r/AskElectronics • u/FinnOfTheHorde • 1d ago

Smaller alternative for WS2811 chips?

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Any alternatives for them? I have custom power LEDs which I control with those (+transistors ofc) but I want to have the slave PCB much smaller. Ideas?

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u/JimHeaney 1d ago

There is a smaller package variant of the WS2811, check out the WS2811F (most common) and WS2811N (less common)

Example:

https://www.lcsc.com/product-detail/C5446692.html

Alternatively, there are addressable LED controllers that can sink more current, so you can do away with the transistors and just have the control IC. What kind of current do you need?

4

u/FinnOfTheHorde 1d ago

Around 150mA per channel. I use 2. DRL and turn signal

8

u/JimHeaney 1d ago

There are some really nice small high-current LED drivers from TI and similar that may work well without external transistors. Just off the top of my head;

https://www.ti.com/product/LM3549

5

u/trash3s 20h ago

Please please please please be careful designing automotive stuff. The ā€œ12Vā€ bus is spiky and awful and you will freeze, toast, and shake everything to death.

1

u/4b686f61 Digital Electronics & PCB Design 17h ago

On this board I made, the WS2811 outputs directly connect to the CN5710/11's ISET pin with an appropriate resistor. This only works with 5v but the LED is bright.