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How to Use Raspberry Pi 4b: Examples, Pinouts, and Specs

Image of Raspberry Pi 4b
Cirkit Designer LogoDesign with Raspberry Pi 4b in Cirkit Designer

Introduction

The Raspberry Pi 4B is a small, affordable computer designed for a variety of electronics projects and programming tasks. It features a quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 CPU, available in 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB RAM configurations, and offers various connectivity options including USB, HDMI, and Ethernet. This versatile device is widely used in educational settings, DIY projects, and professional applications.

Explore Projects Built with Raspberry Pi 4b

Use Cirkit Designer to design, explore, and prototype these projects online. Some projects support real-time simulation. Click "Open Project" to start designing instantly!
Raspberry Pi 4B-Controlled Relay System with Environmental Sensing and Power Monitoring
Image of smart_power_meter: A project utilizing Raspberry Pi 4b in a practical application
This circuit is designed to interface a Raspberry Pi 4B with various sensors and output devices. It includes a 4-channel relay for controlling external loads, an ADS1115 for analog-to-digital conversion of signals from a current sensor and a ZMPT101B voltage sensor, a DHT11 for temperature and humidity readings, and a 0.96" OLED display for data output. The Raspberry Pi 4B serves as the central controller, managing data acquisition from the sensors, processing the information, and driving the relay and display based on the sensor inputs and programmed logic.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Raspberry Pi 4B-Based Smart Surveillance System with GPS and Ultrasonic Sensing
Image of VisionTool: A project utilizing Raspberry Pi 4b in a practical application
This circuit features a Raspberry Pi 4B as the central processing unit, interfacing with an Arducam camera module, an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, a GPS NEO 6M module, and a speaker. The Raspberry Pi manages image capture, distance measurement, GPS data reception, and audio output. Power is supplied to the components from a 2000mAh battery, and the Raspberry Pi facilitates communication and control over the I2C, GPIO, and serial interfaces.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Raspberry Pi 4B-based Payment Kiosk with Coin and Bill Acceptors
Image of Scheme thesis: A project utilizing Raspberry Pi 4b in a practical application
This circuit features a Raspberry Pi 4B as the central controller, interfaced with a variety of peripherals for a payment and display system. It includes a bill acceptor and multi coin acceptor for monetary input, a thermal printer for receipts, and a touch display for user interaction. The circuit also incorporates a 12V to 5V step-down converter to power the 5V components and a membrane matrix keypad for additional input options.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Raspberry Pi 4B Controlled RFID and Keypad Security System with I2C LCD Feedback and Motorized Lock Mechanism
Image of CVM: A project utilizing Raspberry Pi 4b in a practical application
This circuit features a Raspberry Pi 4B as the central controller, interfaced with an I2C LCD screen for display, an RFID-RC522 module for RFID reading, a 4x4 membrane matrix keypad for user input, and an L298N motor driver to control a DC motor. The Raspberry Pi manages data communication with the LCD via I2C, reads RFID tags, processes keypad inputs, and controls the motor's operation. Power is supplied to the motor driver and the Raspberry Pi through a 9V battery and regulated 5V connections.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer

