NeoPXL8 Friend - 8 x Strands NeoPixel Level Shifter

Level-shifter breakout that drives up to 8 independent NeoPixel strands simultaneously, converting 3.3 V microcontroller data lines to 5 V NeoPixel-compatible levels. Designed to pair with SAMD or similar microcontrollers running parallel DMA output.

Logical pinout · physical placement not verified

V+boost input
3V to 5V supply input for the NeoPXL8 Friend level-shifter boost circuit; Adafruit states 10 mA max draw for the level-shifter supply, not NeoPixel strip power
Type · PowerVoltage · 3V to 5V input for level shifter boost; NeoPixel loads need separate chunky 5V power
GND
Common ground line for the controller, level shifter, and external NeoPixel strip power wiring
Type · GroundVoltage · 0V reference
D0
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 0; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
Type · GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D1
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 1; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
Type · GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D2
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 2; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
Type · GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D3
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 3; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
Type · GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D4
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 4; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
Type · GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D5
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 5; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
Type · GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D6
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 6; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
Type · GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D7
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 7; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
Type · GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
8x2 Fadecandy-style header
Sixteen-pin NeoPixel output header with ground and 5V-logic signal in pairs for up to eight strands
Type · UnknownVoltage · 5V logic signal outputs; strip power is supplied separately
RJ45 OctoWS2811-style connectors
Two RJ45 NeoPixel output connectors with ground and 5V-logic signal per twisted pair, matching OctoWS2811-style wiring
Type · UnknownVoltage · 5V logic signal outputs; strip power is supplied separately

Pin	Type	Function	Voltage
V+boost input	Power	3V to 5V supply input for the NeoPXL8 Friend level-shifter boost circuit; Adafruit states 10 mA max draw for the level-shifter supply, not NeoPixel strip power	3V to 5V input for level shifter boost; NeoPixel loads need separate chunky 5V power
GND	Ground	Common ground line for the controller, level shifter, and external NeoPixel strip power wiring	0V reference
D0	GPIO	3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 0; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output	3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D1	GPIO	3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 1; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output	3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D2	GPIO	3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 2; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output	3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D3	GPIO	3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 3; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output	3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D4	GPIO	3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 4; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output	3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D5	GPIO	3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 5; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output	3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D6	GPIO	3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 6; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output	3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D7	GPIO	3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 7; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output	3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
8x2 Fadecandy-style header	Unknown	Sixteen-pin NeoPixel output header with ground and 5V-logic signal in pairs for up to eight strands	5V logic signal outputs; strip power is supplied separately
RJ45 OctoWS2811-style connectors	Unknown	Two RJ45 NeoPixel output connectors with ground and 5V-logic signal per twisted pair, matching OctoWS2811-style wiring	5V logic signal outputs; strip power is supplied separately

Logical pinout · physical placement not verified

Pin details

12 connections

V+boost input
3V to 5V supply input for the NeoPXL8 Friend level-shifter boost circuit; Adafruit states 10 mA max draw for the level-shifter supply, not NeoPixel strip power
PowerVoltage · 3V to 5V input for level shifter boost; NeoPixel loads need separate chunky 5V power
GND
Common ground line for the controller, level shifter, and external NeoPixel strip power wiring
GroundVoltage · 0V reference
D0
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 0; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D1
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 1; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D2
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 2; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D3
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 3; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D4
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 4; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D5
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 5; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D6
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 6; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
D7
3.3V controller data input for NeoPXL8 strand 7; shifted by the Friend to a 5V NeoPixel-compatible output
GPIOVoltage · 3.3V logic input, shifted to 5V logic output
8x2 Fadecandy-style header
Sixteen-pin NeoPixel output header with ground and 5V-logic signal in pairs for up to eight strands
UnknownVoltage · 5V logic signal outputs; strip power is supplied separately
RJ45 OctoWS2811-style connectors
Two RJ45 NeoPixel output connectors with ground and 5V-logic signal per twisted pair, matching OctoWS2811-style wiring
UnknownVoltage · 5V logic signal outputs; strip power is supplied separately

LED pixels

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