# Adafruit Small 1.2 8x8 LED Matrix w/I2C Backpack - Yellow

**Type:** Product page · **SKU:** ADA1050 · **Brand:** [Adafruit](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/adafruit-australia)
**Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/adafruit-small-1-2-8x8-led-matrix-w-i2c-backpack-yellow.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/adafruit-small-1-2-8x8-led-matrix-w-i2c-backpack-yellow.html.md))

What's better than a single LED? Lots of LEDs! A fun way to make a small display is to use an 8x8 matrix or a 4-digit 7-segment display. Matrices like these are...

## Pricing

- **Price:** $19.90 (inc GST) — $18.09 AUD, exc GST
- **Quantity discounts:** 10+ $17.55 (exc GST) · 50+ $17.18 (exc GST)

## Availability & dispatch

- Out of stock — the product page offers email notification when it returns.

## Description

What's better than a single LED? Lots of LEDs! A fun way to make a small display is to use an [8x8 matrix](https://core-electronics.com.au/#) or a [4-digit 7-segment display](https://core-electronics.com.au/#). Matrices like these are 'multiplexed' - so to control 64 LEDs you need 16 pins. That's a lot of pins, and there are [driver chips like the MAX7219](https://core-electronics.com.au/max7219cng-led-matrix-digit-display-driver-max7219.html) that can control a matrix for you but there's a lot of wiring to set up and they take up a ton of space. Here at Adafruit Adafruit feel your pain! After all, wouldn't it be awesome if you could control a matrix without tons of wiring? That's where these lovely LED matrix backpacks come in. Adafruit have them in three flavors - [a mini 0.7" 8x8](https://core-electronics.com.au/#), [a small 1.2" 8x8](https://core-electronics.com.au/#) and a [4-digit 0.56" 7-segment](https://core-electronics.com.au/#). They work perfectly with the matrices Adafruit stock in the Adafruit shop and make adding a bright little display trivial.

The matrices use a driver chip that does all the heavy lifting for you: They have a built in clock so they multiplex the display. They use constant-current drivers for ultra-bright, consistent color (**the images above are photographed at the dimmest setting to avoid overloading Adafruit's camera!**), 1/16 step display dimming, all via a simple I2C interface. These 1.2" matrix backpacks come with three address-selection jumpers so you can connect up to eight 1.2" 8x8's together (or a combination, such as four 1.2" 8x8's and four 7-segments, etc) on a single I2C bus.

The product kit comes with:

- A fully tested and assembled 1.2" LED backpack
- [Ultra-bright 1.2" 8x8 yellow/orange matrix](https://core-electronics.com.au/small-1-2-8x8-ultra-bright-yellow-orange-led-matrix-bl-m12a881uyo-11.html)
- 4-pin header

A bit of soldering is required to attach the matrix onto the backpack but its very easy to do and only takes about 5 minutes.

Of course, in classic Adafruit fashion, We also have a detailed tutorial showing you how to solder, wire and control the display. They even wrote [a very nice library for the backpacks so you can get running in under half an hour, displaying images on the matrix or numbers on the 7-segment](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit-LED-Backpack-Library). If you've been eying matrix displays but hesitated because of the complexity, this is the solution you've been looking for!

## Technical Details

This board/chip uses I2C 7-bit addresses between 0x70-0x77, selectable with jumpers.

[Datasheets, Fritzing object, EagleCAD PCB files and more in the tutorial!](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-led-backpack/downloads)

 ![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/rohs_icon_8216055e11.jpg)

## Images

- [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/1/0/1050-00.jpg)