SK9822 LED strip light

These flexible RGB LED strips based on the SK9822 LED/driver IC are an easy way to add complex lighting effects to a project. Each LED has an integrated driver that allows you to control the color and brightness of each LED. The SK9822 has constant current control, so voltage drops caused by the resistance in long power connections have little effect on the SK9822’s color and brightness as long as the voltage stays above 3.5 V.

In contrast to the SK6812 used in some of our other similar led strips, which use a specialized one-wire control interface and require strict timing, the SK9822 uses a standard SPI interface for control (with separate data and clock signals) and has no specific timing requirements, making it much easier to control. Another useful feature of the SK9822 is an additional 5-bit brightness control register that allows you to dim your LED strip while still having 24-bit color control. See below for a more detailed comparison of the SK9822 and SK6812.

These SK9822-based LED strips work as a drop-in replacement for our older APA102C-based strips in many applications. However, due to slight color differences, we generally do not recommend using the SK9822 and APA102C together in the same project. Also, due to a slight difference in the protocol, you might have to update your code to handle the SK9822. See below for a more detailed comparison of the SK9822 and APA102C.

Like the SK9822, the SK6812 used in some of our led strips also combines an RGB LED and driver into a single 5050-size package. However, while the SK6812 uses a one-wire control interface with strict timing requirements, the SK9822 uses a standard SPI interface, with separate data and clock signals that lets it accept a wide range of communication rates; the trade-off is that two I/O lines are required to control it instead of just one.

The SK9822 provides a 5-bit brightness control that is not available on the SK6812. This feature can be used to dim the LED strip while still retaining 24-bit color control.

While our SK6812 strips and SK9822 strips are physically very similar, they are not functionally compatible with each other. The easiest way to tell them apart is to look at the strips’ end connectors and the connections between each LED segment: SK6812 strips have three connections (power, data, and ground), while SK9822 strips have four (power, clock, data, and ground).

The SK9822 is very similar to the APA102C used in some of our older LED products, and can be used as a drop-in replacement in almost any application. LED products based on the SK9822 and APA102C can be chained together.

The SK9822 has voltage-independent brightness over a wide voltage range, as described in the “Current draw” section, which means that the colors of the LEDs should not be affected by a drop in the supply voltage as much as they are on the APA102C.

The colors generated by the SK9822 look different from the colors generated by the APA102C. In particular, the SK9822’s red channel is relatively less bright, which makes it have a blue-green tint when compared to the APA102C. While the APA102C’s brightness register allows you to control the brightness of each LED independently of its color, we have noticed that the colors from the SK9822 become less red and more green as the 5-bit brightness value is lowered. Also, the SK9822 has some unit-to-unit variation in the brightness of its red channel, which can be noticed when the 5-bit brightness value is low but is usually hard to see when the 5-bit brightness value is high.

The SK9822 can be distinguished from the APA102C by visual inspection.

The SK9822 has dual signal wires (clock and data), offering faster and more reliable data transmission. WS2812B uses a single data line, making SK9822 more suitable for complex animations and longer strips.

The clock line ensures accurate signal timing and reduces flicker in animations, especially in longer strips or complex effects. It also enables a higher refresh rate, making the strip ideal for high-performance lighting installations.

Yes, if paired with a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-compatible controller, SK9822 LED strips can be controlled via smartphone apps, allowing for remote management of lighting effects.

Each LED can draw up to 48mA at full brightness. The total current draw depends on the number of LEDs and their brightness settings, so it's important to choose a power supply that can handle the total load.

SK9822 LED strips are easy to install. They typically come with adhesive backing for mounting on most surfaces. For larger installations, mounting brackets or clips can provide additional support.