GlowBit™ Rainbow

The  Rainbow is a beautiful LED display. Onboard, there are 13 individually addressable LEDs – all driven by a single IO pin. Alligator Banana-plug connections make the rainbow a perfect companion for micro:bit or Circuit Playground since there's no soldering required.

The GlowBit Rainbow getting started guide covers off on the setup and an example first project. From there, remix to your heart's content. This is the perfect companion for the micro:bit onboard accelerometer and compass, along with other creative ways to display useful information such as angles, gauges, or colourful patterns on a rainbow.

GlowBit devices use modern WS2812B LEDs which are better for educational projects and compatible with existing WS2812 / NeoPixel libraries.

Features

• Works with micro:bit V1 and V2, Circuit Playground, and other maker favourites
• 13x WS2812B-v5 LEDs, compatible with NeoPixel
• Individually controlled LEDs from a single pin
• Connect with alligator clips, banana plugs or the 4pin breakout header
• Protractor inspired artwork - each LED is labelled in 15-degree increments, across a 180-degree curve
• Chainable - the breakout header has a data output so you can daisy-chain multiple rainbows together
• Quickstart guide and instructions 
• Manufactured and supported in Australia by Core Electronics

Projects - We've prepared some creative projects to get you started programming your GlowBit rainbow in MicroPython and makecode.

• Tilt-o-meter An electronic level that always points up
• Marquee Light A classic lighting animation used by cinemas and theatres
• Mood Lamp Select from seemingly endless colour combinations
• Skill Tester Game press the button at the right time to score more points, but the game will get more difficult.
• Dice Roll Generator Add a splash of colour to your games night - control two dice independently on your rainbow.
• Electronic Compass Your rainbow always points to magnetic north.

Technical Details

• Dimensions: 81x43mm
• Supply (Vdd): 3.3 to 5 VDC
• Logic: 2.7 to Vdd + 0.7 V
• Mounting Holes: 2x M3

Resources

• Hardware Repository
• WS2812B Datasheet

Each GlowBit Rainbow comes as a single board with 13 individually addressable RGB LEDs - assembled and tested.

GlowBit Overview

Glow your own way! GlowBits are based on newer LED technology that offers makers, educators and students more creative freedom with fewer gotchas. Wider voltage ranges, better data rates, safe failure modes, the list goes on. If you share anything with a GlowBit product, tag it with #glowbit so we can take a look!

Some of the features you will find:

• Awesome, feature-rich libraries. The same Python/MicroPython code examples will work on all supported platforms.
• Tilable designs. Many GlowBit modules are tileable, meaning they can be soldered together to create a larger display.
• Modern WS2812B technology which supports a wide voltage range, is easier to use, and requires less external components.
• Creative freedom. Take the examples in our guides and run with them - we can't wait to see what you make.
• Compatible with legacy WS2812 / Neopixel libraries.

GlowBit modules are products designed and manufactured by our team in Newcastle Australia.

"GlowBit" and the GlowBit logo are trademarks of Core Electronics Pty Ltd.