Assemble Pico 5H Raspberry Pi 3

by Craig Brown March 5, 2018

These instructions show how to assemble a complete Pico 5H Raspberry PI cluster.

The instructions for assembling the Pi board stack are here. This needs to be completed before assembling the rest of the Cube.

Please contact support@picocluster.com if you encounter any difficulties.

Step 1 – Base Panel

Remove the paper backing from the acrylic and screw the stack to the base panel using the 3/8" screws and washers from packet 1. The board stack goes on the left side of the base panel with the power cables facing to the right.

Step 2 – Fan Side Panel

Remove the paper backing from the fan side panel. Attach the fans using the #6 3/4" screws, nylon washers and nuts from packet F.

UPDATE: The new version of the kit does not require the fan PDU any more. The kit is supplied with 5V fans which are now wired directly to the power supply itself. Attach the fan power wires to the power supply output red and black terminals. Make sure the terminals are screwed down tight.

Attach the switch side panel to the base panel as shown. Use a screw/washer/nut combo from packet E. Route the power cable through the cable management port to the PDU in the back.

Step 3 – Switch Side Panel

Remove the paper backing from the switch side panel and open the switch package. Place the nylon washer on the 1" screws then thread through panel as shown. Place the switch onto the screws then tighten down with the nuts. The angle power connect needs to be put on before attaching the panel to the base plate.

Attach the switch side panel to the base panel as shown. Use a screw/washer/nut combo from packet E.

Plug the network cables into each board and a port on the switch. An external network cable can also be attached to the switch to provide WAN connectivity.

Step 4 – Front Panel

Remove the paper backing from the front panel. Attach the HDMI, and Ethernet extension cables to the front panel using the 3/8" screws and nylon washers from Packet D.

Press the power switch through the square hole as shone. The tabs on the top and bottom may need to be compressed.

Attach the switch front panel to the base panel and side panels as shown. Use a screw/washer/nut combo from packet E.

Step 5 – Cabling

Thread all of the cables along the bottom to the back of the case.

Plug the HDMI cable to the HDMI port on the top board, then tuck the excess under the bottom board.

Plug the Ethernet cable to the top most port on the switch. Bend the cable towards the back.

Plug the switch power cable into the power port on the switch using the USB to 5.5mm barrel cable.

Step 6 – Back Panel

Mount the power supply to the back panel with the power supply screws and nylon washers from packet F.

Mount the A/C power connector using the 1/2" screws, nylon washers, and nuts from packet F.

Make sure that the A/C power connector is wired as shown.

Step 7 – PDU and Power Supply Wiring

Attach the A/C power input wires to the right most power supply terminals. They are from right to left [L power] [N neutral] [G ground].

Attach the leads for the 2 PDUs to the left most terminals. The wire for the main PDU has a barrel connector on one end. The wire for the fan PDU has bare ends. They are from left to right [+ positive] [- ground].

Attach the back panel to the base panel and side panels as shown. Use a screw/washer/nut combo from packet E.

For the main PDU, plug the barrel end into the PDU. For the fan PDU, attach the bare ends to the left [+ in] and center [- ground] terminals. Make sure the terminals are screwed down tight.

Attach the remaining A/C power wires to the front panel on/off switch as shown.

Use cable ties to bind the cabling together.