Fixed Address NeoPixel LED Fairy Lights - 100 Wired LEDs

These look a lot like Adafruit's NeoPixel fairy lights here, but have a funky twist. In fact, Adafruit are a little hesitant to call them NeoPixels because while they can be controlled by "NeoPixel" code, they don't function like NeoPixels. Technically, an NeoPixel is an LED that also acts as a shift register. 24 or 32 bits of brightness data comes in the input pin, and the LED removes it and passes along the rest. This is what lets folks chain as many pixels as they like onto the end: each pixel just grabs the first color data, and passes the rest down like a bucket brigade

These LEDs are not shift registers. In fact, if you look closely, there's no input and output pin, only one data line. That's because each LED in this strand is pre-addressed from 0 to 100. Whenever it receives the NeoPixel data, it picks out the n'th color data (matching to its pre-address) and displays that. You cannot change the pre-address, its fixed permanently - or at least, Adafruit have no idea how to re-address it.

So, you can use these with any NeoPixel library, but you can't chain two of these and expect that the strip will extend. Also if you cut this in half and connect the data lines of the two halves to the microcontroller data pin, it will still act as if it were one long strand.

While a little different than most NeoPixels, this still might be useful for some situations - where you want to have multiple 'branches' of NeoPixels without having to zig-zag the chain. Or maybe if you want to have multiple strands that display the same.

Each LED is encased in a milky white epoxy blob, Adafruit tried cutting one open but its nearly indestructable. The wire used is solid-core single strand, flexible but holds its shape, the wire is magnet wire, with a non-conductive coating so as long as the coating doesnt scratch off, you can have the wires touch. There's a coated pixel every ~100mm (~4 inches). It does not come with weatherproof sheathing so they do not recommend washing these or dunking them underwater. You can cut the strand pretty easily with wire cutters. Be sure to avoid abrasion or repeated flexing of the connector cables.

Connecting to these may be a little tricky because there are no power/data markings (there's no PCB!) The red wire (the more coppery-red wire) is power. The middle wire is data. The remaining wire is ground. Scratch or burn off the magnet-wire coating to solder to it with an iron. Of course, there's no input/output side for these pixels because they have one data line.

The strands come with connectors pre-attached, but you can carefully solder to the flexible wires as well. You can pick up 3-pin JST set to turn it into a quick connection. Of course, you can also connect strands together to make them longer, just watch how much current you need! Adafruit have a 5V/4A supply that should be able to drive many meters (depending on use) You must use a 5V DC power supply to power these strips; do not use higher than 6V, or you can destroy the entire strip.

Adafruit detailed NeoPixel Uberguide has everything you need to use NeoPixels in any shape and size. Including ready-to-go library & example code for Arduino compatibles. You can also use these strips with MakeCode or CircuitPython using the NeoPixel software support.