Shenzhen LED Strip Factory · OEM & ODM
Addressable LED Strip with Per-Pixel Digital Control
WS2811 and WS2812B pixel strips where every LED, or every group of three, is a separately controlled address on one data line. Built for pixel mapping, chases and video content — not for making a room brighter. 5V and 12V, 30 or 60 LEDs per metre.
- Protocol
- WS2811 / WS2812Bsingle-wire data
- Voltage
- 5V / 12Vconstant voltage DC
- Density
- 30 / 60LEDs per metre
- Control
- Bluetooth / DMXSP110E or console
Definition
What is an addressable LED strip?
An addressable LED strip carries a small driver IC alongside the LEDs, so each pixel has its own address on a single data line. The controller sends one serial stream down the strip; each IC reads the bytes meant for it, holds that colour and passes the rest on. That is why one three-wire run can show a gradient, a chase or mapped video.
A standard RGB strip is wired in parallel: every LED receives the same three channels, so the entire run is always one colour. Moving to an addressable LED strip replaces those three power channels with data — a different product class, not an upgraded version of the same one.
- Data — serial, one pixel to the next
- Power — parallel to all pixels
The term splits by how many LEDs share one IC. On a WS2811 strip, one IC drives a group of three LEDs, so the pixel — the smallest controllable unit — is 3 LEDs. On a WS2812B the IC sits inside each LED package, which is what an individually addressable LED strip means precisely: pixel pitch equals LED pitch. Both are addressable; only one gives per-LED resolution, and paying for it is pointless if the viewer stands ten metres away.
Pixel strips are chosen for movement and content, not output — a 60 LEDs/m pixel strip is dimmer per metre than a plain white strip, and it needs a controller, a data path and often a mapping file. Where the design just needs a clean, even line, a COB LED strip or an SMD LED strip does that better and costs less.
Specifications
Addressable LED strip types and specifications
Two decisions drive everything else: how fine the pixel has to be at the real viewing distance, and what voltage the run length allows. Get those right and the controller, supply and data topology follow. All catalogue pixel strips are CRI 80 on a 10 mm board.
| Variant | Protocol | Pixel unit | Density | Voltage | IP | Best suited to | Selection guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS2811 30 LEDs/mES-WS2811-30-12V | WS2811 | 3 LEDs | 30 /m | 12V | IP20 | Long architectural runs where the effect is read from a distance | WS2811 and WS2812B LED strips |
| WS2811 60 LEDs/mES-WS2811-60-12V | WS2811 | 3 LEDs | 60 /m | 12V | IP20 | Interior coves and ceilings where dotting would show at 30 LEDs/m | Addressable LED strip guide |
| WS2812B 60 LEDs/mES-WS2812B-60-5V | WS2812B | 1 LED | 60 /m | 5V | IP20 | Close-viewed panels, props and matrices needing per-LED resolution | Individually addressable LED strip |
| RGB pixel colourcolour system | WS2811 / WS2812B | 1 or 3 LEDs | 30 / 60 /m | 5V / 12V | IP20+ | Any scheme built on colour change, gradients or scene playback | Addressable RGB LED strip |
| Sealed buildoutdoor variants | WS2811 / WS2812B | 1 or 3 LEDs | 30 / 60 /m | 5V / 12V | IP65 / IP67 | Facades, bridges and exposed runs sealed to order | Waterproof addressable LED strip |
| Voltage optionsrun-length driven | WS2811 / WS2812B | 1 or 3 LEDs | 30 / 60 /m | 5V / 12V / 24V | IP20+ | Choosing between short 5V work and longer 12V or 24V circuits | 5V 12V 24V addressable LED strips |
| Pixel controllerSP110E | Bluetooth pixel | per address | — | 5V–24V | IP20 | Small and mid-size runs driven from a phone rather than a console | Addressable LED strip controller |
Scroll the table sideways on narrow screens to see every column.
Pixel pitch, not LED count
A 60 LEDs/m WS2811 strip has 20 pixels per metre, because three LEDs share one IC. The same density in WS2812B gives 60. Quote in pixels per metre or the two look identical on paper.
5V buys resolution, not distance
WS2812B runs at 5V, where voltage drop bites within a few metres and needs frequent injection. 12V carries further on the same copper, which is why long architectural runs are almost always WS2811.
