> **Source:** Core Electronics is an Australian maker-electronics retailer and manufacturer based in Newcastle, NSW, run by a team of makers and educators. We design and manufacture our own product lines (PiicoDev, CE originals) and are official retailers for iconic maker and industrial brands including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Adafruit, SparkFun and DFRobot. Orders ship Australia-wide from our Newcastle warehouse. Prices are in AUD and include GST. Pricing, stock and dispatch on this page are generated from the store's live catalog. Full machine-readable index: https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt

# RGB LED Satellite Module 001

**Type:** Product page · **SKU:** POLOLU-1243 · **Brand:** [Pololu](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/pololu-australia)
**Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/rgb-led-satellite-module-001.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/rgb-led-satellite-module-001.html.md))

## Retired product

This product is retired and no longer available for purchase. Search the catalogue for an alternative.

## How to buy

- **Search the catalogue:** `https://core-electronics.com.au/search/{query}.md` (URL-encode the query; pages 2-3 at `search/{query}/{page}.md`; `search.md?q=` also works)
- **Payment methods, purchase orders, policies and contact details:** https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt
## Description

| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/remote_images/0J2045.200_Fm4sDO.jpg%3F93ecde9289ae502b72ddf9c87cad0107)![](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/remote_images/zoom-d0cfc0fffa825c4654893ef42b77cee3_ur7UyX.png)](https://core-electronics.com.au/#) |
|---|
| Satellite Module 001 bottom view. |

This satellite module is a balanced array of 4 red, 3 blue, and 3 green LEDs, each of which supplies ~35,000 mcd over a 140 degree viewing angle. Combine with the [ShiftBar](https://core-electronics.com.au/shiftbar-10589.html) current-control module to create a string of super-bright clusters (about as bright as 15 [ShiftBrites](https://core-electronics.com.au/shiftbrite-v2-0.html).) Each channel of the Satellite Module requires 9 to 10 VDC at 100mA. There are no current control resistors; you can add your own or use this with a ShiftBar, which has current control. When using a ShiftBar, the potentiometer should be set around 75%. More information can be found on the macetech documentation page.

Eight Satellite Modules can also be independently controlled by a single [OctoBrite DEFILIPPI](https://core-electronics.com.au/octobrite-defilippi.html), though they will not be at their maximum possible brightness because of the lower current limit of the OctoBrite. For RGB LED modules designed specifically for the OctoBrite, consider the [003](https://core-electronics.com.au/rgb-led-satellite-module-003-bar.html) and [004 Satellite Modules](https://core-electronics.com.au/rgb-led-satellite-module-004-circle.html).

An example setup using a [Micro Maestro](https://core-electronics.com.au/micro-maestro-6-channel-usb-servo-controller-assembled.html) to control a ShiftBar and Satellite Module is shown below. Digital outputs 0, 1 and 2 are used to send the control signals to the clock, latch, and data lines of the ShiftBar, the enable line is connected directly to GND, and 12V power to the Maestro is delivered from the ShiftBar chain. Maestro source code to control a ShiftBar is available in the Example scripts section of the Maestro User’s guide.

| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/remote_images/0J2051.480_Rx0kug.jpg%3F5d7468acc52f6dfe49e5b136b6357620)![](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/remote_images/zoom-d0cfc0fffa825c4654893ef42b77cee3_ur7UyX.png)](https://core-electronics.com.au/#) |
|---|
| Connecting the Micro Maestro to a chain of ShiftBars. A single 12V supply powers all of the devices. |

A similar setup can be used to connect the ShiftBar to other controllers, such as the [Baby Orangutan](https://core-electronics.com.au/baby-orangutan-b-328-robot-controller.html), [Arduino](https://core-electronics.com.au/catalog/product/view/sku/POLOLU-1630), or [BASIC Stamp](https://core-electronics.com.au/parallax-basic-stamp-2-module-bs2-ic.html).

In the Halloween display below, each pumpkin contains a Satellite Module, and the entire display is driven by a single ShiftBar chain, controlled by a microcontroller. Details of the project are available here.

## Images

- [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/r/g/rgb_led_satellite_module_001__pololu_1243__00.jpg)