Low-cost Raspberry Pi 5 HAT+ combines M.2 socket for NVMe SSD and PoE power input

With a cost of only about $25, Waveshare has recently introduced the PoE M.2 HAT+ for the Raspberry Pi 5, which is much cheaper than the similar N-Fuse PoE HAT that we’ve written about previously. As the name implies, this new Waveshare board supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) and features an M.2 slot to add NVMe SSD storage to the latest Raspberry Pi SBC.

This new Waveshare HAT complies with the 802.3af/at standards and can deliver up to 25.5W of power to the Pi 5, enabling both power and network connectivity over a single Ethernet cable. Additionally, it features onboard 5V & 12V header outputs for powering additional devices like cooling fans, and there are also two LEDs for status. A fast storage device and the ability to power the device with ethernet makes this device suitable for applications such as network-attached storage, media centers, and edge computing applications.

Waveshare POE M.2 HAT+ specifications:

• Compatibility – Raspberry Pi 5
• Storage – M.2 PCIe x1 socket for 2230 or 2242 NVMe SSD
• Expansion – 40-pin Raspberry Pi GPIO header
• Cooling
  • Onboard high-speed active cooling fan
  • Metal heatsink for improved thermal performance
• Misc
  • Power LED indicator
  • ACT status indicator
  • Low-profile design, compatible with standard Raspberry Pi enclosures
  • Supports passive cooling of Raspberry Pi SoC
• Power Supply
  • IEEE 802.3af/at compliant
  • Non-isolated switched-mode power supply (SMPS)
  • PoE power input: 38V to 57V DC
  • Output via GPIO header: 5V, 5A (max)
  • Output via 2-pin header: 12V, 2A (max)
• Dimensions – 70 x 56.5 mm

The company does not mention if HAT is compatible with the official Raspberry Pi case but judging by its compact design, the HAT should easily be able to fit inside the case. The HAT also comes with a preinstalled cooling fan that sits just at the right height, further suggesting compatibility with the case.

Previously we have seen Waveshare release many different types of PoE and NVMe HATs including the PoE HAT (G), and the PoE HAT(F) and we have seen companies like 52Pi and mcuzone introduce NVMe Hats like the 52Pi W01 U2500 HAT, and the Mcuzone MPS2280 M.2 NVMe HAT and many others feel free to check those out if you are looking for.

Now to work with the POE M.2 HAT+, you simply need to connect the Raspberry Pi 5’s Ethernet jack to an 802at/af compliant router or switch to get both power and network connectivity. Check out Waveshare’s Wiki page for more information.

The Waveshare POE M.2 HAT+ can be purchased from Aliexpress for $25, and on Amazon for $31.67. Alternatively, you can get the PoE HAT directly from the Waveshare Store for $24.99 plus shipping.

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