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Introducing PiFace!

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We are pleased to announce that we're getting ready to offer the amazing new PiFace on element14!

Click here to add your name to the list!

 

 

Pi-Face Digital

 

PiFace (Pi Interface Digital) is a low cost add-on board created specifically for Raspberry Pi. Designed with the same footprint as the Raspberry Pi computer itself, it plugs simply and conveniently onto the top of your Raspberry Pi with no connecting cables needed, allowing you to get started quickly and easily.  Even connecting PiFace Digital to external sensors and actuators is easy, thanks to its screw terminal connectors to the outside world.

 

PiFace Digital connects your Raspberry Pi to the physical world allowing you to sense and control real physical quantities like temperature, pressure and speed, or even switch states, like whether a door is open or closed.

Using logical programming on your Raspberry Pi that you create yourself, it is possible to define reactions to some of these quantities. For example, you may detect temperature once every five seconds; if the temperature is more than a preset level, switch on a fan.


PiFace Digital is great for educationalists or hobbyists, and for anybody interested in electronics, software or systems control.

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Specification

Outputs & Indicators

  • 2 x relays for switching external loads on and off
  • 8 x open collector outputs
  • 8 x LEDs onboard

Inputs & Switches

  • 4 x momentary click switches
  • 8 x digital inputs

Software and API

  • Instant clickable control and graphical feedback
  • Consistent interface for C, Python and Scratch computer languages.
  • Programme debugging aided by instant visual feedback
  • Offline simulator for use whilst developing software without Pi-Face Digital attached.

  • No soldering required. That is more like it...

     

    It's £30 and sold out. I think element14 should carry these.

     

    Cabe

     

     

  • I just got my PiFace, and I'm really excited about it.  I've got a question about its capabilities, and I'm hoping someone can help me find out if my idea is possible using PiFace.

    I have an idea to use my Raspberry Pi as a guitar effects processor.  Since the PiFace is an analog input device, I was wondering if it would be possible to attach two 1/4" analog audio inputs to PiFace (one for input, and one for output).  What I would like to do is process the audio coming from the 1/4" input with my raspberry pi, and then send that input out the 1/4" analog output.  You'll have to excuse my lack of knowledge about ADC,  but here is how I was thinking this woud work.

    1.  The analog audio comes into the piFace from the 1/4" input.

    2.  PiFace converts the analog to digital, so the Pi can manipulate it...

    3.  The manipulated audio gets sent back through PiFace (which converts back to analog)

    4.  The manipulated analog audio exits through the 1/4" analog output.

     

    Could someone tell me if my scenario is possible using PiFace, and if not, I'd love some suggestions about how I might set something like this up.

     

    Thanks!

    -John

  • What current \ voltage can the PiFace relays handle?

    eg 240v 50amps ?

  • in reply to slackrabbit

    @ Gerard,

     

    You can read the rating on the relays 10A 277V - but don't connect this board to the mains !

     

    MK

  • Two questions:

     

    1. is there an in-between connector available to access the GPIO pins of the Raspberry Pi when the PiFace is installed? (for instance to install a serial connection)

    2. the software examples only show settings of one bit at the time (by Python commands like pfio.digital_write(,x,y). Is there a command that will write a full byte (= 8 bits) in one stroke (for instance to drive a D/A converter with honorable speed...)?

  • : As you've specified in your message post: Even connecting PiFace Digital to external sensors and actuators is easy, thanks to its screw terminal connectors to the outside world.

     

    Can you confirm me that just wiring the sensors to the input and then I'm able to read the values from it? What about the temperature sensors?

     

    Thanks!

  • : As you've specified in your message post: Even connecting PiFace Digital to external sensors and actuators is easy, thanks to its screw terminal connectors to the outside world.

     

    Can you confirm me that just wiring the sensors to the input and then I'm able to read the values from it? What about the temperature sensors?

     

    Thanks!

  • : As you've specified in your message post: Even connecting PiFace Digital to external sensors and actuators is easy, thanks to its screw terminal connectors to the outside world.

     

    Can you confirm me that just wiring the sensors to the input and then I'm able to read the values from it? What about the temperature sensors?

     

    Thanks!

  • : As you've specified in your message post: Even connecting PiFace Digital to external sensors and actuators is easy, thanks to its screw terminal connectors to the outside world.

     

    Can you confirm me that just wiring the sensors to the input and then I'm able to read the values from it? What about the temperature sensors?

     

    Thanks!

  • in reply to Former Member

    : As you've specified in your message post: Even connecting PiFace Digital to external sensors and actuators is easy, thanks to its screw terminal connectors to the outside world.

     

    Can you confirm me that just wiring the sensors to the input and then I'm able to read the values from it? What about the temperature sensors?

     

    Thanks!