Asked by: Simon
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Kitronik ZIP Tile plus micro:bit
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Kitronik ZIP Tile plus LiPo battery
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Description
The Kitronik ZIP Tile is an 8 x 8 display panel for the BBC micro:bit. It can scroll text, show all the colours of the rainbow (and more) and multiple Tiles can be linked up to make even bigger displays!
It features 64 colour addressable LEDs arranged in an 8 x 8 grid, ZIP LED expansion points on the left, right and top of the board, and the ability to connect a BBC micro:bit with both bolts and croc clips. It also breaks out P1 & P2 to standard 0.1” (2.54mm) footprints. Each of these pins also have the required supply voltage and GND pads.
Power is provided via a JST connector on the rear of the board. The board produces a regulated supply that is fed into the 3V and GND connections to power the connected BBC micro:bit, removing the need to power it separately. To protect the BBC micro:bit if power is supplied through it, the ZIP LEDs will not illuminate.
Connecting a BBC micro:bit
: To use the ZIP Tile, the BBC micro:bit needs to be connected to at least the GND, 3V and Pin 0 connections on the ZIP Tile. The BBC micro:bit can be connected via board-mounted nuts and M3 bolts (make sure the provided spacer is placed between the BBC micro:bit and the ZIP Tile if connecting on the rear), or croc clips. See Datasheet for detailed images. The Tile is supplied with 5 M3x12 countersunk screws and 5 plastic spacers. These are used to attach the BBC micro:bit to the ZIP Tile, with the spacers going in-between the Tile and BBC micro:bit. Coding: We have produced a set of custom blocks for the MakeCode Editor to make the job of coding for them as simple as possible. To add these blocks to the editor; click on the cog icon in the editor, select Extensions, type and enter Kitronik into the search bar and select the ZIP Tile option. The blocks will now be added to the menu in the editor.Features:
- The ZIP Tile is an 8 x 8 display panel for the BBC micro:bit.
- Featuring 64 addressable full-colour LEDs.
- It has ZIP LED expansion points on the left, right and top of the board that allow for making larger displays.
- Connect to a BBC micro:bit with both bolts (supplied) and croc clips.
- It also breaks out P1 & P2 to standard 0.1” (2.54mm) footprints.
- To protect the BBC micro:bit if power is supplied through it, the ZIP LEDs will not illuminate.
- We have developed custom code blocks for the MakeCode Editor.
Contents:
- 1 x ZIP LED Tile.
- 5 x M3 Countersunk Screws.
- 5 x Plastic Spacers.
Requires:
- A BBC micro:bit.
- A power supply of between 3.5V and 5.3V.
To use the example code; download the file and unzip/extract. Connect a micro:bit to a spare USB port on your computer. The micro:bit should now show up as a removable disk onto which you can drag and drop the .HEX file that you extracted from the zip file. Once the light on the rear of the micro:bit stops flashing, the transfer is complete and the program can now be run. Try experimenting with the A and B buttons on the micro:bit. You can also drag and drop the file into the MakeCode editor, where you can look at or edit the code.
Buy British:
This product is designed and manufactured in the UK by Kitronik.
| Attribute | Value |
| Operating Voltage (Vcc) [ZIP LEDs] | 3.5V - 5.3V. |
| Regulated Voltage [BBC micro | bit] |
| Max Current (ZIP LEDs White @ 100% brightness, +5.3V supply) | 2.73A (41mA per ZIP LED, 250mA max on 3.3V reg. voltage). |
| Number of ZIP LEDs | 64. |
| Expansion Connections | 3 x ZIP LED (1 x DIN, 1 x DOUT, 1 x DIN/DOUT) |
| Expansion Connections | 2 x IO pins (each IO pin rated 3.3V at 5mA) |
| Expansion Connections | 2 x BATT V (3.5V – 5.3V) |
Same Day Dispatch
- Orders placed online before 3:00pm Monday - Friday (excluding public holidays and our Christmas shutdown period) are always dispatched the same day provided the goods are in stock. If the goods are not in stock we will endeavour to contact you as soon as possible to discuss a dispatch date.
UK Deliveries
- If you live on the UK mainland and don't have any large materials or lithium batteries in your order it will cost £3.95 (£4.74 including VAT) if you spend less than £40 (£48 including VAT).
- If you spend between £40 and £200 (£48 - £240.00 including VAT, excluding large materials or lithium batteries) delivery is free to most locations, £12 (£14.40 including VAT, excluding large materials or lithium batteries) to Northern Ireland and £15 (£18.00 including VAT, excluding large materials or lithium batteries) to UK remote locations. For a list of postcodes that will be charged the remote location rate: remote area list.
