The PlasmaDan DINPi V2 Makes It Easy to Strap Your Raspberry Pi or Compatible Project to a DIN Rail
Designed for secure mounting while providing full GPIO access, the DINPi V2 is a simple solution to a common problem.
Hardware designer Dan Jones has launched a second-generation version of the PlasmaDan DINPi, a relatively simple circuit board designed to mount a Raspberry Pi single-board computer or compatible on a DIN rail — while providing full access to the general-purpose input/output (GPIO) header.
"The DINPi V2 is a refined version of our original DINPi board," Jones explains. "We've overhauled the design to make it easier to use. Just like its predecessor, the DINPi V2 is designed to mount a Raspberry Pi or any other pin-compatible SBC (single board computer) onto a DIN rail, using standard DIN rail adapters."
At one edge of the board is a 40-pin 2×20 female header, designed to accept the male pins sticking up from a Raspberry Pi's general-purpose input/output (GPIO) header.
For pin-compatible boards which lack mounting holes, that's as far as installation goes — but for genuine Raspberry Pi boards, or closely-designed compatibles, mounting holes are included for bolts and spacers to provide improved mechanical support, including on the more compact Raspberry Pi Zero and Raspberry Pi Zero 2 models.
All pins of the GPIO header are brought out to a right-angled header to the right-hand side of the board, with a handy silkscreen pin reference included — though, depending on model of board fitted, this may not be visible post-installation. For those needing to attack multiple add-ons, Jones has also designed the HAT RACK — an accessory DIN rail carrier for Raspberry Pi Hardware Attached on Top (HAT) and compatible boards.
The DINPi V2 is now available on the PlasmaDan Tindie store at $20 fully assembled, $15 as a kit, or $10 as a plain PCB; the HAT RACK add-on is available for $40, $30, or $20 under the same terms.
