🎉  Happy 13th Birthday Raspberry Pi!   🎂   1,000+ deals in store!   🥳
🎉  Happy 13th Birthday Raspberry Pi!   🎂   1,000+ deals in store!   🥳

Picade Plasma Kit - Illuminated Arcade Buttons

by Pimoroni

Add technicolour brilliance to your Picade or Picade Console with this addressable RGB LED arcade button kit, available in a 10-button kit (all buttons).

Swap out your Picade's arcade buttons for the crystal clear ones in this kit, pop one of the Picade Plasma PCBs over the button's spade terminals, hold the PCB in place with the spade connectors, and chain all of the Plasma PCBs together with the included cables. Use the host cable to connect the Plasma chain to your Picade X HAT, install our Picade Plasma software, and BAM, your Picade is 110% more colourful!

Each Picade Plasma PCB has four tiny, addressable, RGB LEDs (APA102) and a data in and data out JST connector. They're designed to fit neatly inside the recess on the back of our low-profile arcade buttons and shine their light through the clear plastic. The white PCB bounces an spilled light from the LEDs to give them extra GLOW.

Kit Contents

  • 10x clear 30mm push-fit arcade buttons
  • 10x Picade Plasma PCBs
  • 5x 10cm button cables
  • 4x 30cm buttons cables
  • 1x 30cm host cable

Picade Plasma Features

  • APA102 addressable RGB LEDs
  • Chain-able
  • JST ZH connectors for data in and data out
  • Designed for our low-profile arcade buttons
  • Connects to the Hack Header on our Picade X HAT
  • Python daemon for Retropie/Raspberry Pi OS

As well as using Plasma buttons with Picade and Picade X HAT, you can connect them straight to GPIO on your Pi, or other microcontroller. This makes them ideal for DIY arcade builds and even building things like your own DIY midi controller.

You can read our tutorial on fitting Picade Plasma buttons to find out how to fit the buttons and control them with the Picade Plasma software.

Notes

  • PCB dimensions: 24mm diameter, 5.75mm thick (including JST connector)
  • LED brightness is limited to a sensible level in software. Adjust this at your peril!
  • Picade Console is for illustration only, and not included!
  • Please note we've tested our Plasma Python daemon with Retropie/Raspberry Pi OS only - getting it to work with other distros (especially non-Raspberry Pi OS based ones) might be more complicated. You might find it easier to look for a native APA102 library for your chosen OS!

12 customer reviews

2 years ago
The one-liner installer works well on a clean install of Retropie. The amp is just enough to drive a T1-2121SD
by Pablo about Picade X HAT USB-C via REVIEWS.io
3 years ago
Upgraded my original Kickstarter Picade and needed this for Pi 4 compatibility. Works the charm- only wish is that audio was stereo. Other than that, it works well and was an easy upgrade! Recommended
by Chris about Picade X HAT USB-C via REVIEWS.io
4 years ago
Works perfect, very easy to setup, connecting all buttons, joystick and all has been as easy as it gets. Plus the on/off switch is a real treat compared to the old plug / unplug you're used to with the Raspberry Pi. Would recommend 100% !
by Anonyme about Picade X HAT USB-C via REVIEWS.io
5 years ago
This is a brilliant controller board for our arcade project, and makes it really easy to connect everything. We haven't tested it yet but it is a great board.
by Rodney about Picade X HAT USB-C via REVIEWS.io
5 years ago
Worked great, and even with covid shipping was really quick, Would purchase again.
by David about Picade X HAT USB-C via REVIEWS.io
5 years ago
Great service. My item was delivered next day after the order was placed. I would recommend them to order from/
by MARK about Picade X HAT USB-C via REVIEWS.io
6 years ago
An excellent bit of kit! I paired it with RetroPie and my 1980s Competition Pro joystick to create my own little piece of 8-bit gaming heaven...
by Paul about Picade X HAT USB-C via REVIEWS.io
6 years ago
This is a great little board! I wanted to power a Pi and Pi Display in a SmartPi case with USB-C for a bit more power and this was available at an opportune time. The +/- are placed with just enough space to solder a right angle connector and feed wires through the case to the display. Still waiting to get hold of a PSU but this is working well off a bench supply. Software was easy to install, and the IO will come in handy for any controls I want to add to my project.
by Richard about Picade X HAT USB-C via REVIEWS.io
6 years ago
Fast delivering nu air mail . Solide and proffessinal material . Runs perfect .
by Rob about Picade X HAT USB-C via REVIEWS.io
6 years ago
All in one solution for audio and single joystick. Could you make a 2 joystick and trackball model
by Anonymous about Picade X HAT USB-C via REVIEWS.io
6 years ago
Bought this for an arcade project along with a Pi 3 A+. Easy way to provide on/off switch functionality, an audio amp with speaker output and any extra buttons needed.
by James about Picade X HAT USB-C via REVIEWS.io

User photos