PiRack carrier card connects multiple I/O to boards to the Raspberry Pi.  Expands development potential and makes it easy to use I/O boards in parallel with the Pi Camera

5 August 2013, London – element14 in collaboration with Dr Andrew Robinson, creator of PiFace Digital, has today launched PiRack, an exclusive carrier card allowing users to connect multiple I/O boards, including Embedded Pi and PiFace Digital to the Raspberry Pi. PiRack’s ability to connect up to 4 expansion boards makes it ideal for the classroom and offers users increased flexibility in their development projects.  One PiRack can host four expansion boards but it can also be daisy chained to provide even more expansion.  

One of a strong pipeline of exclusive Raspberry Pi accessories to be launched this year, the PiRack is available to buy now through  Newark element14 and MCM in North America,  Farnell element14 in Europe,  CPC in the UK and Ireland and  element14 in Asia Pacific.

The low cost and flexibility of PiRack is directed towards educational use as well developer projects.  The ability to work with multiple boards allows teachers to move through the learning journey from beginner, intermediate to advanced projects with their students with applications limited only by the imagination.

PiRack is part of the PiFace Series of products and can be used with most I/O expansion boards compatible with the Raspberry Pi I/O header. By taking I/O expansion boards directly off the Raspberry Pi, PiRack also enables the massively popular Pi Camera module to be easily used in parallel with expansion boards that control motors or host sensors.  Users can easily select which board they want to interface with and, as the PiRack can be powered separately using jumper selections, it doesn’t have to draw power from the Raspberry Pi.

“The PiRack is a great new addition to the Raspberry Pi family as it makes development more flexible and increases the connections the Pi can have with the outside world”, said Dr Robinson. “PiRack is ideal for the classroom where students can more easily move from developing basic applications to more advanced projects.”

“We’ve been working with Andrew to create products that extend the potential for developers using the Raspberry Pi, and PiRack is a great new addition to the ecosystem,” said Claire Doyle, Global Head of Raspberry Pi at element14. “Every time we launch a new ecosystem product we are blown away with the brilliant ideas people come up with.  With the added value of the Raspberry Pi Group on our element 14 Community, we’re not just providing the equipment, we’re also supporting an invaluable online resource for anyone to discuss, share and develop their ideas involving Raspberry Pi.”

To find out more information, watch exclusive videos and order your own PiRack go to  http://www.element14.com/community/videos/9289

About element14

Launched in June 2009, element14 is the first information portal, collaborative community and electronics store specifically built for electronic design engineers. The community recently unveiled its  element14 knode, a unique automated platform that enables engineers to quickly research, design, develop and prototype in a single, intelligent environment. element14 is an innovative offering from Premier Farnell plc (LSE:pfl), FTSE 250, a leader in multi-channel electronics distribution trading throughout Europe (Farnell), the Americas (Newark) and Asia Pacific (element14). The company had group sales of £952m last year.

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