IP20 is the catalogue default
Pixel strips ship bare because the data joints and controller are the vulnerable parts, not the board. Sealed builds are made to order — say outdoor at enquiry rather than sealing on site.
Featured products
Three pixel strips and the controller that drives them
The catalogue is deliberately narrow: two WS2811 densities at 12V for architectural work, one WS2812B at 5V where per-LED resolution is genuinely needed, and a Bluetooth controller for runs that do not warrant a console. All strips are 10 mm wide and CRI 80.
ES-WS2811-30-12V
WS2811 Addressable RGB LED Strip 30LEDs/m 10mm 12V
- Protocol
- WS2811
- Density
- 30 LEDs/m
- Voltage
- 12V
- CRI / IP
- 80 / IP20
Ten pixels per metre at 12V. The economical choice for long facade and bridge runs read from across a street.
View specification
ES-WS2811-60-12V
WS2811 Addressable RGB LED Strip 60LEDs/m 10mm 12V
- Protocol
- WS2811
- Density
- 60 LEDs/m
- Voltage
- 12V
- CRI / IP
- 80 / IP20
Twenty pixels per metre and twice the output. Use where the strip is seen closer and 30 LEDs/m would read as dots.
View specification
ES-WS2812B-60-5V
WS2812B Addressable RGB LED Strip 60LEDs/m 10mm 5V
- Protocol
- WS2812B
- Density
- 60 LEDs/m
- Voltage
- 5V
- CRI / IP
- 80 / IP20
Sixty pixels per metre — every LED independent. For matrices, props and panels viewed at arm's length.
View specification
SP110E
SP110E Bluetooth Pixel Controller 5V–24V
- Type
- Pixel / Bluetooth
- Input
- 5V–24V
- Drives
- WS2811 / WS2812B
- Control
- Phone app
Sets pixel count, IC type and effects from a phone. The pragmatic controller when no lighting console is on site.
View specificationCut length, IP build and connector type are specified per order, and the same catalogue carries the DC adapters these runs need.
See the full catalogueApplications & projects
Where addressable LED strip is specified
Pixel strip earns its cost when lighting has to change over time, not just switch on. Here is how we specify by space type, with projects supplied.
Clubs and entertainment venues
Chases, beat-synced effects and scene changes across a night. Topology matters more than density: the run splits into zones on separate outputs so one fault does not take down the room.
Typical: WS2811 · 60 LEDs/m · 12V · IP20 · zoned DMX
Media facades and building envelopes
Low-resolution video and gradient washes mapped across an elevation. Viewing distance sets the pitch, so 30 LEDs/m is usually enough; the effort goes into mapping, sealing and surge protection.
Typical: WS2811 · 30 LEDs/m · 12V · IP65 or IP67 · Art-Net
Bridges and public structures
Long spans lit as a single canvas, usually slow colour movement rather than fast effects. Runs break into powered segments, because a 60-metre span cannot be fed from one end.
Typical: WS2811 · 30 LEDs/m · 12V · IP67 · segmented feeds
Smart homes and residential scenes
Scene presets, not performance — a warm setting for evenings, colour for occasions. A Bluetooth or Wi-Fi pixel controller is enough, and addressable RGB LED strip gives the client something a plain RGB run cannot.
Typical: WS2811 · 60 LEDs/m · 12V · IP20 · app control
Retail displays, props and matrices
Close-viewed work seen from a metre or two: window displays, exhibition props, pixel panels. The one case where per-LED resolution earns its price, and where 5V WS2812B belongs.
Typical: WS2812B · 60 LEDs/m · 5V · IP20 · frequent injection
Addressable LED strip projects supplied by Senfey
Verona, Italy
Nightclub addressable pixel strip lighting
Zoned pixel runs driven as one show, so effects read across the room rather than in one strip at a time.
View project
Trondheim, Norway
Media facade addressable LED strip lighting
Low-resolution content mapped across an elevation, pitch set by street viewing distance rather than spec sheet.
View project
Braga, Portugal
Smart home addressable LED strip scene lighting
Scene presets over effects: pixel capability used for a few stored looks the client actually switches between.
View project
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Addressable neon flex bridge lighting, KAFD
A sealed pixel product on an exposed span, segmented into powered sections so voltage drop never reached the end.
