Featured Articles
Announcing Pi
Technical Specifications
Raspberry Pi FAQs
Win a Pi
Raspberry Pi Wishlist
Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • Replies 13 replies
  • Subscribers 672 subscribers
  • Views 513 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

A Raspberry Pi Case to solve

colporteur

How do you overcome the limited access to the SD card on Raspberry Pi case that is physically mounted to a surface?

image

Lately, I've deployed a number of Raspberry Pi in the company network. They are ideal for network UPS monitoring [NUT] servers and ad block pi-hole servers.

A power failure last Friday corrupted a memory card in one of the Pi's. Restoring the OS image got the Pi working. The pi are mounted to a wall using the mounting holes (Ellipse 1). In order to get at the memory card (Ellipse 2) I have had to unmount the case from the wall. My fingers are just not small enough and I haven't discovered a tool that can grip the card in such a small space with the case mounted to a surface.

The picture is of a new case I am trying. It suffers from the same problem as others. On a different case I've taken to cutting the plastic around the SD card to enlarge the hole. It looks like crap but works. Recently I've taken to extending a handle on the SD card with cellophane tape (Ellipse 3). Removing the SD card without having to unmount the case is possible by pulling on the tape handle. Getting the SD card back into the unit is a bit of a challenge.

I've struggled with SD card insertion on a Pi3B+ case I had mounted to my workspace. It took a pair of needle nose players and some wrist flexing to extract cards.

Please share your insight if you think it can help solve the case.

  • Maybe you could superglue/tape a card extender on - made from a piece of old credit card.

    I have some plastic business cards that are even thinner.

  • Hi Sean,

    I had a similar problem, and the solution for me was sticky tape (Kapton tape to be precise, because it comes in narrow widths so it's easier to cut and place with tweezers if fingers are too fat), and fold it over to make a tab. 

    In fact I do the same thing for larger SD cards for my camera too, because they are quite recessed when inserted. A photo of the larger card is below since that was nearby rather than a micro SD card.

    image

    EDIT:

    Found a photo:

    image

  • You could perhaps use magnetic mounts. 

    Or attach to a small board which then is secured to the wall at the top with a small hinge. You will be able to pull the bottom away from the wall to get your fingers at the card opening.

  • They do make microSD extenders.  Not sure if they would work in general because they stick out, but in your case you are secured to a wall and the socket is recessed.  I would also worry about durability, but you probably don't need to  access it too frequently.

    image

    This one is from Amazon. Memory-Adapter-Reader-Converter-Female

    Haven't tried it yet, but have considered it for prototyping when using a case.

  • in reply to beacon_dave

    This sounds like the easiest option - some way to remove it from the wall for service.

    There’s also this kind of Velcro “command strips” that do a good job of holding things up and you can un-Velcro it to take it off the wall. 

  • in reply to ntewinkel

    I'm not confident there is sufficient space to attach it to the card. I'm currently using cellophane tape. Black electrical tape appeared to add pressure on the SD card when inserted. 

    I've order a roll of Kapton tape to give that a try.

  • in reply to beacon_dave

    Or perhaps glue two micro SD cards together, ridge to ridge, then you can have a backup copy ready to go - just eject, turn it around and reinsert.

    You may want to check what the situation is on the other micro SD card slot though. There is a lot of space on the R-Pi case, which may not be the case elsewhere, e.g. if you are using a SD adapter.   

  • in reply to beacon_dave

    I've stored SD card images for recovery. It provides a consistent management and restoration. My time as their network administrator is limited. I'm trying to working myself out of a job by created an environment that someone else can takes over.

  • in reply to ralphjy

    Solutions like these seem innocuous until they are not.  

    I was concerned about the adapter extending the trace length of the memory bus? I try to respect engineer designs or maybe I;m just overthinking it.

  • Amazon delivered today Bomei Polyimide Tape https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08Y8L2W6D?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 It is what Amazon search returns if you are looking for Kaptop tape, the productShabaz suggested.

    I purchased 10mm width rools. My calipers measure 11mm on the width of the SD card had sitting on the bench.

    image

    Folded the tape to form a pull-tab on an SD card. The tape thickness measures .10mm on my caliper where my cellophane tape measure .07mm

    I used some tape to make a few tabs and discovered folded lengths greater than 20mm, not including the portion attached to the card, is ideal for making a right angle fold so the card can be inserted with the Pi case flush against a surface.

    I experimented with a shorter length and that only resulted in new swear words. I confess even with the longer length, the card catches the card holder bracket but it was still a struggle to insert. I need smaller finger to push the card all the way in through the case hole. The tape is a work around. Taking the case off the wall to replace a SD card is a pain.

    Let hope power bumps that take out cards are in short supply.