There are a lot of variables to consider, such as; power, durability, ease of use, audio, access to GPIO pins, just to name a few. There may still be the odd base we've yet to cover, but you can bet we're working on it.
On The Move With microbit Case & Accessories Options:
For the sake of simplicity, we have grouped the options into sections. This isn't an exhaustive list, but it does deliver a variety of options that cover a lot of bases. They are:-
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microbit cases. Jump.
- MI:pro cases.
- Mi:power cases.
- MI:pro plus BBC micro:bit and accessories.
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Powering the microbit. Jump.
- MI:power board.
- Klip Halo V2 with battery cage.
- 2 x AAA Battery holder with a JST connector.
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Edge connectors and boards with edge connectors. Jump.
- Edge Connector Breakout Board.
- :CREATE Proto Board For BBC microbit.
- Motor Driver Board for the BBC micro:bit.
- All-in-one robotics board for the BBC microbit.
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microbit cases. Jump.
1. Which microbit Cases Are Right For Your Project:
It's not all about the practicalities, aesthetics also matter too, right? We think so. Since we launched our range of cases, we've revisited them and added additional colour options. We won't list them all below as they can found directly on the product pages for each. Clear, green, orange and blue are available for both case types.MI:Pro microbit cases:
The MI:pro Protector Case not only keeps a BBC micro:bit in perfect condition but also offers a number of other benefits. Keep your BBC micro:bit safe and secure with this compact, portable protective case. The 2xAAA battery pack can be bolted to the back, making a compact and portable unit.
It also can be stood neatly on a desk and has large easy to read labels for the A and B buttons. This case provides full access to the bottom GPIO pins on the BBC micro:bit, so the Edge Connector Breakout Board for BBC micro:bit can be used.
As well as the aesthetic options, there are two distinct case designs, one standard and one mountable. The mountable option features two 'keyhole slot' style wall mounting points attached to the sides of the BBC micro:bit case.
MI:power microbit cases:
This case has been designed to protect a BBC micro:bit when fitted to our MI:power board. The case fully encloses both of the PCBs creating a rugged unit that is ideal for creating portable designs. The clear front allows the BBC micro:bit to be seen inside the case, allowing the on-board LED matrix to be viewed. The A and B buttons on the microbit are fully accessible, as are the reset button and USB connector.
The MI:pro protector case is available in four different colour options; Clear, Green, Orange and Blue. This case is easy to assemble using the nylon screws provided.
Mi:pro Case With microbit And Accessories:
This pack provides everything you need for a mobile microbit project, including the microbit itself.
The Pack contains:
- A BBC micro:bit.
- 1 x MI:pro Protective Case.
- A 1M Anti Tangle USB Cable.
- 1 x Battery Cage.
- And 2 x AAA Batteries.
2. Which microbit Powering Options Are Right For Your Project:
There are a number of methods for providing power to a mobile project, some simply supply power and some also have additional features. The selection below should cover most needs, with more DIY options covered later.Mi:power board for BBC micro:bit:
The MI:power board for the BBC micro:bit brings real portability to your mobile and also wearable projects. The stylish, lightweight PCB is designed to fit snugly against the BBC micro:bit and also features a built in buzzer and 3V coin cell holder. The board has an easy to access on/off switch, which makes it easy to turn a project on and off, rather than have to disconnect the power supply from the BBC micro:bit.
You will find a case for the MI:power board in the cases section above. Additionally, we created an article outlining some fun project ideas for the MI:power board, which you can find here.
Klip Halo V2.0 With 2 x AA Battery Holder:
This quite a unique powering option. Firstly, the microbit slots straight into it via an edge connector. The Klip Halo V2.0 has an integrated 2xAA battery holder and an on/off switch. The switch also turns on /off the power to the 3V connections.
The microbits GPIO pins are broken out to easily accessible, clearly marked connection points compatible with crocodile clips, conductive thread and 4mm banana plugs. This makes it a great option for e-textile projects and for rapid prototyping. Although one of our newest additions to our microbit Case & Accessories range, it has already proved to be quite popular.
2 x AAA Battery Cage with JST Connector:
This is such a simple option, but sometimes that is all you need. It features an M3 mounting hole so it can be attached to microbit cases, projects or surfaces. Just pop in some batteries, connect it straight to the microbit and you are good to go. Plug and play!
3. Which Edge Connectors And Boards With Edge Connectors Are Right For Your Project:
Using edge connectors in your projects provides a number of advantages. In the case of a simple edge connector, it breaks out the GPIO pins of the microbit in an easy to manage way. This allows you to utilise pins that you otherwise might not be able to. In the case of boards that also feature an edge connector, it removes all wire connections between the microbit and the board's features. This greatly reduces clutter and makes for more simple designs. Below are three examples from our range of microbit accessories:Edge Connector Breakout Board for BBC micro:bit - Pre-built:
This breakout board allows you to easily connect additional circuits and hardware to the pins on the edge of the BBC micro:bit. You can connect your project to the edge connector in one of two ways. Firstly, for quick prototyping or a stationary project, there are pins for jumper wire connections. These pin connections are perfect for projects that also utilise breadboards. Additionally, the board features through board connection points that can be soldered to for a more permanent or sturdy solution. This pre-built version is ready to go right out of the box; build your circuit, pop in the microbot and test. Again, plug and play!
:CREATE Proto Board For BBC microbit:
What if I were to tell you that there was an edge connector, connected to its own prototyping board, and that allowed you to use both through hole and surface mount components. If you are like me, you'd be thinking that this is pretty cool. These are just some of the interesting things that this board has to offer.
Those aren't the only secrets that this board brings to the gig. It also complies to our link accessory board standard for BBC microbit accessories. This means that the board conforms, in size and in how the pins are broken out, to our other microbit accessories boards. Boards such as; all in one robotics board , 16 servo control board, and more. What makes this interesting is that two or more can be joined together, one atop the other, and controlled by a single microbit. Throw in some stackable pin headers, and your projects possibilities just exploded upwards! Now that escalated quickly!
Motor Driver Board for the BBC micro:bit:
The motor driver board is a great option for anyone that needs to drive motors with a microbit. Whether it's a buggy, a microbit robot, or any project that features motors, this is the board for the job. Its H-Bridge switching allows for driving motors forwards and backwards and individually and it also complies to our link standard for microbit accessories. In fact, it was the board that set the standards for the boards that followed.
In this new version, the pins from the BBC micro:bit are now broken out to pads on the end of the Motor Driver Board. These pads can either be soldered onto directly, or they are the correct spacing for our PCB pin headers.
The All-in-one Robotics Board for the BBC microbit:
This board is for those microbit robot projects that require more than just simple movement involving a couple of motors. It can also do more than just take your robotics projects to the next level. This board features heavily in our blog content. It is also a good choice for a simple project that you may want to add more features to over time. You can really let your imagination run riot with this one!
The Robotics Board features 2 Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver ICs and 8 servo outputs, all controlled from the BBC micro:bit using the I2C protocol via a 16-channel driver IC. It can drive motors, stepper motors and servos.
In Conclusion:
We do a lot more microbit accessories than those we have listed here but this should give you an idea of the things you might use for your projects. Below are a couple of links to help you explore this further.©Kitronik Ltd – You may print this page & link to it, but must not copy the page or part thereof without Kitronik's prior written consent.
