Assembly – connecting the hardware
Connect the Raspberry Pi, display, audio, MuPiHAT, RFID reader and power supply in the right order – with safety notes and a checklist.
This page takes you from a box of parts to a MuPiBox you can switch on for the first time. You do not need a soldering iron as long as you use ready-made parts (display with cable, MuPiHAT, USB reader). What you can buy is listed in the shopping list. The software goes onto the memory card in the next step: Installation.
Which parts do I need at least?
| Part | Purpose | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 (Pi 3B/3B+ works but is slower) | the small computer that runs MuPiBox | yes |
| microSD card, at least 16 GB | storage for the system and music | yes |
| Power supply matching the Pi (or the MuPiHAT) | power | yes |
| One audio output: MuPiHAT, USB sound card, 3.5 mm jack or HDMI | so you can hear something | yes |
| Speakers | playback | yes |
| Touch display | operation by children | recommended |
| USB RFID reader and cards | start audio plays with a card | optional |
| Buttons, rotary encoder, fan | extra controls, cooling | optional |
A MuPiBox also works without a display (then operated with RFID, buttons, the phone app or the Admin interface).
Terms you will come across
- GPIO header: the 40 metal pins on the edge of the Raspberry Pi. Add-on boards such as the MuPiHAT are plugged onto it, and buttons are connected there. GPIO means "General Purpose Input/Output" – freely usable inputs and outputs. The GPIO reference shows which pins are in use.
- HAT: an add-on board plugged straight onto the header ("Hardware Attached on Top"), for example the MuPiHAT.
- DSI: the flat display connector of the Raspberry Pi for a ribbon cable. Many small touch displays connect this way.
- HDMI: the familiar monitor connector. Pi 4 and Pi 5 use micro-HDMI sockets.
Step 1: Prepare your workspace
- Put all parts on a non-conductive surface (wood, cardboard, a tablecloth – no metal).
- Touch a grounded object first (e.g. a radiator) to discharge static electricity. Hold boards by their edges.
- Keep the microSD card aside for now. It is inserted only after it has been written on your computer (Installation).
Step 2: Connect the display
DSI display (ribbon cable), for example Waveshare 4.3″/5″ or the official Raspberry Pi display:
- Gently lift the small latch on the Pi's DSI connector.
- Push the ribbon cable straight in. The contact side must face the contacts in the connector; the display's manual shows the direction.
- Press the latch back down. The cable must not pull out afterwards.
- If the display is powered through the header or a cable, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
HDMI display: plug the micro-HDMI cable into the Pi. On HDMI displays the touch function usually needs an extra USB cable between display and Pi.
Which display profile to choose later is explained in Display & touch. The Waveshare DSI displays 4.3″ and 5″ have their own installation templates.
Step 3: Connect audio
Pick one of the following options. Later you select it under Audio and check it with the test tone.
| Option | Connection | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MuPiHAT | plug the board onto the header, speakers to the MuPiHAT speaker connector | built-in amplifier, battery charging and power button in one; see step 4 |
| USB sound card | plug into a USB port, active speakers or an amplifier to the sound card | simple and flexible |
| 3.5 mm jack | active speakers to the Pi's headphone socket | Pi 3 and Pi 4 only; the Pi 5 has no headphone jack |
| HDMI | sound through an HDMI display with speakers | only if the display outputs sound |
Passive speakers (without their own power supply) always need an amplifier, for example the MuPiHAT's. Active speakers have their own amplifier.
Step 4: Fit the MuPiHAT (optional)
- Screw the spacers to the Pi if they are supplied.
- Press the MuPiHAT straight and without offset onto the 40-pin header. Every pin must sit in the socket – no pin may stick out beside it.
- Connect the speakers to the MuPiHAT speaker connector.
- Plug the power button into its connector.
- Connect the battery last, observing the correct plug orientation.
With a MuPiHAT, its charging electronics handle the power supply. Which socket to use is stated in the manufacturer's instructions. Never connect two power supplies at the same time (for example to the Pi and the MuPiHAT). Set up the battery profile, charge current and protective shutdown after installation under MuPiHAT.
Step 5: RFID reader, buttons and fan (optional)
- RFID reader: plug a supported USB reader into a free USB port. No wiring on the header is needed. Which readers and cards fit together is explained in RFID.
- Buttons and rotary encoder: connect to GPIO pins. Only use 3.3 V from the header, never 5 V on a GPIO input. Check the pins in the GPIO reference first so nothing is used twice; setup in Buttons, LEDs and rotary encoder.
- Fan: only needed if the case is tight or the Pi gets hot; see Fan.
Step 6: Case and power supply
- Fit everything into the case. Do not kink cables, and do not run the ribbon cable over sharp edges.
- Provide airflow: a completely closed case without vents can overheat the Pi.
- Connect the power supply only at the very end.
| Raspberry Pi | Recommended power supply |
|---|---|
| Pi 5 | official USB-C power supply 5 V / 5 A (27 W) |
| Pi 4 | USB-C power supply 5 V / 3 A (official supply recommended) |
| Pi 3B / 3B+ | micro-USB power supply 5 V / 2.5 A |
A weak power supply or a thin cable is a common cause of crashes, Wi-Fi dropouts and SD card write errors.
Checklist before the first power-on
- The display ribbon cable is firmly seated and the right way round.
- The MuPiHAT sits fully and without offset on the header (if fitted).
- The speakers are connected.
- No loose wires or metal parts touch a board.
- Buttons and rotary encoder use 3.3 V, not 5 V.
- The written microSD card is inserted (see Installation).
- Exactly one power supply is connected.
Next step: Installation – preparing the memory card.