Circular status dial or gauge
Map a sensor reading, progress value, or timer onto the 24 pixels to make an animated ring gauge or countdown display.
NeoPixel Ring 24
A 65.5mm Adafruit ring of 24 individually addressable WS2812/SK6812 RGB LEDs driven over a single 5V data line.
What is the NeoPixel Ring 24?
The NeoPixel Ring 24 is a circular PCB carrying 24 individually addressable RGB LEDs (it ships with WS2812B or SK6812 pixels). Every pixel has its own integrated driver chip, so one microcontroller data pin controls the color and brightness of all 24 LEDs independently across the 65.5mm ring.
All pixels share one data line using the WS2812 one-wire protocol. A frame enters at DIN, each pixel latches its own 24-bit color value, and the remaining data passes out DOUT to the next pixel's DIN. Rings chain the same way, DOUT to DIN, so several can run from a single pin. The part is powered from 5V and expects 5V logic on the data line, and the driving microcontroller needs to run at 8MHz or faster to meet the protocol timing.
Each pixel can draw up to about 60mA at full-brightness white, so a fully lit ring can pull roughly 1.44A at 5V. Plan the 5V supply around that figure rather than relying on an Arduino's onboard regulator, which can only feed a few pixels at reduced brightness.
NeoPixel Ring 24 pinout
| Pin | Function | Type |
|---|---|---|
VCC +5V | Power | Power in |
GND GND | Power | Power in |
DIN DIN | Digital · 1-Wire WS2812 | Digital input |
DOUT DOUT | Digital · 1-Wire WS2812 | Free |
Specifications
- Operating voltage
- 5 V (max 5.5 V)
- Interface
- 1-Wire
- Dimensions
- 65.5 × 3.6 × 65.5 mm
Verified from the Tinkered component library · Adafruit.
Circuit requirements
- Power the ring from 5V. Each of the 24 pixels can draw up to 60mA at full white, so budget roughly 1.44A of headroom for an all-white frame.
- Drive DIN with the microcontroller data output. The silkscreen arrow shows data flowing from DIN toward DOUT, and DOUT feeds the next ring's DIN when chaining.
- Place a 300-500 ohm resistor in series on the data line, at the end closest to the first pixel, to protect DIN from voltage spikes.
- Add a 500-1000 uF capacitor rated 6.3V or higher across the +5V and GND terminals to buffer the sudden current changes when many pixels switch at once.
- When driving from a 3.3V microcontroller, add a level shifter such as a 74AHCT125 or 74HCT245 so the 5V pixels see a valid logic-high on DIN.
- If the ring and microcontroller use separate power supplies, tie their grounds together so the data reference is shared.
Board compatibility
The NeoPixel Ring 24 connects to any of the microcontrollers supported in Tinkered. Mind the 5 V logic level on 3.3 V boards.
Simulate the NeoPixel Ring 24 in your browser
The NeoPixel Ring 24 is fully simulated in Tinkered. Wire it into a circuit, write your firmware, and read real values back with no physical hardware. Test your logic before you touch a breadboard.
Open it in the simulatorCommon NeoPixel Ring 24 mistakes
Feeding data into DOUT instead of DIN
Data must enter the DIN pad. DOUT is an output that only chains to the next ring. Follow the direction arrow printed on the board, and the ring stays dark or shows garbage if the two are swapped.
Omitting the data resistor and power capacitor
Skipping the 300-500 ohm series resistor on the data line and the 500-1000 uF bulk capacitor across the power rails can damage the first pixel or cause flicker, especially at the moment power is applied.
Powering a full ring from the Arduino 5V pin
A fully lit ring can draw about 1.44A, far more than an Arduino's onboard regulator can supply. Use a dedicated 5V source sized for the pixel count and brightness.
Driving 5V pixels with bare 3.3V logic
WS2812 data expects a logic-high near 5V. A raw 3.3V signal is marginal and often unreliable. Add a 74AHCT125 or 74HCT245 level shifter between a 3.3V board and DIN.
Connecting power and data in the wrong order
Connect ground first, then +5V, then data, and apply pixel power before the microcontroller. Feeding data into an unpowered ring can parasitically power the pixels through DIN and stress the chips.
NeoPixel Ring 24 datasheet
Official NeoPixel Ring 24 datasheetAdafruit
Popular NeoPixel Ring 24 projects
Wearable and cosplay lighting
The compact ring form factor and single-wire control make it a common choice for badges, props, and costume accents animated from a small microcontroller.
Audio-reactive VU ring
Feed an audio or FFT level into the ring so the pixels pulse and sweep in time with sound as a reactive visualizer.
Ring clock
Use the 24 evenly spaced pixels to show hours, minutes, and seconds as colored markers around a NeoPixel clock face.
More leds & addressable
Build with the NeoPixel Ring 24.
Drop the NeoPixel Ring 24 into a circuit, write firmware, and simulate it in your browser, then deploy to real hardware. All in one editable Tinkered project.