The pixels are connected by a 4-conductor cable. +5V (Red), Ground (Blue), Data (Yellow) and Clock (Green). Data is shifted down from one pixel to the next so that you can easily cut the strand or attach more onto the end.

Each dot is digitally controlled, with an internal 8-bit PWM LED driver (24-bit color for 16 million different shades). The pixels must be clocked by a microcontroller, we have an example code linked below that works on an Arduino, it should be simple to adapt it to any other microcontroller.

The three jumper wires then connect to ground, clock and data pins on the Arduino. If using a “traditional” Arduino board (Uno, etc.), use Digital pin 13 for clock and 11 for data. For the ATmega 32u4 or Teensy boards, use B1 for clock and B2 for data. For Arduino Mega, use pin 52 for clock and 51 for data. The ground wire can connect to any GND pin on the Arduino.