Is this 1 or 3 Pixels?

[orlandoal]

Hi Everyone,

I only started LED Pixels this year, previous years were A/C, so still very much on a learning curve.

I wonder if anyone can answer a question for me or at least give me some thoughts. I purchased a bunch of item below from Ali Express.

"DC12V WS2811 26mm diameter transparent cover LED Module Exposed Point Light 3 leds 5050 SMD RGB Chips led pixel waterproof IP68" ​

The actual light comes with three LED's, description says "3pcs SMD 5050RGB LED with 1 WS2811 IC" does this count as 1 or 3 pixels? I have tested the lights and it is set as 1 pixel in xLights and all three light up, so it is 1 or 3 or are the three just for a brighter light?, I did say I was still on a learning curve.

Picture attached to help.

Thanks for any feedback.

Alan

 

[Indigogyre]

From your description it sounds like it is only one addressable pixel that just happens to control all 3 leds at one time. They are addressed as a single pixel per unit. So 2 units are 2 pixels.

 

[Notenoughlights]

Looks like a single pixel as you say it's driven with one ws2811 chip. The chip is the bit that matters.

 

[merryoncherry]

Agree w/ @Indigogyre . What they do is put 3 3V LEDs in series controlled by 1 WS2811 chip... makes a good 12V circuit... more light instead of wasting the energy as heat.
I have 60/20 strip made like that... it's not a bad idea.

 

[orlandoal]

Thanks a lot for your answers, I was thinking along the same lines as well, but as I said I am new to this and wanted to make sure I was not doing anything wrong by setting it as a single pixel in xLights.

Merryoncherry, you are correct, these lights are way brighter that just one pixel, although now too late, I am going to install them in my plastic Pumpkins as flickering lanterns in next years Halloween offering.

They will hopefully look pretty good.