What is Raspberry Pi Pinout? Raspberry Pi pinout refers to the layout of pins on the GPIO header of a Raspberry Pi board. These pins allow the Raspberry Pi to communicate with and control external devices, sensors, and other circuitry. The pinout is crucial for developers and hobbyists who want to create physical computing projects. What is Raspberry Pi GPIO? GPIO stands for General Purpose Input/Output. These are the pins on a Raspberry Pi that can be programmed to interact with electronics and devices, either by sending signals out (output) or receiving signals (input). GPIO pins are a fundamental component for many DIY projects, robotics, and automation tasks. How Many Pins on Raspberry Pi The number of GPIO pins on a Raspberry Pi board has evolved over its iterations. Initially, the Raspberry Pi 1 Model A and B featured a 26-pin GPIO header. However, from the Raspberry Pi 1 Model A+/B+ onwards, including the Raspberry Pi 2, 3, 4, Zero models, and the Raspberry Pi 400, the standard was set to a 40-pin GPIO header. This expansion provided more versatility for projects, allowing for a wider range of inputs and outputs to interact with external devices and sensors. Different Types of Raspberry Pi GPIO Pinouts Over different models, the Raspberry Pi has maintained a consistent GPIO layout, but there are variations in functionalities among models: Raspberry Pi 1 Model A/B: Featured a 26-pin GPIO header. Raspberry Pi 1 Model A+/B+, 2, 3, Zero (Including W/WH): Upgraded to a 40-pin GPIO header, establishing the standard for future models. Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, Zero 2 W, and Raspberry Pi 400: Continue with the 40-pin standard, offering increased functionality and compatibility with a wide range of HATs (Hardware Attached on Top) and other peripherals. Creating a detailed table including all pins and their functions for the standardized 40-pin GPIO header on modern Raspberry Pi models (from Raspberry Pi 1 Model A+/B+ onwards) involves a concise representation of each pin's primary function. Here's a summarized version that highlights key pins and functionalities: Pin Number Function Description Use Case 1 3.3V Power supply Powers low-voltage components 2 5V Power supply Powers high-voltage components 3 GPIO 2 (SDA) I2C Data I2C communication 4 5V Power supply Powers high-voltage components 5 GPIO 3 (SCL) I2C Clock I2C Communication 6 Ground - Common ground 7 GPIO 4 GPIO Clock General Purpose IO 8 GPIO 14 (TXD) UART Transmit Serial data transmission 9 Ground - Common ground 10 GPIO 15 (RXD) UART Receive Serial data reception 11 GPIO 17 GPIO General Purpose IO 12 GPIO 18 PWMO Pulse Width Modulation 13 GPIO 27 GPIO General purpose IO 14 Ground - Common ground 15 GPIO 22 GPIO General purpose IO 16 GPIO 23 GPIO General purpose IO 17 3.3V Power supply Powers low-voltage components 18 GPIO 24 GPIO General purpose IO 19 GPIO 10 (MOSI) SPI Master Out Slave In SPI communication 20 Ground - Common ground 21 GPIO 9 (MISO) SPI Master in Slave Out SPI communication 22 GPIO 25 GPIO General purpose IO 23 GPIO 11 (SCLK) SPI Serial Clock SPI communication 24 GPIO 8 (CEO) SPI Chip Enable 0 SPI communication 25 Ground - Common ground 26 GPIO 7 (CE1) SPI Chip Enable 1 SPI communication 27 GPIO 0 (ID_SD) ID EEPROM Data HAT EEPROM identification 28 GPIO 1 (ID_SC) ID EERPROM Clock HAT EEPROM identification 29 GPIO 5 GPIO General purpose IO 30 Ground - Common ground 31 GPIO 6 GPIO General purpose IO 32 GPIO 12 PWM0 Pulse Width Modulation 33 GPIO 13 PWM1 Pulse Width Modulation 34 Ground - Common ground 35 GPIO 19 PWM1 Pulse Width Modulation 36 GPIO 16 GPIO General purpose IO 37 GPIO 26 GPIO General purpose IO 38 GPIO 20 GPIO General purpose IO 39 Ground - Common ground 40 GPIO 21 GPIO General purpose IO This table summarizes the primary functionalities of each pin in the 40-pin GPIO header. Note that some pins have multiple functions (e.g., GPIO, PWM, SPI, I2C, UART), and the specific use case can vary based on the configuration within your project. For more accurate information, please refer to Raspberry Pi Documentation. What Can You Do With RPi GPIO Pinouts? The GPIO pinouts of a Raspberry Pi unlock a myriad of possibilities for developers and hobbyists. Here’s how you can utilize these pinouts with specific examples: Lighting an LED: Use Case: Simple circuit to turn an LED on/off. How-To: Connect the LED's longer leg (anode) to one of the GPIO pins set as output and the shorter leg (cathode) to a ground pin through a resistor. Code Example: Use Python to control the GPIO pin, making it HIGH to turn the LED on and LOW to turn it off. Reading a Button Press: Use Case: Detect when a button is pressed or released. How-To: Connect one side of the button to a GPIO pin set as input and the other side to ground. Enable the internal pull-up resistor. Code Example: Monitor the GPIO pin state; when it changes to LOW, the button is pressed. AutoPi TMU CM4 for Vehicle Diagnostics: Use Case: Monitor vehicle health and diagnostics in real-time. How-To: Utilize the AutoPi TMU CM4, which connects to the vehicle’s OBD-II port and leverages the Raspberry Pi CM4 GPIO pins for additional peripherals like GPS modules, accelerometers, or custom sensors. Application Example: Configure the AutoPi to log data from the vehicle’s diagnostic system and use GPIO-connected sensors to enhance telematics data, enabling features like crash detection, real-time location tracking, and driver behavior analysis. By integrating the Raspberry Pi’s GPIO capabilities with projects like the AutoPi TMU CM4, developers can create complex, integrated solutions that bridge the gap between software and the physical world. From simple educational tools to sophisticated automotive telematics systems, the versatility of the Raspberry Pi GPIO pinouts provides the foundation for countless innovative projects. Conclusion Raspberry Pi GPIO pinouts are at the core of what makes the Raspberry Pi such a powerful tool for developers, educators, and hobbyists. They provide the essential interface for connecting the digital world inside the Pi with the physical world around us. Whether you're a beginner looking to light up your first LED or an experienced developer working on an integrated telematics solution with the AutoPi devices, the GPIO pins offer endless opportunities for innovation and exploration. Dive into the world of Raspberry Pi and discover what you can create today. Unleash Creativity with AutoPi for Developers Curious how AutoPi can elevate your development projects? See How