View project
Ostrava, Czech Republic
Bridge RGB pixel neon flex lighting
Slow colour movement across a long span — the effect a static RGB run cannot produce, at a pitch chosen for distance.
View projectSector guidance sits on the application pages: entertainment venues, residential developments and architectural facades. The project case library covers every sector we supply.
Installation, power & control
Wiring, powering and controlling pixel strip
Almost every pixel failure we are asked to diagnose is a data or power problem, not a bad strip: the run wired backwards, no injection on a long span, or a controller set to the wrong IC. This sequence avoids rework.
Fix the data direction first
Every pixel strip has an arrow. Data flows one way, and the first pixel is decided by which end the controller feeds — not by software. Wire against the arrow and nothing lights, so fix the start point before anything is stuck down.
Count pixels, then size the supply
Work in pixels, not metres: multiply pixel count by per-pixel current at full white, then add 20 per cent headroom. Undersized supplies are why colours drift red on bright scenes.
Inject power along the run
Feed 5V runs every 2–3 m and 12V runs every 5–8 m, keeping the data line continuous while power enters at several points. Without it the far end dims and shifts colour while the near end looks fine.
Configure IC type and pixel count
The controller must be told which chip and how many pixels it drives. A WS2812B setting on a WS2811 run runs effects at a third of the expected length — the strip is fine, the count is wrong.
Choosing the control system
Three tiers cover nearly all projects. A Bluetooth controller such as the SP110E suits single runs up to a few hundred pixels where a phone is an acceptable interface. Wi-Fi adds scheduling and integration for residential work. Above that, DMX or Art-Net addresses thousands of pixels across multiple universes on one clock.
Two constraints decide the tier more often than budget. First, universe count: one DMX universe holds 512 channels, about 170 RGB pixels, so a 60-metre facade at 20 pixels/m already needs several outputs. Second, whether content must be mapped — if artwork has to land in the right physical place, the system needs mapping software and a fixed address plan, which a phone app cannot provide. Options are in the addressable LED strip controller guide.
Voltage interacts with all of this. A 5V run buys per-LED resolution but forces injection every couple of metres; 12V and 24V carry further on the same cable. Set voltage from run length, then pick density.
Comparison
Addressable vs standard RGB, single colour and pixel COB
Senfey manufactures every option in this table, so there is nothing to gain from overselling pixel strip. It wins on one brief — light that changes across its own length — and loses on output, cost and simplicity. These are the criteria that decide a spec.
| Criterion | Addressable pixel strip | Standard RGB strip | Single colour strip | Addressable COB strip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control resolution | Per pixel — 1 or 3 LEDs | Whole run, one colour | Brightness only | Per pixel, finer pitch |
| Effects possible | Chases, gradients, mapped video | Fades and colour change | Dimming and tuning | Same as pixel strip |
| Visible dotting | Yes, unless diffused | Yes, unless diffused | Yes, unless diffused | No — continuous line |
| Wiring | Data direction fixed, injection needed | Parallel, no data | Two wires | Data direction fixed |
| Controller cost | Pixel controller or DMX node | Low — 3-channel unit | Lowest — dimmer | Pixel controller or DMX |
| Cost per metre | Highest of the RGB options | Moderate | Lowest | Highest overall |
| Best used for | Facades, venues, bridges, media walls | Mood colour in one zone | Coves and task lighting | Pixel effects seen close up |
| Detail | addressable vs non-addressable LED strip | SMD LED strip | SMD or COB white strip | addressable COB LED strip |
Scroll the table sideways on narrow screens to see every column.
Pixel strip is a content decision
If nobody will ever author or schedule content, the addressable capability is paid for and never used. Plenty of projects specify pixel strip, then run one static colour for five years — a standard RGB run would have looked identical for less.
Pixel COB buys a continuous line
Where pixel effects are seen from a metre away, an addressable COB LED strip gives the same segment control without visible dots. It costs more per metre, and it is the right answer for close-viewed detail.
Output is not the reason to buy
Pixel strips run RGB emitters, so lumens per watt sit below a white strip of the same density. Where the brief is an even, bright line, a COB LED strip does it better for less.
