A hardware add-on called bPiShift is on its way to simplify voltage level shifting for Raspberry Pi users. It’s a compact and solderless solution that snaps directly onto the 40-pin GPIO header of your Pi. This tool lets you interface your Raspberry Pi with 5V peripherals like sensors and serial devices, removing messy jumper wires or separate logic converter boards from the equation.
Thanks to MOSFET-based circuitry, the board offers bidirectional voltage shifting across all 28 usable GPIO pins. This makes the communication between devices both safe and reliable. Weighing 10 grams and measuring just 51.2 × 27.5 × 6.2 mm, the board fits neatly inside standard enclosures. Its plug-and-play form factor maintains full access to the Pi’s GPIO. Users get laser-etched pin markings, a visual power indicator, and a jumper to switch between onboard and external 5 V power supplies.
The bPiShift has been tested with Pi models 2 through 5 and the Zero series. The board can handle humidity levels from 10% to 95% RH, in the absence of condensation, and provides reliable performance in environments ranging from 0 °C to 60 °C. Its launch is expected soon, with all its design files published under an open-source license.
