Adafruit 5×5 NeoPixel Grid BFF Add-On for QT Py and Xiao

Our QT Py boards are a great way to make very small microcontroller projects that pack a ton of power – and now we have a way for you to quickly add a glittering grid of 25 RGB addressable micro NeoPixels. It’s an excellent way to make tiny wearable, cosplay, or IoT projects with dazzling LEDs.

We call this the Adafruit 5×5 NeoPixel Grid BFF – a ‘Best Friend Forever’. When you were a kid you may have learned about the ‘buddy’ system, well this product is kinda like that! A board that will watch your QT Py’s back and act like a technicolour raincoat.

This PCB is designed to fit onto the back of any QT Py or Xiao board, it can be soldered into place or use pin and socket headers to make it removable. Onboard is a grid of 25 1.5×1.5mm NeoPixel LEDs (SK6805 to be exact), connected to pin A3 by default. You can cut/solder some jumpers to select A1, or A2 instead if you like. There are also solder pads for 5V, GND and IN data, in case you want to power externally. Advanced solderer’s can use a thin wire to connect from the IN pad to other GPIO pins if desired.

We include some headers that you can solder to your QT Py. You can also pick up an Itsy Bitsy short female header kit to make it removable but compact, you’ll just need to trim down the headers to 7 pins long.

• Comes as an assembled and tested PCB
• For any QT Py or Xiao boards
• Uses the 5V input via USB Type-C connector on QT Py to Power 25 NeoPixels
• Default connected to pin A3 for NeoPixel data line. Not level shifted but the SK6805’s are happy to run at 5V power with 3V input logic level.

QT Py is NOT included.

Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 20.9mm x 17.9mm x 2.8mm
• Product Weight: 1.3g

Resources

• Primary Guide: Adafruit 5×5 NeoPixel Grid BFF
• NeoPixel Sprite Weather Display