Sourcing from the factory
Buying addressable LED strip direct from the manufacturer
Senfey manufactures in Shenzhen and supplies specifiers, integrators, contractors and distributors rather than retail. Because the strip and controllers come from one place, a pixel-count question mid-project is one conversation instead of three.
- Tell us the run length and the viewing distance
- These two numbers decide density and voltage between them. Without the viewing distance we cannot tell whether you are buying resolution nobody will see.
- Controller compatibility checked before shipping
- If you already own a console or nodes, send the model. IC type, refresh rate and protocol are confirmed against your kit rather than assumed.
- Samples before commitment
- How coarse 10 pixels/m looks at your actual distance is not something a datasheet answers. Request a sample length and judge it in place.
- OEM and ODM
- Cut-to-length runs, custom pixel grouping, IP65 and IP67 builds, connector and lead configurations, private labelling and distributor packaging.
- One supplier, four technologies
- Pixel strip, COB, SMD and LED neon flex are all made in house, so a mixed specification does not mean a mixed supply chain.
- Company background
- Factory capability, lines and quality process are set out on the about Senfey page.
Request a quote for addressable LED strip
Send the run length, the density you think you need and the control system, and the reply can name a specific SKU, supply and injection plan rather than a price per metre.
Prefer a direct conversation? Use the contact page.
FAQ
Addressable LED strip questions from project buyers
The questions that come up most often during specification and quoting, answered with numbers rather than marketing.
What is the difference between WS2811 and WS2812B?
Where the IC sits. On a WS2811 strip it is separate and drives three LEDs together, so the smallest controllable unit is a group of three. On a WS2812B it sits inside each LED package, giving one pixel per LED.
The practical consequence is voltage: WS2811 is built at 12V and carries much further, while WS2812B runs at 5V and needs frequent injection. Detail is in the WS2811 and WS2812B LED strips guide.
Do I actually need an addressable strip for this project?
Only if different parts of the same run must show different things at the same moment. If the whole length will always be one colour, even a changing one, a standard RGB strip does that for less money and with a simpler controller.
The full side-by-side, including wiring and commissioning differences, is in the addressable vs non-addressable LED strip comparison.
Why does the far end of my run look dim or the wrong colour?
Voltage drop, almost every time. Current flows along the copper on the strip itself, so the far end sees less voltage, and because red LEDs need the least forward voltage, white drifts toward red or amber as it falls.
The fix is power injection: feed the supply in at several points while keeping the data line continuous — roughly every 2–3 m at 5V and every 5–8 m at 12V.
How many pixels can one controller drive?
For pixel controllers the limit is stated in pixels per output, commonly a few hundred to around 1,024. On DMX or Art-Net the unit is the universe: 512 channels, about 170 RGB pixels each.
There is a softer limit too. Long serial chains take longer to refresh, so effects look sluggish before the stated maximum. Splitting a long run across outputs beats filling one.
Can an addressable strip be cut and rejoined?
Cut between pixels at the marked points, yes. Rejoining needs three connections — power, ground and data — soldered or in a three-pin connector, and the data arrow must still point the same way.
One warning specific to pixel work: cutting changes the pixel count, so the controller must be reconfigured, or effects finish short of the end of the run.
Should I specify 5V, 12V or 24V?
Let the run length decide. 5V is chosen only when per-LED resolution is required, because voltage drop forces injection every couple of metres. 12V is the practical default for architectural work, and 24V carries furthest with the fewest feed points — trade-offs set out in the 5V 12V 24V addressable LED strips guide.
Can addressable strip be used outdoors?
Yes, in an IP65 or IP67 build specified at order — but the strip is rarely what fails. Data joints, connectors and the controller enclosure are the weak points, and all are made on site.
Budget for gasketed junction boxes, a weatherproof controller housing and surge protection on exposed structures — build options are in the waterproof addressable LED strip guide.
When is a pixel strip the wrong product to buy?
When the brief is output rather than movement. Pixel strips are dimmer per watt than white strips, and if the requirement is a clean, bright, even line, a COB LED strip or an SMD LED strip is both cheaper and better at it.
The other case is where nobody will ever author content. Pixel hardware left on one static colour is money spent on a capability never used.
Still deciding? Send the total run length, the viewing distance and whether content will be mapped; the reply can name a specific SKU, controller and injection plan instead of a price range.
Request a quote