Spark Logic

APA102C addressable RGB LED connection guide

APA102C addressable RGB LED 5050 SMD, six contacts wiring guide with power, signal assignments, and bench checks.

5050 SMD, six contacts

6 contacts Current package

iPixel LED / Shiji Lighting · Six contacts in two rows.

Power a single pixel

Required

Use regulated 5 V and a 100 nF bypass close to VCC and GND. Use a 5 V logic controller. Hold CI and DI low before sending a frame.

  • 5 V
    • VCC (4)
    • Current-limited 5 V supply
    • C1.1
  • Ground
    • GND (3)
    • Supply return
    • Controller ground
    • C1.2
C1 100 nF ceramic between 5 V and Ground5 VC1 100 nF ceramicGround

Bench checks

  • Verify the six-pad part orientation and confirm 5 V at the device.

iPixel LED / Shiji Lighting APA102C specification, p. 1 and electrical characteristics. The capacitor is a fixture choice.

Connection scenarios

Set a single pixel to red

Connect DI to controller data and CI to controller clock. Send 00 00 00 00, then E4 00 00 FF, then FF FF FF FF, MSB first on a slow clock.

  • 5 V
    • VCC (4)
    • Current-limited 5 V supply
    • C1.1
  • Ground
    • GND (3)
    • Supply return
    • Controller ground
    • C1.2
  • Serial data
  • Serial clock
C1 100 nF ceramic between 5 V and Ground5 VC1 100 nF ceramicGround

Bench checks

  • The first 32 bits start the frame; E4 selects global brightness 4 and the last pixel byte sets red.
  • If green or blue lights instead, verify the byte order B, G, R and the LED’s actual part code.

iPixel LED / Shiji Lighting APA102C specification, timing diagram. The brightness and color bytes are fixture choices.

5050 SMD, six contacts wiring map

Highlighted contacts are used in the required step or selected circuit. Select a contact to inspect it.

Locate the pin 1 mark and use the top view unless the drawing specifies a different view.
Selected pin details

2 · CI

Input · Clock inputs / oscillator

Serial clock input. Connect to controller clock or the previous pixel’s CO.

iPixel LED / Shiji Lighting APA102C specification, p. 1 physical dimensions

Electrical limits · Pin in the reference

Models and documents

The map uses the six-contact integrated LED outline in the iPixel APA102C sheet. Its separate controller block diagram uses different terminal numbers.

APA102C
Six-pad 5.0 × 5.0 × 1.4 mm integrated RGB LED.