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RGB LED Matrix Panel

Bring a little bit of Times Square into your home with these sweet RGB LED matrix panels.

These HUB75 style panels are normally used to make video walls, you can sometimes see them on the sides of buses and bus stops displaying animations or short video clips. They have bright RGB LEDs arranged in a 32x32, 32x64 or 64x64 grid on the front. On the back there is a PCB with a set of dual IDC connectors (one input, one output) and 12 16-bit latches that allow you to drive the display with a 1:16 scan rate.

These panels require 13 digital pins (6 bit data, 7 bit control) and a good 5V supply, up to 4A per panel). They are 'chainable' if you connect one output to the next input - you will need a microcontroller with a suitably high speed processor and enough RAM plus a software library that supports this.

These displays are designed to be driven by FPGAs or other high speed processors: they do not have built in PWM control of any kind. Instead, you're supposed to redraw the screen over and over to 'manually' PWM the whole thing. On a 16 MHz Arduino, it's possible to squeeze 12-bit color (4096 colors) with 40% CPU usage but they will do best powered by an FPGA or other high speed multi-core controller (like a recent Raspberry Pi or Feather). They are pre-white balanced with nice uniformity so if you turn on all the LEDs it's not a particularly tinted white.

Here are some nice, tidy ways to connect up and drive your LED matrices:

...scroll down for tutorial links!

Includes

  • LED panel
  • Power cable (with fork connectors suitable for connecting to a screw terminal)
  • IDC data cable
  • Four magnetic feet with screw threads

COM-B021 includes

Our new 128x64 panels come in packs of two! Here's what you get with those:

  • 2x 128x64 LED panel
  • Double ended power cable (with ring connectors suitable for connecting to a screw terminal)
  • Long IDC data cable
  • Eight magnetic feet with screw threads

Specifications

  COM-B006 COM-B007 COM-B013 COM-B014 COM-B021
Dimensions (mm, L x W x H) 192 x 192 x 12.5 128 x 128 x 14 256 x 128 x 14.5 160 x 160 x 15 320 x 160 x 14.5
Panel resolution 32 x 32 (1024 dots) 32 x 32 (1024 dots) 64 x 32 (2048 dots) 64 x 64 (4096 dots) 128 x 64 (8,192 dots)
Physical LED pitch (mm) 6 4 4 2.5 2.5
Physical density (dots/m²) 27556 62500 62500 160000 160000
Panel weight (kg) 0.24 0.13 0.23 0.24 0.37
Viewing angle (horizontal) 160° 160° 160° ≥160°
Viewing angle (vertical) ≥160° ≥160° ≥160° ≥160°
Maximum power (w) ≤12 ≤20 ≤20 ≤18
Luminance (cd/m) ≥1300 ≥1000 ≥1000
≥1000
Photos of backs of panels link link link link link
  • 5V regulated power input, 4A max (all LEDs on)
  • 5V data logic level input
  • Displays are 'chainable' - connect one output to the next input.

Resources

Check out these tutorials for instructions, schematics, wiring diagrams and code examples!

Notes

  • For 64x64 displays: You must solder bridge the E jumper on the back of the Adafruit Matrix Bonnet to 8, otherwise only half of your 64x64 display will light up.
  • These panels are remainder stock from factories that make huge light boards. This means panels may vary slightly from batch to batch (though basic operation is the same). As such, if you're planning on chaining multiple boards we'd recommend buying them at the same time to ensure compatibility.
  • Recent batches of these panels use a newer FM6126A driver chip - if you're having trouble getting them to light up you might need to specify this. If you're using the rpi-rgb-led-matrix library try running the examples with --led-panel-type=FM6126A, or with our Interstate 75 examples you can specify the panel type like so:
    i75 = Interstate75(display=Interstate75.DISPLAY_INTERSTATE75_64X64, panel_type=Interstate75.PANEL_FM6126A)

50 customer reviews

2 years ago
Does the Jub well, especially if you want to use a standard USB and HMI cable. Header is fine if you want to solder your own. I chose a pre soldered Pi zero, so this was not really relevant to me.
by Paul about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
3 years ago
What to say, its the adapters and GPIO headers you need for a Pi Zero if you want to use the GPIO, full size USB and HDMI connections. Works as required.
by Chris about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
4 years ago
An absolute must for a Pi Zero. you simply cannot use one without these adapters. I connect an USB hub with Ethernet port to the one USB communication port and with that the Zero becomes a simple computer.
by Tibor about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
4 years ago
Good simple solution for getting a Pi Zero connected to video, USB and GPIO. Even if you're planning on generally running headless, it's handy to have in the toolkit. (OK, I have piles of such kit, but this completed a neat gift for someone else - and was much appreciated).
by David about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
4 years ago
I have found the two adaptors to be essential for connecting to "real world" sized peripherals like HDMI monitors/TVs and USB devices. Plus I like soldering ;-)
by steve about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
4 years ago
these accessories are crucial for the use so why not sell them included at a fair price The fit well and easy. The micro, I think it is, USB (cable), and there is only one left (the other is for power), is handy for a USB hub as one have more USB hubs laying around with the normal USB port
by Anonymous about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
4 years ago
These high-quality adapters are an essential buy if you're setting up a Raspberry Pi Zero or Zero W for a project. Great value for money, and well worth having in your arsenal.
by Anonymous about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
5 years ago
I ordered kit the quality of this merchandise was excellent, I received the package the next day and all was packaged well. excellent service.
by Paul about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
6 years ago
Fast delivery, good products. My usb adapter did break but it's likely I was a little too heavy handed with it so just be gentle!
by sophie about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
6 years ago
Contains all the bits to increase the IO of your Pi Zero. You can't get this combination of parts cheaper individually. Once your GPIO pins are fixed to your Pi Zero, that's you done. However the other adapters can be kept with your keyboard and monitor for all future projects.
by James about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
6 years ago
Works perfectly! Must have addition if you are using a pi zero. Even in my case where the pi would never be connected to a monitor and managed remotely it was really helpful in the setting up
by Matthew about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
7 years ago
It is what it says on the tin. I didn't need the header since I bought the Pi Zero WH - would be nice to have a version of the kit without that.
by Oliver about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
7 years ago
The Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit provides the relevant adaptors so the Pi Zero can be used with regular sized USB kit (e.g. keyboard) and regular sized HDMI - pretty much needed if you are setting up the Pi Zero without a pre-set wifi network and ssh file on the boot device.
by Gary about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
7 years ago
Useful bit of kit for connecting the Raspberry pi zero to usb devices and hdmi TVs or monitors. Haven't used the pins yet.
by Anonymous about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
7 years ago
I ordered this with a Pi Zero, Pimoroni was recommended to me by a good friend. The price of both items was great and delivery was extremely fast. I will be using you again, great quality at good price
by Peter about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io
9 years ago
This kit is a requirement for most uses/initial setups of the Raspberry Pi Zero, to allow plugging in a regular HDMI Monitor/TV and also standard USB Peripherals. Well priced, and goes really well with the RPi0 to make a lightweight starter kit, for barely over double the price of the board on its own. Quality is decent.
by Michael about Raspberry Pi Zero Adaptor Kit via REVIEWS.io

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