Explore Projects Built with Raspberry Pi 4b

Use Cirkit Designer to design, explore, and prototype these projects online. Some projects support real-time simulation. Click "Open Project" to start designing instantly!
Image of smart_power_meter: A project utilizing Raspberry Pi 4b in a practical application
Raspberry Pi 4B-Controlled Relay System with Environmental Sensing and Power Monitoring
This circuit is designed to interface a Raspberry Pi 4B with various sensors and output devices. It includes a 4-channel relay for controlling external loads, an ADS1115 for analog-to-digital conversion of signals from a current sensor and a ZMPT101B voltage sensor, a DHT11 for temperature and humidity readings, and a 0.96" OLED display for data output. The Raspberry Pi 4B serves as the central controller, managing data acquisition from the sensors, processing the information, and driving the relay and display based on the sensor inputs and programmed logic.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Image of VisionTool: A project utilizing Raspberry Pi 4b in a practical application
Raspberry Pi 4B-Based Smart Surveillance System with GPS and Ultrasonic Sensing
This circuit features a Raspberry Pi 4B as the central processing unit, interfacing with an Arducam camera module, an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, a GPS NEO 6M module, and a speaker. The Raspberry Pi manages image capture, distance measurement, GPS data reception, and audio output. Power is supplied to the components from a 2000mAh battery, and the Raspberry Pi facilitates communication and control over the I2C, GPIO, and serial interfaces.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Image of Scheme thesis: A project utilizing Raspberry Pi 4b in a practical application
Raspberry Pi 4B-based Payment Kiosk with Coin and Bill Acceptors
This circuit features a Raspberry Pi 4B as the central controller, interfaced with a variety of peripherals for a payment and display system. It includes a bill acceptor and multi coin acceptor for monetary input, a thermal printer for receipts, and a touch display for user interaction. The circuit also incorporates a 12V to 5V step-down converter to power the 5V components and a membrane matrix keypad for additional input options.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Image of CVM: A project utilizing Raspberry Pi 4b in a practical application
Raspberry Pi 4B Controlled RFID and Keypad Security System with I2C LCD Feedback and Motorized Lock Mechanism
This circuit features a Raspberry Pi 4B as the central controller, interfaced with an I2C LCD screen for display, an RFID-RC522 module for RFID reading, a 4x4 membrane matrix keypad for user input, and an L298N motor driver to control a DC motor. The Raspberry Pi manages data communication with the LCD via I2C, reads RFID tags, processes keypad inputs, and controls the motor's operation. Power is supplied to the motor driver and the Raspberry Pi through a 9V battery and regulated 5V connections.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer

Common Applications and Use Cases

  • Educational Projects: Ideal for teaching programming and electronics.
  • Home Automation: Can be used to control smart home devices.
  • Media Centers: Perfect for setting up a home media center with software like Kodi.
  • IoT Projects: Acts as a central hub for Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
  • Retro Gaming: Can be configured to run retro gaming emulators.
  • Web Servers: Suitable for hosting small web servers and applications.

Technical Specifications

Key Technical Details

Specification Details
CPU Quad-core ARM Cortex-A72
RAM 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB LPDDR4
USB Ports 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0
HDMI Ports 2 x Micro HDMI (up to 4K resolution)
Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet
Wireless 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
GPIO Pins 40-pin GPIO header
Power Supply 5V/3A via USB-C
Storage MicroSD card slot
Video Output Dual 4K display support
Audio Output 3.5mm audio jack, HDMI

Pin Configuration and Descriptions

Pin Number Name Description
1 3.3V 3.3V Power
2 5V 5V Power
3 GPIO2 SDA1 (I2C)
4 5V 5V Power
5 GPIO3 SCL1 (I2C)
6 GND Ground
7 GPIO4 General Purpose I/O
8 GPIO14 TXD (UART)
9 GND Ground
10 GPIO15 RXD (UART)
11 GPIO17 General Purpose I/O
12 GPIO18 General Purpose I/O
13 GPIO27 General Purpose I/O
14 GND Ground
15 GPIO22 General Purpose I/O
16 GPIO23 General Purpose I/O
17 3.3V 3.3V Power
18 GPIO24 General Purpose I/O
19 GPIO10 MOSI (SPI)
20 GND Ground
21 GPIO9 MISO (SPI)
22 GPIO25 General Purpose I/O
23 GPIO11 SCLK (SPI)
24 GPIO8 CE0 (SPI)
25 GND Ground
26 GPIO7 CE1 (SPI)
27 ID_SD ID EEPROM
28 ID_SC ID EEPROM
29 GPIO5 General Purpose I/O
30 GND Ground
31 GPIO6 General Purpose I/O
32 GPIO12 General Purpose I/O
33 GPIO13 General Purpose I/O
34 GND Ground
35 GPIO19 General Purpose I/O
36 GPIO16 General Purpose I/O
37 GPIO26 General Purpose I/O
38 GPIO20 General Purpose I/O
39 GND Ground
40 GPIO21 General Purpose I/O

