Mains Power HAT For The Pi
Raspberry Pis are absolutely ubiquitous! They turn up all over the place — inside art installations, running servers, managing home automation, and a million other applications. As the generations of Pis have advanced, their power requirements have gone up, and recent versions require high-power USB adapters that can provide a few amps, minimum. Instead of having a USB adapter and wearing out the USB connector, why not connect the Pi directly to the mains?
This awesome Mains Power HAT does exactly that — taking 110-240VAC at 50/60Hz and outputting 5V at 3A, which is often all that’s required for installations that get tucked away in closets or hidden away behind other equipment. The fact that it accepts voltage standards from all over the world is a really nice touch — when I first read it was made in the UK, I figured it would require 220-240VAC only, but clearly, the designers intended this to be useable by anyone! Another nice touch is a second set of terminals as a mains passthrough — you can power an additional device (up to 1A) from these other terminals!
Of course, when working with mains power, safety is important. If you don’t know how to safely connect this device to mains, then it’s worth asking a certified electrician for help. Also, keep in mind that safety codes in many areas require installations like this to be entirely enclosed. This is easily accomplished with any size project box that will fit the Pi and HAT. The device does come with a custom 3D-printed shield that blocks the bottom of the HAT from making contact with anything. Make sure you check your local fire and safety codes before installing a device like this in a permanent fixture!