The Raspberry Pi can do many things by itself, but its potential multiplies when accompanied by one or more accessories. Depending on the project the user wants to carry out, you will find components on the market such as touch screens, real-time clocks, cases, cameras, keyboards, mice, and a long list of others. Today we are going to mention five of those accessories, and although our goal is that they work with the latest Raspberry Pi 3, there are support details that we cannot ignore.
The Raspberry Pi project turned four years old in February, and beyond the resounding success of its computers, it is also necessary to mention the extraordinary repertoire of accessories that began to circulate with each new model. Technically, everything we need to make a Raspberry Pi work is a memory card with a compatible operating system, a keyboard, a mouse, a screen and a power supply, but over time, enthusiasts and professionals alike have shaped hundreds of auxiliary components. From a simple case to protect the PCB to complete conversion kits, the Raspberry Pi accessories only confirm and optimize its flexibility. Today we will look closely at five of the most relevant ones:
PiTFT Plus
The video outputs available on the Raspberry Pi allow you to connect a wide variety of screens, but if you need something more compact, the solution is the PiTFT Plus. The version we are talking about is the 2.8-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels. The PiTFT family has not yet been updated to support the Raspberry Pi 3, however, there will be no problems with earlier models.
Official case
The Raspberry Pi has proven to be quite resistant on more than one occasion, but there always comes a moment when a user decides to "protect" the hardware for a more static and prolonged use. That leads us to the official case for the Raspberry Pi 3, 2 B and B+, with all the corresponding slots for its main ports, the GPIO pins, and the PiTFT screen.
Official camera
The PiTFT screen should be more than enough to view content, but what happens when we want to capture it? The people behind the Raspberry Pi have that need covered with a small 5-megapixel camera, capable of recording video at 1080p at 30 frames per second. There is a variant of this same camera that eliminates the infrared filter, ideal for very low light situations. All you need to do to make it work is connect it to the CSI bus.
Rii Mini X1 keyboard
The Rii Mini X1 takes first place in our list of portable keyboards, but in addition to being an excellent general solution, it also shapes up as a solid companion for almost any Raspberry Pi thanks to its dual role as keyboard and mouse. All it asks in return is a free USB port, and recharging its battery from time to time.
Patuoxun HDMI-VGA converter
The decision to use an HDMI port as the video output on the Raspberry Pi is not only a matter of cost, but also of strategy. However, this leaves out many monitors with VGA capability that are waiting for a new use. The Patuoxun HDMI-VGA converter is one of the most recommended by users for the different Raspberry Pi models, and although it may require some configuration adjustments, it is not too complex.
I know, I'm barely scratching the surface, but some accessories inevitably have to be left out. If you are experimenting with the Raspberry Pi and want to share details about your setup, the comments are open. Good luck!
