WS2811 Flexible LED Strip Light>>
Feature: One WS2811 IC controls 3 LEDs. 3 LEDs are one pixel. Each pixel is individually addressable.
Application: Widely used in wall lighting, backlighting, stage design lighting, display cabinet lighting, festival (Christmas, etc.) lighting, ceiling lighting, etc.
Comparison of WS2811 and others
There are so many types of addressable light strips that you might get confused a lot of the time. Now let me tell you the difference between WS2811, WS2812B, UCS1903 and WS2818.
WS2811 Vs WS2812B
As shown in Figure 7, take the most popular 12V WS2811 and 5V WS2812B on the market as an example. Table 1 quickly compares WS2811 and WS2812B.
Click for more details about WS2811 Vs WS2812B.
Differences:
- WS2811 is 12V, while WS2812B is 5V.
- WS2812B LED color is usually RGB, while WS2811 has more colors.
- WS2811 is an external IC, while WS2812B is a built-in IC.
- WS2811 is 3 LEDs group control, while WS2812B is individual control.
- Because of a 12V working voltage, WS2811 has a lower voltage drop than WS2812B.
Similarities:
- 3 wires: Positive, negative and single date line.
- No break-point continuous.
| Comparison Item | WS2811 | WS2812B |
|---|---|---|
| Differences | ||
| Integrated Circuit | External | Built-In |
| Voltage | 12V | 5V |
| Color | RGB/RGB+W/RGB+CCT/RGB+WWA | RGB |
| Control Mode | 3 LEDs Group Control | Individual Control |
| Voltage Drop | Low | High |
| Similarities | ||
| Wires | Positive + Negative + Single Data Line | Positive + Negative + Single Data Line |
| Break Continues | No | No |
Table 1. WS2811 Vs WS2812B
WS2811 Vs WS2818
As shown in Figure 8, take the 12V WS2811 and 12V WS2818 as an example. Table 2 quickly compares WS2811 and WS2818.
Differences:
- WS2811 has 3 wires: Positive, negative and single date line. But WS2818 has 4 wires: Positive, negative and two date line.
- WS2811 has no break-point continuous, while WS2818 has break-point continuous.
Similarities:
- 12V voltage.
- External IC
- One IC controls 3 LEDs.
| Comparison Item | WS2811 | WS2818 |
|---|---|---|
| Differences | ||
| Wires | Positive + Negative + Single Data Line | Positive + Negative + Dual Data Lines |
| Break Continues | No | Yes |
| Similarities | ||
| Integrated Circuit | External | External |
| Voltage | 12V | 12V |
| Control Mode | 3 LEDs Group Control | 3 LEDs Group Control |
Table 2. WS2811 Vs WS2818
WS2811 Vs UCS1903
WS2811 and UCS1903 can be said to be almost identical. Their manufacturers are different. UCS1903 is launched by Linesun-ic Company.
The UCS1903 LED strip is similar to the WS2811 LED strip, as shown in Table 3. Any controller that can control the WS2811 LED can also control the UCS1903. UCS1903 external IC addressable light strip for DC12v, one IC controls three LEDs, each 3LED can be cut.
Both WS2811 and UCS1903 do not have the break-point continuous function, as shown in the Figure 8 above.
| Comparison Item | WS2811 | UCS1903 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Circuit | External IC | External IC |
| Voltage | DC12v | DC12v |
| Wires | Positive + Negative+Single Data line | Positive + Negative+Single Data line |
Table 3. WS2811 Vs UCS1903
China WS2811 LED Strip Supplier & Manufacturer—Uledsupply
Looking for the best WS2811 LED strip supplier?
Uledsupply is a top-notch manufacturer and supplier in China. With years of experience, we offer a full range of high-quality WS2811 strips, including addressable white, warm white, WWA, CCT and RGB WS2811 strips.
Our products are ETL, CE, RoHS certified for high performance and long lifespan. We also provide customized solutions and OEM/ODM services.
Choose Uledsupply for your LED strip needs.
Conclusion
Learn everything you need to know about WS2811 LED strips with our in-depth guide. Discover technical specs, common uses, installation tips, programming tricks, and WS2811 LED strip supplier Suntech Lite. With their versatility and compatibility, WS2811 LED strips are perfect for custom lighting effects in homes, businesses, and creative projects. Choose WS2811 for your next LED driver IC.