So I got these WS2812 pixels from China. I cannot see the board and no wiring. Anybody have a method to determine which one is +, data, and -? Preferrably looking for one that would not kill the strand. I figure worst case is to pull 3 off and just hook them up but… Don’t know if they are WS2812B which I believe have polarity protection?
No datasheet or anything? Have a link to where you purchased them from?
I have nothing. I know they are WS2812. 5v, data and ground. Just don’t know the order.
Should be some marking on the string. You should also see an arrow defining which way data is to flow, so you don’t try to push from the wrong end. Can’t tell from the photo what the wire colors are.
You’re safe sending 5v down any of the three lines. Trial and error should be fine. I do it all the time. Just be super careful that you’re using 5v.
You could try a continuity tester to identify data (ground/power should pass through, data will be the one that doesn’t). Are they 2812 or 2812b? If b, you can wire power/ground backwards and not fry things. Also, test one led at a time.
Data is most of the time in the middle; so you got a 50:50 chance 
All the wire is black. Housing is black.
@Daniel_Garcia
Not sure if they are WS2812B or not. I did not think of the continuity test though… that should work. Assuming the middle wire is data, that should likely do the trick.
@Zeke_Koch I think it depends on the WS2812 chip. the WS2812B have polarity protection. I was under the impressiont that the WS2811/12 don’t… but perhaps I am wrong.
Maybe I shouldn’t have been so cavalier all of these years… there’s so much about electricity that I don’t know. if you send low amp 5v backward on an LED nothing happens. if you send 5v steady down a ‘data’ wire that’s used to taking 5v ‘pulses’ what’s the harm? I guess I don’t understand what the risk of just setting fast led to output dim red and swapping around all three wires? Which way could be dangerous?
I have fried WS2801s by reversing the polarity on a few occasions… The problem is that there is a chip in there… not just an LED.
I just can’t understand why/how the supplier wouldn’t at least have the pinout. I assume you’ve tried asking them?
I have a question out to him, but have not gotten a response. Thought I would try here… Considering the quality of documentation from China and that there are no markings on anywhere on them, I figured I would try figuring out a “engineered” way to determine it. Worse case scenario, I will sacrifice one of them and start cutting it apart to see the IC and wiring!
If they are like the ones I have with coloured leads, the middle is data and the male lead is your way in. Can’t help you with polarity, sorry.
Website of where you bought them from?
Those look great, I’m also looking into those. What dit you pay?
@Arduino_Basics @Jonas_Vorwerk
$0.40 per bulb +shipping from china http://www.scottled.com
I checked a bunch of mine and they are all the same. looking into the male plug with tab on top order is GND,DATA,+5. But I’d take a look at other stuff he sells on his site and see if there’s a pattern he sticks to.
Justin,
How durable are the bulbs?
thx!