Hey, I have question about stacking hats on a Raspberry Pi 5. I’ve been using various Pis for a long time (mostly the Zeros and an older Pi 3B), but I haven’t ever tried to stack multiple hats before.
I’m experimenting with the SparkFun Qwiic pHAT that I just ordered, along with some sensors, etc. I’m using a Pi 5 with this. I’d like to also use the M.2 HAT+ with NVME drive. This is going to be my development platform more or less for some other projects that I’m working on. The M.2 HAT+ comes with a stacking header and appears to have a pass-through, which in theory could allow headers to then be used by another hat stacked on top of that.
My question is, can I stack the SparkFun Qwiic pHAT on top of the M.2 HAT+? Is that compatible? And if so, the stacking headers provided with the M.2 hat aren’t tall enough to actually poke through the top, they are just tall enough to connect the M.2 hat. Are there taller headers that can pass all the way through with enough room to stack another hat like the Qwiic pHAT?
Any info or pointers are much appreciated.
If you aren’t using the active cooler you can use shorter standoffs (not included) and the extended header included to pass the pins through, I think? I can’t find examples online and don’t have a M2 to test with, but I’d try that if you have them in-hand
If you are using the cooler, you might be able to cobble up a custom header (I don’t believe anyone makes on currently) by using a M-F shorter set and double-stack that with the extended one…probably need different standoffs, but in my head this would work
Or use a splitter if you don’t care about it being a bit ugly
Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it. That makes perfect sense, these are good suggestions. I am using the active cooler as well, so I think I’ll try as you suggest, either by combining multiple M-F headers together or the splitter you mention.
So aside from the header length issue, in principle, it sounds like the hats should be compatible with one another stacked, is that correct?
Yep, they are compatible if you can arrange a stacked situation. In theory you could probably stack a bunch, 10+, until they draw too much power or you run out of unused pins!
If you end up using the splitter, you just need to make sure the horizontal pins are oriented the way you’d like (you can always test the power pins after installing to ensure the ones you think are pin # are…1 is 3.3v, 2 is 5v…it looks like the default is with the horizontal facing outward based on photos)
Cool, thanks! That helps a lot actually.