Raspberry Pi5 setup, cables and adaptor issues

Hardware
1

Hi there,

I have a working setup of a Raspberry Pi5, a Prechen touchscreen monitor and some initial dashboards setup for HA. I intend to mount the monitor on the wall once I have a final setup. The issue is the amount, and size of the HDMI, cables needed for this. They will come through the wall but still it doesn’t look pretty sticking out the side! Currently I have:

  • USB-C to power monitor (as the Pi can’t output enough natively grrr)
  • USB-C to transfer data between Pi/Monitor (to get the Touch screen data etc)
  • Micro HDMI from Pi to HDMI on monitor for video

As mentioned functionally works just fine and if there really is no way of improving this then I’ll 3d print an enclosure to hide the cables but I’ll absolutely cop grief about the overall look. I realise now an android tablet in kiosk mode may have been a better option but i wanted a bigger screen and I don’t have a spare tablet…

I’ve bought two c shape USB-C adaptors which do a good job of hiding those cables and would look great if I can get the setup down to two USB-C cables. I did a bit of searching and saw options of using an active HDMI to USB-C adaptor and bought this one.

The external power I was already using goes through the adaptor and turns the monitor on so tick there. When i plug the HDMI cable in from the Pi, no signal… If i take the HDMI plug out of the adaptor and put it into the monitor. I have signal. So clearly either I’m doing something wrong (likely), the adaptor is b0rked or it doesn’t work as hoped… has anyone else come across this and got it working? Alternative methods or different adaptor(s)?

Really appreciate any help as I’m itching to 3d print the vesa mount and start making holes in the wall but need to know final dimensions…

Cheers!

2

Why don’t you run headless? Then you can get rid of the HDMI - ?

1 Like
3

What OS is on that Pi?

1 Like
4

This is my question.

Yeah I KNOW already have touchscreen. So many people start this way then start realizing how many hurdles it causes. Like cables (and no you’re stuck if you stay on that path. May get fancier cables. But I bet money thin fancy slim cables are half the cost of a cheap android tablet)

Don’t print a Vesa mount. Print a Cheap android tablet wall mount case and put a USB power supply behind it. Then run HA headless the way it was intended is my personal vote.

5

Apologies for the late reply. I’m in Aus so funny timezones :slight_smile: I’m using the latest official Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit). I didn’t go down the HA Pi OS as I wanted to be able to do other things with the Pi and therefore full version of Bookworm and the Pi Desktop. Seemed overkill to dedicate a Pi5 to basically display a webpage…

6

The headless route is the fall back. The cables were not expensive at all btw but trying to get close to a 15" size display on an android tablet is quite expensive (or at least what we have available to us in Australia is). I don’t have great eyesight unfortunately and I tried an old Amazon fire 7" inch tablet which works fine with HA but I can’t fit what i want on the screen at the size i want.

My son does need a screen to use for drum practice and the software is on his PC so I may well give him the touchscreen monitor so he can stop/start modules, which will also need HDMI, data and power to work! So i guess original cable investment is fine :wink: then fork out for a new Android tablet. Just a shame as it’ll be smaller

7

Why do you need all of these tablets? Just use any PC or mac that is attached to the same network. Or just access it on your cell phone through the companion app (same thing really)?

8

The (singular) tablet/screen is for a family calendar, chores, meal planner and then also lights, security camera, front doorbell camera etc. This will be in the kitchen, no PC in there nor do i want one to be. It’s not just for me using an app on my phone, it’s for everyone in the household to use and I have young children without cell phones who can tick off chores etc on the screen.

1 Like
9

Nice approach!

1 Like