I really like this two colour 8x8 matrix which is perfect for my project - https://thepihut.com/products/small-1-2 ... led-matrix
I can understand how to use a single MAX7219 driver to drive a single colour 8x8 matrix but am puzzled how to use two together to drive a two colour 8x8 matrix. I am guessing you use one MAX7219 to drive the red LEDs and the other to drive the Green LEDs.
My confusion is because I read that the MAX7219 can be daisy chained (including connecting chip select pins) but if you do that then both MAX7219 will be active at the same time so both red and green LED will be live at the same time, whereas I want either green or red.
I was thinking I could use one MAX7219 to drive the red LEDs using one set of Pico SPI pins, then drive the green LEDs from a MAX7219 completely independently (not daisy chained) from another set of SPI pins.
Can someone please help clarify how I should get this two colour 8x8 LED matrix to work from two MAX7219 drivers? I'm baffled.
Many thanks.
I can understand how to use a single MAX7219 driver to drive a single colour 8x8 matrix but am puzzled how to use two together to drive a two colour 8x8 matrix. I am guessing you use one MAX7219 to drive the red LEDs and the other to drive the Green LEDs.
My confusion is because I read that the MAX7219 can be daisy chained (including connecting chip select pins) but if you do that then both MAX7219 will be active at the same time so both red and green LED will be live at the same time, whereas I want either green or red.
I was thinking I could use one MAX7219 to drive the red LEDs using one set of Pico SPI pins, then drive the green LEDs from a MAX7219 completely independently (not daisy chained) from another set of SPI pins.
Can someone please help clarify how I should get this two colour 8x8 LED matrix to work from two MAX7219 drivers? I'm baffled.
Many thanks.
Statistics: Posted by MikeyStroud — Sun Feb 08, 2026 10:36 pm