Which An-Penta should I buy for one RGBCCT strip?

The An-Penta-Mini. One RGBCCT strip uses exactly five channels (R, G, B, warm white, cool white), which is precisely what the Mini offers in its smallest, most affordable package — from $29.99.

The chooser · Mini vs Plus vs Deca

Which An-Penta should you buy?

Q: What is the difference between the An-Penta-Mini, Plus and Deca?

All three are analog PWM LED controllers with ~20 kHz flicker-free dimming, fused positive outputs, 12–48V input and ESPHome/WLED firmware. The Mini (ESP32-C3) is the compact 5-output, 10A board for one zone. The Plus (ESP32) has 5 channels at 10A each plus a digital output, 30A total, and wired Ethernet. The Deca (ESP32) has 15 channels on 6 fused outputs, 30A total — enough for three independent RGBCCT strips.

Q: Which An-Penta has Ethernet?

Only the An-Penta-Plus has wired 10/100 Ethernet (plus Wi-Fi). The Mini and Deca are Wi-Fi only, each with an external antenna.

The short answer: count your zones and your amps. One zone — a desk, a shelf, one RGBCCT strip — take the Mini. A whole room of high-power white, or anything that deserves wired Ethernet — the Plus. Many zones from one box, up to three full RGBCCT strips — the Deca. Everything else about them is identical on purpose: ~20 kHz flicker-free PWM, fused positive outputs, ESPHome or WLED, fully local.

By Quindor · QuinLED / Intermit.Tech · Updated June 2026

The full comparison

Same engineering philosophy, three sizes. Prices are quinled.shop starting prices (USD); every order is fulfilled by a regional reseller (Worldwide / EU / US / CA).

Board	An-Penta-Mini	An-Penta-Plus	An-Penta-Deca
Best for	One zone, done right	The do-it-all flagship	Multi-zone installs
Controller	ESP32-C3	ESP32	ESP32
Connectivity	Wi-Fi (ext. antenna)	Wi-Fi + 10/100 Ethernet	Wi-Fi (ext. antenna)
Dimming channels	5	5 analog + 1 digital	15
Current per channel	2× up to 5A · 3× up to 3A	up to 10A each	up to 5A each
Total power	10A	30A	30A
Input voltage	12–48V DC	12–48V DC	12–48V DC
Fusing	2 fused positive feeds (protect all 5 outputs)	A fuse on every positive output (5×)	6 fused positive outputs (protect all 15 channels)
PWM & resolution	~20 kHz · 12-bit (4096 steps) · faster clock modes	~20 kHz · 12-bit (4096 steps) · MOSFET gate drivers	~20 kHz · 12-bit (4096 steps) · on all 15 channels
Configurations	5× white · RGB + 2× white · 1× RGBCCT	Any 5-channel mix + an addressable pixel run	Up to 3× RGBCCT · any mix of white/RGB/RGBW/RGBCCT
Extras	USB-C · i²c · button input	USB-C (ESD) · Stemma QT i²c · rotary encoder · temp sensor · power injection · buck option	USB-C · i²c · button inputs · mounting flanges
Case	Slim black aluminium	Sturdy finned aluminium	Same sturdy case as the Plus
From	$29.99	$39.99	$39.99
Links	Product · Guide · FAQ · Buy	Product · Guide · FAQ · Buy	Product · Guide · FAQ · Buy

Pick by project, not by spec sheet

Take the Mini if… you're lighting one spot beautifully. A bookcase with a strip per shelf, a desk in tunable white, a corner uplight, one RGBCCT run behind the TV, a streaming backdrop. It's the smallest and cheapest way to get the full 12-bit, ~20 kHz treatment — and the easiest board to start with if analog is new to you.

Take the Plus if… you're lighting a room that matters. Long, dense, high-CRI white runs need real current — 10A per channel and 30A total is the headroom that keeps a bright cove bright. It's also the only board with wired Ethernet, which is worth it for the light you never want dropping off the network, and it adds a digital output for an addressable accent strip plus power-injection terminals for the heaviest white runs.

Take the Deca if… you're lighting many zones from one box. Fifteen channels divide into up to three fully independent RGBCCT strips, or a whole wall of separately-dimmed white zones — one IP address, one config, one fuse box. It's the tidy answer for coves, shelving walls, staircases and multi-room builds.

Still torn between two? Mini vs Plus: it's a power and Ethernet question — if the run is long, bright white or mission-critical, go Plus. Plus vs Deca: it's a channels question — more than five channels of analog, go Deca; need 10A per channel or Ethernet, stay Plus. And whichever you pick, the dimming quality is identical: ~20 kHz, flicker-free on camera, with fused positive outputs.

Common questions

What's the difference between the An-Penta-Mini, Plus and Deca?

Channel count, current and connectivity. Mini: 5 outputs, 10A, Wi-Fi, compact. Plus: 5×10A + a digital output, 30A, Wi-Fi + Ethernet. Deca: 15 channels on 6 fused outputs, 30A, Wi-Fi. The dimming (~20 kHz), fusing philosophy, 12–48V input and firmware (ESPHome / WLED / Tasmota) are the same across the line.

Which board for one RGBCCT strip?

The Mini — one RGBCCT strip is exactly five channels (R, G, B, WW, CW). If that strip is very long and bright, or you want Ethernet, step up to the Plus.

Which An-Penta has Ethernet?

Only the An-Penta-Plus — 10/100 wired Ethernet alongside Wi-Fi. The Mini and Deca are Wi-Fi with external antennas, which is fine for most installs.

Can I mix boards in one home?

Absolutely — they all speak the same firmware and show up the same way in Home Assistant. A common pattern: a Plus for the living-room cove, Minis for desks and shelves, a Deca for a multi-zone build. One ecosystem, sized per room.

All specifications are from the official product pages on this site, sourced from quinled.info. Written by Quindor, who designed all three boards.