Usage Instructions

How to Use the Raspberry Pi 4B in a Circuit

  1. Power Supply:

    • Use a 5V/3A USB-C power supply to power the Raspberry Pi 4B.
    • Ensure the power supply is reliable to avoid voltage drops.
  2. Connecting Peripherals:

    • Connect a monitor via the Micro HDMI ports.
    • Attach a keyboard and mouse to the USB ports.
    • Insert a microSD card with the operating system (e.g., Raspbian) into the microSD card slot.
  3. GPIO Usage:

    • Use the 40-pin GPIO header for connecting sensors, LEDs, and other components.
    • Refer to the pin configuration table for correct pin assignments.
  4. Networking:

    • Connect to the internet via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
    • Configure network settings through the operating system.

Important Considerations and Best Practices

  • Heat Management: Use a heatsink or fan to manage heat, especially for intensive tasks.
  • Static Precautions: Handle the Raspberry Pi 4B with care to avoid static discharge.
  • Software Updates: Regularly update the operating system and software to ensure security and performance.
  • Backup: Regularly back up your data to avoid data loss.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Common Issues and Solutions

  1. No Display Output:

    • Solution: Check the HDMI connection and ensure the monitor is set to the correct input. Verify that the microSD card is properly inserted and contains a valid operating system.
  2. Power Issues:

    • Solution: Ensure you are using a 5V/3A power supply. Check the power cable for any damage.
  3. Overheating:

    • Solution: Use a heatsink or fan to improve heat dissipation. Ensure the Raspberry Pi is in a well-ventilated area.
  4. Network Connectivity Problems:

    • Solution: Verify the Ethernet cable connection or Wi-Fi settings. Restart the router if necessary.

FAQs

Q1: Can I use any microSD card with the Raspberry Pi 4B?

  • A1: It is recommended to use a Class 10 microSD card with at least 16GB capacity for optimal performance.

Q2: How do I enable SSH on the Raspberry Pi 4B?

  • A2: Create an empty file named ssh (without any extension) in the boot partition of the microSD card. This will enable SSH on boot.

Q3: Can I connect multiple displays to the Raspberry Pi 4B?

  • A3: Yes, the Raspberry Pi 4B supports dual 4K displays via the two Micro HDMI ports.

Q4: How do I update the operating system?

  • A4: Use the following commands in the terminal:
    sudo apt update
    sudo apt full-upgrade
    

Q5: Is the Raspberry Pi 4B compatible with Arduino?

  • A5: Yes, you can interface the Raspberry Pi 4B with Arduino using the GPIO pins and appropriate libraries.

Example Code for GPIO Control

Here is an example of how to control an LED connected to GPIO pin 17 using Python:

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time

Set the GPIO mode

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)

Set up GPIO pin 17 as an output

GPIO.setup(17, GPIO.OUT)

try: while True: GPIO.output(17, GPIO.HIGH) # Turn on the LED time.sleep(1) # Wait for 1 second GPIO.output(17, GPIO.LOW) # Turn off the LED time.sleep(1) # Wait for 1 second except KeyboardInterrupt: pass finally: GPIO.cleanup() # Clean up GPIO settings


This code will blink an LED connected to GPIO pin 17 on and off every second. Make sure to install the RPi.GPIO library using the following command:

```sh
sudo apt install python3-rpi.gpio

This documentation provides a comprehensive guide to using the Raspberry Pi 4B, covering its technical specifications, usage instructions, and troubleshooting tips. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced user, this guide will help you make the most of your Raspberry Pi 4B.