Adafruit
Adafruit NeoPixel LED Side Light Strip
Best side-emitting lighting for custom DIY edge-lit projects.
Illuminate your projects with the Adafruit NeoPixel LED Side Light Strip. This versatile 1-meter strip features 90 individually addressable LEDs per meter, offering dynamic color and animation possibilities. Its unique side-emitting design provides a 90-degree glow, perfect for accenting edges, backlighting, or outlining shapes. The flexible black PCB with weatherproof sheathing ensures durability and easy integration, allowing it to be cut and curved to your needs. Connect multiple strips for longer runs and easily integrate them into your DIY creations with the included 2-pin JST SM connector.
$26.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
27
/ 775
#27 in Circuit Board Accessories
Price vs Category Average
+1%
Above average
Model
3635
Who it's for
- Creative coders building intricate, multi-colored light displays
- Designers needing sleek edge-lighting for tight, narrow spaces
- DIY hobbyists seeking well-documented projects and easy setup
Who should skip it
- Makers prioritizing portable, battery-powered lighting solutions
- Engineers working with limited microcontroller memory or processing power
- Budget-conscious shoppers looking for simple, non-addressable lighting
Performance breakdown
Illumination Versatility
Side-emitting design creates unique lighting angles for complex project shapes.
Integration Ease
Standard JST connectors and solderable pads simplify the wiring process.
Design Flexibility
Flexible PCB allows for seamless contouring around tight corners and edges.
Visual Density
High LED count ensures smooth color transitions and vibrant light output.
Durability
Weatherproof sheathing provides reliable protection for indoor and semi-outdoor environments.
Customization Potential
Individually addressable LEDs offer limitless creative control over dynamic lighting effects.
Key Specs
Model
3635
LED Density
90 LEDs per meter
Operating Voltage
5V
Connector Type
2-pin JST SM connector
Material
Flexible black PCB with weatherproof sheathing
Strip Width
8mm
LED Pitch
11mm
Operating Temperature
-25~ +60°C
Features
- Side-emitting design for unique 90-degree illumination
- Flexible black PCB for easy shaping
- Cuttable for custom lengths
- Individually addressable LEDs for dynamic effects
- Weatherproof sheathing for durability
- Solderable pads for easy connections
- Connectable for extended runs
- Sleek black strip aesthetic
What customers say
Customers highly value this NeoPixel strip for its unique side-emitting design, calling it a game changer for projects needing subtle edge lighting or seamless light bars. The 90-LED density delivers exceptional brightness and vibrant, accurate color reproduction without visible gaps. The black PCB is appreciated for its aesthetic integration into dark enclosures. While the premium price is noted, users agree the superior quality and reliability justify the investment for advanced lighting design. Setup is smooth due to excellent library support. A key consideration is the substantial power draw at full brightness, requiring robust external supplies for optimal performance. Overall, it is viewed as an essential, top-tier component.
Know before you buy
Unlike standard strips that shine light directly forward, these LEDs are mounted to emit light at a 90-degree angle from the strip. This makes them ideal for edge-lighting, outlining shapes, or creating a glow effect where you want to hide the strip itself.
Yes, the strip is designed to be cuttable. You can trim it to your desired length at the designated solder pads to fit your specific enclosure or design.
No, the sheathing provides a layer of durability and protection, but the product is not rated as waterproof. It should not be submerged or used in environments where it will be exposed to direct water or heavy moisture.
Yes, these strips are linkable. You can connect multiple segments together, though keep in mind that longer runs will require a robust 5V power supply to maintain consistent brightness across all LEDs.
This strip operates at 5V and uses a standard 2-pin JST SM connector. Because it features 90 LEDs per meter, ensure your power source can provide sufficient amperage to handle the total current draw of the strip.
Yes, each LED on the strip is individually addressable. This allows you to control the color and brightness of every single pixel independently to create complex animations and dynamic lighting effects.
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Ready to buy?
$27