RS cases...a review

[W. H. Heydt]

I previously posted a review of the Pi cases that Farnell and it's distributors are selling, here: http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewt ... 63&t=17672

Now I've received cases from RS, so it's time for another review.

The RS cases are pretty similar to the Farnell cases. Like the Farnell cases, and unlike the ModMyPi cases, you can't just pop them open to get at the Pi once it's installed. Also similar are the edge clips that hold a Pi *firmly* in place. None of those three cases have GPIO access.

The RS case is easier to open than the Farnell case, though having tried that case already I was better prepared for similar "challenges". Unlike the web site photo, the clear case is completely clear, no smoky transparent. The bottom part of the case has two beveled holes for attaching the case to a fixed surface. By comparison, the Farnell case has keyed slots, so that one could install screws and slide the case onto them and hold it...plus the slots are--effectively--covered, which the RS case mount holes are not. The feet give enough standoff that I *think* it would be possible to get the case open with a miniature pry bar if it were mounted, but I'm not planning to try. A down side to the RS case mounting holes...you're going to have to mount the bottom of the case *before* installing the Pi. After the Pi is in place, they are not accessible. In the Farnell case, that is not a constraint.

Rather than coming with separate clear, hemispherical, soft plastic feet like both ModMyPi and Farnell cases, the RS case comes with larger, flat soft black feet already in place.

Unfortunately, there are some mold marks on the inside of the cases. On the black and white cases, they don't show and don't matter, but they detract (slightly) from the looks of the clear case.

The bottoms of the RS cases have a matte finish with a large Raspberry Pi logo lightly cut into it, with a generous set of air holes.

Peripheral connectors are well supported. I noted above that the PCB is held firmly in place. Indeed, the clips you put the board into are stiff enough that I was somewhat concerned about the force it took to install the board...and I'm not sure I'd want to try taking it out unless the board really died and one wanted to salvage the case for another Pi.

In the end, the RS case is a good, inexpensive, well built case. Which of the three cases I've mentioned (I also have an Adafruit case), comes down to individual needs and preferences for ease of access vs. security. In some respects, the RS is the most secure--if you attach the base to a fixed object--while the ModMyPi case definitely has the greatest ease of access. The Farnell case is harder to open, but if it's mounted, the whole assembly is easier to remove.

So far I have been unable to locate the RS cases on the Allied (US subsidiary) web site.(I ordered directly from the UK) and the invoices from RS don't give any part numbers I could use to try looking them up. The Farnell cases are on both Newark/Element 14 (their direct US sub) and MCMElctronics, a Farnell associate. Indeed, I first found the Farnell cases at MCM and was able to track them back from there.

[jackokring]

How much headroom is there for making a little board which connects to the GPIO? I mean is stripboard cut to prevent shorts to each pin pair, with say 1 hole to jump over to a convenient track not on the board edge side, and a little 8 pin DIP space upside down just above the Pi's Pi logo?

[W. H. Heydt]

How much headroom is there for making a little board which connects to the GPIO? I mean is stripboard cut to prevent shorts to each pin pair, with say 1 hole to jump over to a convenient track not on the board edge side, and a little 8 pin DIP space upside down just above the Pi's Pi logo?

There's pretty much as much space as there is in any other closed case...the top has to clear the USB port connector, so there's a fair amount of clear space above the GPIO pins--a good 3/8"...call it 1 cm.

[Salamander]

... So far I have been unable to locate the RS cases on the Allied (US subsidiary) web site.(I ordered directly from the UK) and the invoices from RS don't give any part numbers I could use to try looking them up.

You can find out RS cases part numbers here. That's RS UK, but part numbers at RS Spain are the same. Haven't been able to find those part numbers at allied site.
BTW, at this post you will find some discussion about RS clear cases, with some nice pictures too. The mold marks you mention are quite evident.
May I ask for some pictures (you know, the usual all-sides ones)?

[W. H. Heydt]

I'll work on taking pics of all the cases I have. In the mean time, something I forgot to mention about the RS case...it doesn't have a way to see the LEDs. This isn't a problem with a clear case, but it could be in a black or white one. The Farnell cases *do* have a way to see them in the opaque cases. That datum may affect buying decisions.

I guess what I really want is a combination of the best features (for some values of "best") of the three cases I've been talking about...