Redesign Pioreactor Configuration to put Raspberry Pi and HAT on side?

Hardware, PWM, and Optics
1

I have three pioreactors that have been damaged by leakage or overflow (using for a class, so many inexperienced users.

In one only the heater/stir PCB is damaged.
In two the HAT and possibly the Raspberry Pi have been damaged (I cannot access the Raspbery Pi over SSH, I’m not sure if I remove the HAT if that may help.

This is actually the fulfillment of a worry I’ve had since using Pioreactors.

There is nothing that can be done for the Heater PCB (except possibly a moisture sensor). But it seems possible to redesign the Pioreactor so that the HAT and PI are not directly under the vessel, but sit to the side in a vertical position, so that if there is overflow, they are not drenched.

Has anyone tried this? Is there a reason this is not the default orientation?

Both for cost and convenience this susceptibility makes it difficult to use in student labs.

2

Hi @DocRuzzy, sorry about this. It’s true that the default orientation isn’t great for preventing damage. We decided on this for footprint reasons early on, but its time has come. In a future 2.0 version, we’ll be moving the HAT + Pi off the bioreactor body.

We can offer advice on longer cables to use. I haven’t seen a fleshed out community design that moves the body off - but this is the right place to ask!