An Industrial-Grade Raspberry Pi with Integrated UPS

Strato Pi UPS upgrades the standard Raspberry Pi with advanced hardware features tailored for industrial and professional environments, where reliability, power resilience, and service continuity are critical.

Engineered for compliance with major international standards, Strato Pi UPS meets:

• Low Voltage and EMC CE directives
• Harmonised standards for electromagnetic compatibility, electrical safety, emissions, and RoHS
• FCC and IC regulations for North American markets

With built-in uninterruptible power support and rugged industrial interfaces, Strato Pi UPS is an ideal solution for mission-critical applications requiring uninterrupted operation and long-term reliability.

Power Supply and UPS Functionality

Built for uninterrupted operation in critical environments, the system features:

• 9–28V DC input with surge and reverse polarity protection
• 2.2A resettable fuse for main power input
• Up to 4.0A output to the Raspberry Pi's 5V power pins (at 24V DC input)
• Auxiliary power output for external devices, powered through the UPS
• Integrated uninterruptible power supply (UPS) using an external 12V lead-acid battery
• 2.2A resettable fuse on the battery input
• Simple UPS status monitoring and shutdown control via GPIO pins

Serial Interfaces

Strato Pi UPS supports industrial-grade communication protocols:

• RS-232 and RS-485 interfaces directly connected to the Raspberry Pi serial lines
• Fully opto-isolated and protected against electrostatic discharge (ESD) for reliable operation in electrically noisy environments

Reliability and Security

Engineered for mission-critical applications, the system integrates advanced reliability features:

• Independent hardware watchdog, GPIO-controlled, to reset the Raspberry Pi in case of software failure
• Real-Time Clock (RTC) with replaceable backup battery for accurate timekeeping without internet connection
• Optional Microchip ATECC608A/B secure element for encryption, authentication, and hardware security
• Integrated bootloader for in-field firmware updates of the onboard microcontroller
• Optional SPBF10X temperature-controlled fan, pre-assembled, for active cooling in high-performance environments

Additional Features

• GPIO-controlled buzzer for acoustic notifications
• LED indicators for power input, battery status, and serial line activity

Embedded Raspberry Pi Interfaces

Provides full Raspberry Pi connectivity for edge computing and integration:

• 1 × Ethernet port
• 4 × USB ports
• 1 × HDMI (RPi 3+) or 2 × Micro HDMI (RPi 4)
• 1 × microSD card slot
• 1 × composite audio/video jack
• Integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth/BLE

Power Supply

Strato Pi UPS features a high-efficiency and robust power input stage, specifically designed for demanding 24/7 industrial use, where standard USB chargers fall short.

• Accepts a wide DC input range (9–28V)
• Tolerates high levels of ripple, noise, and voltage fluctuations
• Includes oversized electrolytic capacitors, diodes, inductors, and a high-efficiency voltage regulator
• Step-down converter with ~95% efficiency and up to 3A continuous output
• Integrated protections: overcurrent, overvoltage, and thermal shutdown
• Reverse polarity protection with resettable fuses
• Surge protection up to ±500V / 2Ω (1.2/50μs), ideal for harsh environments

Integrated UPS Functionality

To ensure data integrity and controlled system shutdown, Strato Pi UPS includes a built-in uninterruptible power supply.

• Seamless switch to battery power during power failures
• Powers all system components without interruption
• Battery charging managed by a high-efficiency step-up converter
• Optimal charging voltage is regulated independently of input supply
• Dedicated GPIO lines enable software control of shutdown logic
• Ensures safe and clean OS shutdown in remote or headless systems

Real-Time Clock (RTC)

For environments without consistent internet access, Strato Pi UPS provides local timekeeping capabilities.

• Battery-backed RTC connected to the Raspberry Pi via I²C
• Based on Microchip MCP79410 RTCC chip
• Automatically switches to a CR1025 lithium battery when main power is lost
• Advanced time functions beyond standard date/time tracking
• Battery life exceeds 10 years in continuously powered systems

Industrial Serial Ports

Strato Pi UPS provides fully isolated RS-232 and RS-485 serial interfaces, engineered for industrial automation.

• Opto-isolated from both main and battery power lines to avoid ground loops
• Isolation via high-efficiency DC-DC converter and three high-speed opto-couplers
• RS-485 direction is auto-managed by an onboard microcontroller:
  • Adjusts to baud rate and data format
  • No additional signals or configuration required
• Seamless communication via TX/RX lines of the Raspberry Pi

Independent Hardware Watchdog

System stability is reinforced with a dedicated hardware watchdog, independent from the Raspberry Pi CPU.

• Automatically resets the Raspberry Pi and auxiliary power output on system hang
• Controlled via GPIO, making it easy to integrate into any custom application
• Highly effective in unattended, always-on environments
• Ensures autonomous recovery from unexpected software failures