EDATEC 40-pin I/O Protector for Raspberry Pi 400, Grey

Description

The EDATEC 40-pin I/O Protector is engineered to enhance the robustness and longevity of your Raspberry Pi 400 by fortifying its 40-pin GPIO interface. This protector integrates multiple layers of defense, including ESD immunity ICs that actively absorb electrostatic discharge, safeguarding your Pi 400 from potential damage originating from connected daughter boards. Furthermore, each GPIO signal is protected by 33ohm current limit resistors, effectively preventing harm from short circuits between GPIOs or to power rails.

A critical feature is its integrated power management, which includes a tiny switch on the left board edge to control the +5V and +3.3V power supply to attached daughter boards. This allows for safe “hot-plugging,” meaning users can install or remove daughter boards without needing to power down the entire Raspberry Pi 400 system. The protector also implements an overcurrent limit circuit, capping current draw at 2A for 5V and 1.5A for 3.3V, thus preventing the Pi 400’s internal PMU from shutting down the system due to excessive load. Indicator LEDs provide visual feedback on the 3.3V and 5V power supply status, blinking if a daughter board draws too much power. Two 220uF capacitors further stabilize the power supply lines, ensuring consistent performance. The board also features a 5x40pin breadboard area for convenient experimentation and comes with a grey 40-pin ribbon cable, equipped with an anti-reverse insertion connector for secure and correct attachment to the Pi 400.