There are 32 different serial protocols listed on The Awesome LED List for Pixels Crowd sourced, user editabl.  http://www.awesomeledlist.com/

Adafruit Powering Neopixels https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-uberguide/powering-neopixels#estimating-power-requirements

Each individual NeoPixel draws up to 60 milliamps at maximum brightness white (red + green + blue). In actual use though, it’s rare for all pixels to be turned on that way. When mixing colors and displaying animations, the current draw will be much less. It’s impossible to estimate a single number for all circumstances, but we’ve been using 1/3 this (20 mA per pixel) as a gross rule of thumb with no ill effects. But if you know for a fact that you need every pixel on at maximum brightness, use the full 60 mA figure.

To estimate power supply needs, multiply the number of pixels by 20, then divide the result by 1,000 for the “rule of thumb” power supply rating in Amps. Or use 60 (instead of 20) if you want to guarantee an absolute margin of safety for all situations. For example:

60 NeoPixels × 20 mA ÷ 1,000 = 1.2 Amps minimum
60 NeoPixels × 60 mA ÷ 1,000 = 3.6 Amps minimum

The choice of “overhead” in your power supply is up to you. Maximum safety and reliability are achieved with a more generously-sized power supply, and this is what we recommend. Most power supplies can briefly push a little extra current for short periods. Many contain a thermal fuse and will simply shut down if overworked. So they may technically work, but this is the electronics equivalent of abusing a rental car.

Keep in mind, 60 mA is a worst case estimate! We’ve written a whole separate tutorial on getting things under control: Sipping Power with NeoPixels.

This video in The COMPLETE guide to selecting individually addressable LED strips http://www.thesmarthomehookup.com/the-complete-guide-to-selecting-individually-addressable-led-strips/ gives a full description of the technical characteristics and differences of addressable LED strips. Explains Backup channel.

 

BEGINNERS Guide to Individually Addressable RGB LED Programming with Arduino  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS6FI_NyRzs explains how the led pixels are controlled, starting with the first pixel as counter ).

Addressable LED Controllers, Drivers, and Related Products & Projects https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10pHG7_VIVltyqJK1Y0T5g3Iq6YJV2MnhMp3UcAVB-GA/edit#gid=0 
This is a spread sheet on what to buy from where !

The Magic of NeoPixels  https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-uberguide/the-magic-of-neopixels  is an Adafruit tutorial that explains how to connect a string of NeoPixel tape to an Arduino , load the NeoPixel library if it is not already in the  Arduino IDE you have downloaded  https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-uberguide/arduino-library-installation then load  File > Examples > Adafruit NeoPixel > strandtest , Upload and the strand test program will run.

The 1 metre length of WS2815 supplied in your Funduino Uno starter kit is a 12V Pixel Strip but will work at reduced brightness when powered through your computers USB port as strandtest does not have bright static colours.

If you look at the comments at the start of the strandtest sketch it gives instructions on how to connect the pixel tape. The data pin is Digital 6 and your 1 metre length of tape will have 60 pixels.

Use IDE File>Examples>Adafruit NeoPixel>Strandtest which is a basic everyday NeoPixel strip test program.

WS2812B data sheet  https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/WS2812B.pdf

 Built-in signal reshaping circuit, after wave reshaping to the next driver, ensure wave-form distortion not
accumulate
 Any two point the distance more than 5m transmission signal without any increase circuit.

YeoLED is a UK supplier of 5mm wide SK6812 3535 LED Pixels strip light, similar to the 5mm tape used in WAAPA headdress.  http://www.yeoled.co.uk/3535-leds-pixel-tape.html

How to Make a NeoPixel Matrix  https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/gatonihttps://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/gatoninja236/how-to-make-a-neopixel-matrix-3f5631nja236/how-to-make-a-neopixel-matrix-3f5631 
Shows how to make a NeoPixel matrix but does not detail the DC wiring.
The Adafruit libraries are:

#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_NeoMatrix.h>
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

 

The Neopixel Matrix upgraded  https://www.hackster.io/gatoninja236/building-a-large-neopixel-matrix-3cb62b

With details on powering the matrix.

Page updated 12 February 2021