What's cooler than a single LED? A whole bunch of them! And even better, double the number of LEDs! With our 16x8 LED Matrix Backpack, we've made it a breeze to get two 8x8 matrices on one convenient board, doubling your project's matrix capacity. These matrices are multiplexed. Normally, controlling 64 LEDs needs 16 pins, and 128 LEDs require 24 pins - that's a lot! Driver chips like the MAX7219 can help, but they involve lots of wiring and take up space. At Adafruit, we know your pain. That's why this awesome 16x8 LED matrix backpack is here. It works great with the matrices in our Adafruit shop and makes adding a bright display super easy. This backpack is perfect for scrolling displays or small video displays. In our example, words flow smoothly from one matrix to the other, like a sign at a mini car dealership. We powered the demo with a Trinket (not included), making it a compact package. The backpack uses a HT16K33 driver chip. It has a built - in clock for multiplexing the display, constant - current drivers for ultra - bright and consistent color (the images are at the dimmest setting to protect our camera), and 1/16 step display dimming, all through a simple I2C interface. Each matrix backpack has three address - selection jumpers, so you can connect up to 8 x 1.2 - inch 16x8s on a single I2C bus. The kit includes a fully tested and assembled 16x8 1.2 - inch LED Backpack, 2 ultra - bright square 8x8 white matrices, and a 4 - pin header. A little soldering is needed to attach the matrices to the backpack, but it's easy and only takes about 10 minutes. We also have a detailed tutorial on soldering, wiring, and controlling the display. We've written a great library for the backpacks, so you can start displaying images or numbers in under half an hour. If you've been hesitant about matrix displays due to complexity, this is your answer!
Using this 16x8 LED Matrix with Backpack is easy. First, you'll need to do a bit of soldering to attach the two 8x8 white matrices to the backpack. It only takes about 10 minutes, and we have a detailed tutorial to guide you through it. Once soldered, you can connect it to your project. The backpack uses a simple I2C interface, so wiring is straightforward. You can use a Trinket to power the display, but it's not included in the kit. For scrolling or video displays, adjust the settings as needed. The HT16K33 driver chip has a built - in clock and constant - current drivers for great performance. You can control the brightness with 1/16 step dimming. Each backpack has three address - selection jumpers, allowing you to connect multiple units on a single I2C bus. When it comes to maintenance, keep the display away from excessive heat and moisture. If there are any issues, refer to our library and tutorial for troubleshooting. With our library, you can quickly start displaying images on the matrix or numbers on the 7 - segment. Enjoy creating amazing displays with this product!
