What is the difference between WS2813 and WS2812B?

The WS2813 solves WS2812B’s biggest pain: signal breakage from a single LED failure.

WS2813 adds a backup data line to the WS2812B, preventing total strip failure from one broken LED.

If you care about stable lighting performance, you’ll want to understand how these two differ.

What is the difference between WS2815 and WS2811?

WS2815 integrates the control IC into the LED; WS2811 is separate.

WS2815 combines RGB LED and IC in one package, WS2811 requires external RGB LEDs.

Integration level

WS2815¹ is easier to work with because it integrates both the LED and control chip². WS2811³ needs a separate RGB LED and control IC setup. That means WS2815 reduces board space and simplifies wiring.

Model	LED+IC Integrated	External Control IC	Typical Use Case
WS2811	❌	✅	Outdoor signs, long runs
WS2815	✅	❌	Consumer LED strips

Signal protocol and control

WS2815 uses a higher-frequency single-wire protocol that needs tighter timing. WS2811 operates at a lower frequency and is slightly easier to drive for beginners.

So in short, WS2815 is a cleaner package, but WS2811 gives more control flexibility at the cost of complexity.

What is the difference between WS2813 and 2815?

WS2815 uses 12V power input; WS2813 uses 5V.

WS2815 supports longer runs due to higher voltage, while WS2813 is easier to power for small projects.

Voltage matters

The key difference is voltage. WS2813 is a 5V chip, while WS2815 works with 12V. This directly affects voltage drop and wiring.

Model	Voltage	Backup Data Line	Use Case
WS2813	5V	✅	Short to medium indoor projects
WS2815	12V	✅	Long runs, outdoor installations

Trade-offs in power and brightness

With WS2815, I can run 5–10 meters without adding power injection. WS2813 requires frequent power boosts after 2–3 meters. However, WS2813’s 5V system is easier to pair with microcontrollers like Arduino or Raspberry Pi without voltage regulation.

In my experience, I choose WS2815 when cable length and voltage drop are critical. For everything else, WS2813 does the job well at lower cost.

What is the difference between WS2813 and WS2814?

WS2814 adds a white LED channel for true RGBW output.

WS2814 is RGBW, while WS2813 is RGB-only, both with dual-signal redundancy.

RGB vs RGBW output

The main difference lies in the LED color channels. WS2813 has red, green, and blue (RGB). WS2814 adds a dedicated white channel (W), creating RGBW output.

Model	Color Output	Voltage	Backup Line	Best Use Case
WS2813	RGB	5V	✅	Visual effects, animations
WS2814	RGBW	12V	✅	Soft white lighting, decoration

Applications and control

If you want warm or pure white in addition to colors, WS2814⁴ is the right choice. It’s ideal for architectural lighting. On the other hand, WS2813 provides vibrant color effects but mixes white using RGB, which may not look as clean.

I once worked on a gallery lighting project⁵ where WS2813 looked too "harsh" when trying to replicate warm tones. We switched to WS2814, and the soft white output completely changed the atmosphere.

Is WS2812B RGB or RGBW?

WS2812B is RGB only.

WS2812B has three channels: red, green, and blue; it does not support RGBW.

Color capabilities

The WS2812B cannot output a dedicated white channel. It blends RGB to approximate white, but it’s not the same. For true white output, I would look at RGBW⁶ chips like SK6812 or WS2814.

Model	RGB	RGBW	Voltage
WS2812B	✅	❌	5V
WS2814	✅	✅	12V

Output quality

Using RGB to simulate white often results in a bluish or tinted tone. This is fine for many effects, but not ideal for lighting that needs accurate color rendering. If you’re designing ambient room lighting, this matters more than it seems.

What is the WS2813 protocol?

WS2813 uses a single-wire protocol with dual signal redundancy.

WS2813 uses one data wire and one backup line to continue working if a pixel fails.

How the dual-signal system works

Unlike WS2812B, WS2813 has both DI (data input) and BI (backup input). If the main signal fails at one LED, the data flows through the backup line.

Model	Backup Line	Data Rate	Signal Format
WS2812B	❌	800kbps	One-wire
WS2813	✅	800kbps	One-wire + BI

Reliability in long runs

This dual-signal architecture saved one of my installations. During a client showroom setup, one LED in the middle broke. With WS2812B, everything after it would’ve stopped. But with WS2813, the strip kept working past that point. I didn’t even have to open the ceiling panel.

How to drive WS2813?

WS2813 can be driven by 5V-compatible microcontrollers with precise timing.

WS2813 requires a 5V signal, tight timing, and a backup data input to function properly.

Microcontroller compatibility

The most common drivers are Arduino (UNO, Nano), ESP8266, and ESP32. You must use libraries like FastLED or Adafruit_NeoPixel to manage timing.

Things to prepare before wiring

1. A 5V DC power supply (current based on LED count)
2. Capacitor (1000uF, 6.3V+) across power lines
3. Resistor (330Ω) on the data line
4. Proper grounding between power, strip, and controller

Item	Recommended Value
Voltage	5V
Capacitor	1000uF or higher
Resistor	330 ohm on data line
Library	FastLED or Adafruit_NeoPixel

Dual input wiring

WS2813 has two inputs per LED: DI and BI. The microcontroller only sends data to DI, but the BI is internally connected from the previous pixel. No special coding is needed, but make sure physical wiring is correct.

Conclusion

WS2813 improves reliability over WS2812B, adds redundancy, but both are 5V RGB LEDs with different fault tolerance.

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