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SparkFun Pi Wedge
This is the SparkFun Pi Wedge, a small board that connects to the Raspberry Pi's 26-pin GPIO connector, and breaks the pins out to breadboard-friendly arrangement and spacing, and even adds a couple of decoupling capacitors on the power supply lines. The "Wedge" also makes the initial bringup process easier - you can plug an FTDI Basic module into the built-in serial port. Each Pi Wedge comes as an easy to assemble kit that can can be inserted into the Raspberry Pi's GPIO port that allows you to prototype as soon as you are done soldering.
The Pi Wedge is compatible with both the RPi Model A and B and any solderless breadboard (provided it has the adequate number of pins available. If you love the Raspberry Pi and have been looking to start prototyping with it look no further than the Pi Wedge!
- 1x Pi Wedge PCB
- 1x GPIO Ribbon Cable (6")
- 1x GPIO Shrouded Header (2x13)
- 1x 6-pin Male Header
- 2x 12-pin Male Header
- 2x Capacitor (10uF/25V)
- [Schematic](https://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Dev/RaspberryPi/Pi Wedge-v12.pdf)
- [Eagle Files](https://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Dev/RaspberryPi/Pi Wedge-v12.zip)
- Hookup Guide
- GitHub (Example Code & Design Files)
- Product Video
SparkFun Pi Wedge Product Help and Resources
Raspberry gPIo
October 29, 2015
How to use either Python or C++ to drive the I/O lines on a Raspberry Pi.
Core Skill: Soldering
This skill defines how difficult the soldering is on a particular product. It might be a couple simple solder joints, or require special reflow tools.
Skill Level: Rookie - The number of pins increases, and you will have to determine polarity of components and some of the components might be a bit trickier or close together. You might need solder wick or flux.
See all skill levels
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Customer Reviews
5 out of 5
Based on 2 ratings:
DSS: SparkFun Pi Wedge Review
The Pi Wedge took a bit of easy soldering, and works as advertised.
Easy prototyping for the pi
Every thing you need to connect the pi to a breadboard!
Is it compatible with the Raspberry B+ ?
Yes and no.
For the 26 pins that are common between the revisions, they have the same signals in the same places, so the Wedge will work for them.
Mechanically, however, it's not so simple. The 26-pin ribbon cable won't plug directly into the new 40-pin connector - the new pins interfere with the housing. You could use a 2x13 stackable header as a riser, and plug the ribbon into that.
I was just about to bend the pins when I read your answer. Doh! Now it's time to find dem stackable headers.
At this point, we've also got a wedge for the B+!.
But as luck has it that they're backordered at the moment, so the stacking header plan might be called for anyways.
Yes, I noticed the new version, but it wasn't on stock and I thought this would fit right out of the box. I have a way to make it fit. It's not as clean as yours but it works and it's free and you don't have to wait for it to arrive.
The problem this 20-something pin cable is that it won't fit on the 40 pin header on the B+ because the plastic assembly is too long on one side. A way to make it shorter is to break the clip that is on the side that won't fit. It's also a way to get a polarized plug! I broke apart a couple of old ribbon cables first to make sure this method wasn't going to damage the Pi Wedge's cable, and it doesn't. It won't tear apart unless you try to. Of course, intentionally breaking the cable means you cannot return it to Sparkfun, but I don't mind, it fits now.
Please consider marrying the Pi Wedge and your solderable breadboards! That would be a Pi bakers dream platform.
Is there a B+ (40-pin) version in the works?
Yes
Does this protect my GPIO pins from voltage mishaps?
Nope, there is no circuitry on this board, it just breaks out the pins to something breadboard compatible.
It might be nice to have level shifters on this board as well so it works with 5V logic. Just a thought.
This is really funny... I ordered 200 scrap boards a little while ago and got 200 of these without all the other components. They work really well as PCB holders for SMD soldering. I was wondering when they were going to show up on the site.
I got some of these as scrap boards as well. They must've made a boat load of mis-designed boards before they figured it out.
Yeah, we ordered a full run of a bad design. Usually we prototype in small runs, but we accidentally too many boards :-)