- If you spend over £200 (£240.00 including VAT, excluding large materials or lithium batteries) delivery is free within the UK.
Rest of the world
- These orders are sent via UPS, and the cost is dependant on the service you choose at checkout. Alternatively you can choose the free collection option and have your own courier collect it from us. International orders can only be shipped to the registered card address. Please note: International orders may be charged import duty dependant on local import laws and duty rates. These charges are usually billed to you directly from UPS.
- Delivery times vary for international orders depending on the service selected and the destination. You can see the delivery time and cost at the shipping stage, or by using the shipping estimator from within the shipping basket.
Collection
- If you would like to collect your order, or use your own courier then there is an option you can select during checkout. We do not charge a packaging or handling fee for this service, and you will receive an email when your order has been processed, you can collect half an hour after receipt of this email.
Further Information
- For information about all of the delivery options we offer see full delivery details.
A wide range of BBC micro:bit resources, what it is, the editors and using the micro:bit
A wide range of BBC micro:bit resources, what it is, the editors and using the micro:bit
In this resource, we show you how we turned a Kitronik ZIP Tile, and a BBC micro:bit into a portable retro gamer. The ZIP tile is perfect for some old...
In this resource, we show you how we turned a Kitronik ZIP Tile, and a BBC micro:bit into a portable retro gamer. The ZIP tile...
Quickly turn your ZIP Tile for microbit into a stylish digital Halloween Pumpkin with this simple laser cut design. Use our designs to make one straight away or use them as...
Quickly turn your ZIP Tile for microbit into a stylish digital Halloween Pumpkin with this simple laser cut design. Use our designs to make one straight...
Quickly turn your ZIP Tile for microbit into a stylish digital name badge with this simple laser cut design. Follow the step by step guide and find out how you...
Quickly turn your ZIP Tile for microbit into a stylish digital name badge with this simple laser cut design. Follow the step by step guide...
Isaac shows you how he designed and made a ZIP Tile for microbit bike light. The light features adjustable brightness and also works as a brake light using the microbit's accelerometer....
Isaac shows you how he designed and made a ZIP Tile for microbit bike light. The light features adjustable brightness and also works as a brake...
Q:
Can they be programmed with the neopixel library? Would like to use them in a school with Edublocks - which has the neopixel library Thanks
A:
Thank you for your question, these would be compatible with the ZIP LED extension on the micro:bit make code environment and would also be compatible with the Edublocks environment. The product is based on WS2812B LEDs so anything those are compatible with should work with the ZIP Tile.
Answered by: Cullen Lewis
22-Jun-20
Q:
Can they be programmed in MU or MicroPython?
Asked by: Simon
A:
Hi Simon,
Thank you for your question, you could use micro python, we have some examples on our github repository below:
https://github.com/KitronikLtd/micropython-microbit-kitronik-zip-tile/blob/master/zip_tile_upython_example.py
Best Regards
Cullen
Thank you for your question, you could use micro python, we have some examples on our github repository below:
https://github.com/KitronikLtd/micropython-microbit-kitronik-zip-tile/blob/master/zip_tile_upython_example.py
Best Regards
Cullen
Answered by: Cullen Lewis
13-May-20
Q:
Hi, how do you connect the zip tiles together please, do you need separate fixings?
Asked by: Jon Williams
A:
Hi Jon,
Thank you for your question, you can connect zip tiles together with basically solid core cable or component legs. We have a data sheet on the link below for you.
https://www.kitronik.co.uk/pdf/5645-zip-tile-microbit-datasheet.pdf
Best Regards
Cullen
Thank you for your question, you can connect zip tiles together with basically solid core cable or component legs. We have a data sheet on the link below for you.
https://www.kitronik.co.uk/pdf/5645-zip-tile-microbit-datasheet.pdf
Best Regards
Cullen
Answered by: Cullen Lewis
08-Jul-19
Q:
How many of these can be connected together to make a larger display and in what configurations?
Asked by: Alex Clewett
A:
Hi Alex,
Thank you for your message, you can set up the tiles two high but a theoretically unlimited number along, the limit on this is your power supply as you start needing a lot of current quite rapidly with these.
Thank you for your message, you can set up the tiles two high but a theoretically unlimited number along, the limit on this is your power supply as you start needing a lot of current quite rapidly with these.
Answered by: Cullen Lewis
04-Mar-19
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