Pogo-a-go-go Solderless GPIO Pogo Pins

by Pimoroni

Fit a pHAT fiddle-free! These solderless pogo GPIO pins, nuts, bolts, and spacers make fitting a pHAT to your Pi Zero (or Zero W) super-quick and easy. Pogo-a-go-go!

Pogo pins are springy and normally used for test jigs (we use them for this in the workshop), but it turns out they make a super-simple way to fit pHATs to Pi Zeros, no tools required! We've had these ones specially engineered so that they're just the right size to give a reliable electrical contact between Pi Zero and pHAT.

Because they're non-permanent, you can easily switch them around between different projects, no hassle. If you're brave and gentle, you can use just the two mounting holes closest to the header and make this kit stretch to two Pi Zeros and pHATs (assuming they use less than ten pins in total).

Kit includes

  • 10x pogo GPIO pins
  • 4x M2.5x12mm white nylon bolts
  • 4x M2.5x7mm white nylon spacers
  • 5x M2.5 white nylon nuts

Instructions

  • Find the pins used by the board you want to fit at pinout.xyz
  • Pop the four bolts through your Pi's mounting holes from below
  • Slide on the four spacers
  • Sit the pins with the short end in the Pi's GPIO, in the appropriate holes
  • Pop the pHAT on top
  • Secure with the four nuts

Notes

  • Most of our pHATs use less than 10 GPIO pins but, for some like Automation pHAT, pHAT BEAT, and Explorer pHAT, you may need more than 10 pins!
  • Small parts may be a choking hazard. Keep away from children three years old and younger. This is not a toy! 
  • Pin length: ~9.5mm when extended, ~7mm compressed
  • Pi Zero W and Unicorn pHAT not included in kit

23 customer reviews

a year ago
I'm not sure how to rate these other than to say they were too much for my project. I intended to use them with the Unicorn Hat Mini, but the pins require more force to install than made sense. I quickly decided to solder the connections as it is superior in both connection and installation. My installation setup for those wondering how I attempted using these. 1. Small rubber mallet and even smaller regular hammar. 2. Wooden desk (solid work bench) 3. Clamps to hold things in place. My impression is that these are difficult to use without damaging small boards or using some kind of installation aid.
by Daniel about Pogo-a-go-go Solderless GPIO Pogo Pins via REVIEWS.io
2 years ago
Happy to give these a 5-star review. I've tried a number of pogo pins for my projects using Adafruit boards and modules, but these Pimoroni variants are the only ones that work reliably. However, I think the price (currently £5.52 for 10) is pretty steep, particularly if you need tens or hundreds of these, as I do. It would be helpful if Pimorni would supply a datasheet for these, so that once we've tested the Pimoroni version, we could be free to explore other options.
by Tim about Pogo-a-go-go Solderless GPIO Pogo Pins via REVIEWS.io
4 years ago
Pogo pins are not always helpful, but these solderless pins are a great adjunct to the toolbox. Soldering pins to small breakout boards makes them very bulky. The new Pi pico is a case in point. I used these solderless pins for testing a class-D MAX98306 amp before I committed it to a slim case. Making a pinned carrier from veroboard made prototype board connects simple without 'defacing' the MAX98306.
by Trevor about Pogo-a-go-go Solderless GPIO Pogo Pins via REVIEWS.io
5 years ago
Worked well, the "base" of them seem to lock in really well, but I feel like the tops don't fit as snug/secure. I had to flip them upside down to get my Unicorn pHat to work (though that could have been an issue with the hat as well).
by Braden about Pogo-a-go-go Solderless GPIO Pogo Pins via REVIEWS.io

1 user photo