The Raspberry Pi Zero W is a compact, low-cost single-board computer equipped with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. It is designed for lightweight applications and is particularly well-suited for Internet of Things (IoT) projects, home automation, and portable computing tasks. Despite its small size, the Raspberry Pi Zero W offers impressive versatility and functionality, making it a popular choice for hobbyists, educators, and developers.
The Raspberry Pi Zero W is built to deliver essential computing power in a compact form factor. Below are its key technical specifications:
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
Processor | Broadcom BCM2835, 1GHz single-core ARM11 |
RAM | 512MB LPDDR2 |
Wireless Connectivity | 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, BLE |
GPIO | 40-pin GPIO header (unpopulated) |
Ports | Mini HDMI, Micro USB (power and OTG), CSI camera connector |
Power Supply | 5V/1.2A via Micro USB |
Dimensions | 65mm × 30mm × 5mm |
Weight | 9g |
The Raspberry Pi Zero W features a 40-pin GPIO header, which is unpopulated by default. Below is the pinout for the GPIO header:
Pin Number | Pin Name | Function |
---|---|---|
1 | 3.3V Power | Power supply (3.3V) |
2 | 5V Power | Power supply (5V) |
3 | GPIO2 (SDA1) | I2C Data |
4 | 5V Power | Power supply (5V) |
5 | GPIO3 (SCL1) | I2C Clock |
6 | Ground | Ground |
7 | GPIO4 | General-purpose I/O |
8 | GPIO14 (TXD) | UART Transmit |
9 | Ground | Ground |
10 | GPIO15 (RXD) | UART Receive |
... | ... | ... |
39 | Ground | Ground |
40 | GPIO21 | General-purpose I/O |
For the full GPIO pinout, refer to the official Raspberry Pi documentation.
The Raspberry Pi Zero W can communicate with an Arduino UNO via serial communication. Below is an example Python script to send data from the Raspberry Pi to the Arduino:
import serial
import time
arduino = serial.Serial('/dev/ttyUSB0', 9600, timeout=1) time.sleep(2) # Wait for the connection to initialize
while True: arduino.write(b'Hello, Arduino!\n') # Send a message print("Message sent to Arduino") time.sleep(1) # Wait 1 second before sending the next message
**Note**: Ensure the Arduino is configured to receive serial data at the same baud rate (9600 in this example).
The Raspberry Pi Zero W does not boot:
Wi-Fi connectivity issues:
GPIO pins not working:
gpio readall
command (via terminal) to check the pin states.Can I power the Raspberry Pi Zero W via GPIO pins? Yes, you can power the board by supplying 5V to the 5V pin and connecting ground to a GND pin. However, this bypasses the onboard power protection circuitry, so proceed with caution.
What is the maximum current output of the GPIO pins? Each GPIO pin can source/sink up to 16mA, with a total maximum current of 50mA across all GPIO pins.
Can I use the Raspberry Pi Zero W without soldering? Yes, you can use solderless GPIO headers or breakout boards to access the GPIO pins without soldering.
By following this documentation, you can effectively utilize the Raspberry Pi Zero W for a wide range of projects and applications.