How to Pick Raspberry Pi Pico Accessories for Your Build
Pick Pico accessories by the job: cooling, power, wiring, or storage. The GPIO breakout kit gives a breadboard and ribbon cable for $10.71. A 5V 3A USB-C supply costs $9.51 with a switch. The RP2040 Pro Micro board costs $8.37 and pairs with every accessory here.
Quick facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| GPIO breakout kit | $10.71, 40-pin T-Cobbler, breadboard |
| GPIO kit 2 | $11.82, adds 65 jumper wires |
| Pi 4 power supply | $9.51, 5V 3A USB-C, switch |
| Cooling fan, 4-pack | $9.62, 30 by 30 by 7mm, 5V DC |
| Heatsink kit | From $7.17, 5-piece aluminum |
| Pi 4 aluminum case | $19.26, fan and heatsinks, board not included |
Which case fits a Pi 4 board?
The aluminum case fits the Raspberry Pi 4B board. It costs $19.26 with a built-in cooling fan and a heatsink set.
The case ships with the fan and heatsinks, but the board is not included. Buy the Pi 4 board on its own.
A metal case moves heat off the board faster than a plastic case. That suits Pi boards that run warm.
How do you cool a Pi board?
The cooling fan pack gives four 30 by 30 by 7mm brushless fans. They run on 5V DC with 3.3V and 5V terminals at 15.92 dBA.
The 4-pack costs $9.62 with screws included. That suits Pi boards and small boards that run warm.
The heatsink kit gives 5 aluminum pieces for Pi 2, 3, and 4 boards. It costs from $7.17 by color with adhesive thermal tape.
How do you power a Pi board?
The 5V 3A USB-C supply costs $9.51 with an in-line ON and OFF switch. It fits Pi 4 Model B boards with a US plug.
A switched supply lets you cut power without unplugging the cable. That saves wear on the USB-C port.
Use a 5V 3A supply for a Pi 4 board with a fan and a display. A weak supply drops voltage under load.
How do you wire sensors to the GPIO pins?
The GPIO breakout kit gives a 40-pin T-Cobbler, a ribbon cable, and an MB-102 breadboard. Kit 1 costs $10.71.
Kit 2 costs $11.82 and adds 65 jumper wires. That suits bench work with many sensor wires.
Seat the board on the breadboard, then wire sensors to the broken-out pins. That keeps the small board safe from heat.
Which boards pair with these accessories?
The RP2040 Pro Micro costs $8.37 with 16MB of flash. It gives a dual-core RP2040 chip with USB-C and BOOT and RESET buttons.
The Nano V3.0 costs $8.49 with an ATmega328P chip and Type-C USB. It suits small builds where a full UNO will not fit.
The S2 Mini costs $11.16 with 4MB of flash and 2MB of PSRAM. It adds WiFi to a small build over USB-C.
How the options compare
| Accessory | Key spec | Price |
|---|---|---|
| GPIO breakout kit 1 | 40-pin T-Cobbler, ribbon, breadboard | $10.71 |
| GPIO breakout kit 2 | Kit 1 plus 65 jumper wires | $11.82 |
| Pi 4 power supply | 5V 3A USB-C, ON and OFF switch | $9.51 |
| Cooling fan, 4-pack | 30 by 30 by 7mm, 5V DC, 15.92 dBA | $9.62 |
| Heatsink kit | 5-piece aluminum, Pi 2, 3, and 4 | From $7.17 |
| Pi 4 aluminum case | Fan and heatsinks, board not included | $19.26 |
| RP2040 Pro Micro | Dual-core RP2040, 16MB flash, USB-C | $8.37 |
| S2 Mini, 1-pack | 4MB flash, 2MB PSRAM, WiFi, USB-C | $11.16 |
How do you set up a Pico bench with accessories?
- Seat the board on the GPIO breakout breadboard.
- Connect the ribbon cable between the T-Cobbler and the board.
- Fit the heatsinks on the warm chips with the thermal tape.
- Mount a cooling fan over the board with the screws.
- Connect the 5V 3A supply and switch it on.
- Load a test sketch and check the board and fan run.
Parts that fit this guide
In-stock parts ship from the New York, USA warehouse in 1-2 business days. Prices below are the live store prices we verified on November 10, 2026.
Raspberry Pi 4 Aluminum Case with Cooling Fan & Heatsinks, Red/Black (Board Not Included) ($19.26)
Pi 4 aluminum case at $19.26. It fits the Raspberry Pi 4B with a built-in cooling fan and heatsinks. Board not included.
Raspberry Pi Heatsink Kit, Aluminum Alloy, 5-Piece, White / Black / Gold / Blue ($7.17)
Heatsink kit at $7.17. It gives 5 aluminum pieces for Pi 2, 3, and 4 boards with adhesive thermal tape.
Raspberry Pi Cooling Fan, 30x30x7mm, 5V DC, Brushless, 4-Pack with Screws ($9.62)
Cooling fan at $9.62 for a 4-pack. It gives 30 by 30 by 7mm brushless fans on 5V DC at 15.92 dBA.
Raspberry Pi 4 Power Supply, 5V 3A USB-C, with ON/OFF Switch (US Plug) ($9.51)
Pi 4 power supply at $9.51. It gives 5V 3A over USB-C with an in-line ON and OFF switch and a US plug.
Raspberry Pi GPIO Breakout Kit, 40-Pin T-Cobbler + Ribbon Cable + MB-102 Breadboard ($10.71)
GPIO breakout kit at $10.71 for Kit 1. It gives a 40-pin T-Cobbler, a ribbon cable, and an MB-102 breadboard.
RP2040 Pro Micro Development Board, 16MB Flash, USB-C, QMK Compatible ($8.37)
RP2040 Pro Micro at $8.37. It gives a dual-core RP2040 chip with 16MB of flash, USB-C, and BOOT and RESET buttons.
Shop the full range: Raspberry Pi and Pico at Quality RC Parts. See also: Related guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Pi 4 case include a board?
No. The $19.26 aluminum case ships with a fan and heatsinks, but the board is not included.
What does the GPIO breakout kit include?
A 40-pin T-Cobbler, a ribbon cable, and an MB-102 breadboard for $10.71. Kit 2 adds 65 jumper wires for $11.82.
How loud are the cooling fans?
They run at 15.92 dBA. The 4-pack costs $9.62 with screws included.
Which board pairs with these accessories?
The RP2040 Pro Micro at $8.37. It gives a dual-core RP2040 chip with 16MB of flash.
Sources
Last updated: November 10, 2026.