Group Actions
Engagement
  • Author Author: mbeffa
  • Date Created: Date Created
  • Views 814 views
  • Likes 1 like
  • Comments 4 comments
Related
Recommended

Raspberry Pi Mega-IO Expansion Card on Kickstarter

mbeffa

We released an expansion card for Raspberry Pi packed with resources:

Eight on-board relays, 8 12-bit ADC channels,12-bit DAC output, 8 opto-isolated inputs, 4 open collector outputs, 6 GPIO's.

The card is four-level stackable. Tentative price is similar with RPI, but we have it currently on Kickstarter for only $25.

Relays are spec-ed at 10A/250V, but the board's target is Home Automation, limited to 2.5A 24V.

 

A short video description is also on Youtube.com.

image

 

The card is not  technically a HAT, because it exceeds the form factor, but it meets all the other HAT specifications.

Up to four cards can be stacked on top of each other:

image

Parents

  • I think you'll get the same response as you've seen from someone in the kickstarter comments. How is having 10A/250V printed in large lettering on the Kickstarter page, and in the video, supposed to help someone use this card responsibly? It doesn't support what the text says it does, so at the very least it is misleading and not clarified unless someone reads the response to the comment where it is then stated that it actually supports low voltage low current scenarios.

  • in reply to shabaz

    Well, you are making a very good point. It was a mistake we have to correct.

    I do not know if we can edit the video once it was approved, but we'll review the specs.

     

    Conservative specs for Home Automation are 2.5A/24V.

Comment Children
  • in reply to mbeffa

    It was highlighted specifically as an issue six months ago:

    IO Expansion Card

    The comment on the kickstarter page still specifies individual part performance, and not the final product specification: "However, the traces leading to the relays are 50 mils. Using 2oz copper, they can carry 5 Amps with a temperature rise of 10C. The terminal blocks are also specified at 10A/300V, but they are generic, made in China."

    You can't have it both-ways; one normally needs to pick a specification and stand by it, not mislead (even if it is accidental) with repeating the 250V/10A thing twice on the Kickstarter page, when it was specifically brought to your attention six months ago.

     

    If anyone's property catches fire through misuse, they'd have a strong claim, given that it is very vague what is supported, especially when you state things like "conservative spec" which could be taken by some to imply you're ok with a customer using it beyond that.

     

    The draft user guide PDF doesn't mention low voltage either. But it does mention 250V/10A again.

  • in reply to shabaz

    Dear Shabaz,

     

    I aoid to comment, just like yours; the rest is history image

     

    Enrico