# Raspberry Pi Zero 2 On PicoCalc **URL:** \ **Category:** PicoCalc\ **Tags:** os, hardware, retroarch\ **Created:** [June 11, 2025, 2:36am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946 "2025-06-11T02:36:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wasdwasd0105](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/wasdwasd0105/32/12538_2.png) [@wasdwasd0105](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/wasdwasd0105)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 2:36am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/1 "2025-06-11T02:36:19Z")
![IMG_1367.HEIC](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/8/82ca84229c586d3a18e75ae0fab39782c3e58272.jpeg) I modified the hardware and successful put a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 inside PicoCalc(and broke the screen). Display, keyboard and pwm audio are working! Connect your PicoCalc to the Raspberry Pi Zero 2: ![pinconnection](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/f/f45ce0bef199c9e94ba32b7b97d9e45b66252297.jpeg) Full guide and driver: > **[GitHub - wasdwasd0105/picocalc-pi-zero-2: Raspberry Pi Zero 2 on Picocalc](https://github.com/wasdwasd0105/picocalc-pi-zero-2)** > > Raspberry Pi Zero 2 on Picocalc ---
**Author:** ![granzeier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cab0a1/32.png) [@granzeier](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/granzeier)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 10:45am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/2 "2025-06-11T10:45:56Z")
Does this have the Pi Zero (W?) replace the Pico, or does the PicoCalc provide the terminal keyboard and screen for the Pi? ---
**Author:** ![wasdwasd0105](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/wasdwasd0105/32/12538_2.png) [@wasdwasd0105](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/wasdwasd0105)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 11:54am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/4 "2025-06-11T11:54:02Z")
It should work. Any Pi except Pi 5 can install fbcp-ili9341. ---
**Author:** ![michael\_mayer](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/michael_mayer/32/5278_2.png) [@michael\_mayer](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/michael_mayer)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 2:03pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/5 "2025-06-11T14:03:50Z")
As we can se UI is assume it is connected directly to the pins of the picocalc. ---
**Author:** ![n602\_na](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f05b48/32.png) [@n602\_na](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/n602_na)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 3:02am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/6 "2025-06-12T03:02:52Z")
Thank you @wasdwasd0105 for your groundbreaking and amazing work. When I saw your post and github, I couldn’t help but want to try this right away. So I wired a simple board that connects PicoCalc and RasPiZERO2W, as shown in the photo below, and ran the script according to the contents of your github. ```auto PicoCalc RaspberryPi Zero2W) Vsys 5V pin2 or 4 GND GND pin6 LCD_DC GP14 pin19 GP24 pin18 LCD_RST GP15 pin20 GP25 pin 22 SPI1_CS GP13 pin17 GP8 pin 24 SPI1_TX GP11 pin15 GP10 pin 19 SPI1_SCK GP10 pin14 GP11 pin 23 I2C1_SDA GP6 pin9 GP2 pin 03 I2C1_SCL GP7 pin10 GP3 pin 05 PWM_R GP27 pin32 GP13 pin 33 PWM_L GP26 pin31 GP12 pin 32 ``` ![pico0_00](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/3/307e4e236053ef38066b9d0ca9bcf2ed1b82ee86.jpeg) ![pico0_01](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/e/e6ac57eabcd73086b69ffdb159af94eedd05f428.jpeg) ![pico0_02](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/e/eb0ea82eaed952b967faf6cef916392910c5545d.jpeg) ![pico0_03](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/9/989b2ff66247a4f4bc4cde68c85a61dc45ca832a.jpeg) It worked properly, and PicoCalc became a Raspbian machine. ![pico0_04](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/0/0408dfdb90aa443c90542c9686d90b17ad491b09.jpeg) ![pico0_05](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/3/3fa6ed35442aa4fe935786a472e2d4af0d4cf3df.jpeg) The screen (the screen is a bit cramped, so it would be a good idea to set the font, etc.), keyboard, and mouse (emulation by pressing the right [shift] key on the keyboard) also work properly. ![pico0_06](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/9/9376fb065f3efd989980aa16d287546c6cade6c3.jpeg) As for audio output, I confirmed that mp3 files can be played with VLC media Player. This is really amazing. The possibilities of PicoCalc have been greatly expanded. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to you. ---
**Author:** ![Astrox](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/astrox/32/13039_2.png) [@Astrox](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Astrox)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 10:17am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/7 "2025-06-12T10:17:26Z")
Amazing Work! I have a few question tho. How did you come to achieve this, as I want to get a Pi Zero 2, without breaking anything else, and making the PicoCalc, look to same from the outside ---
**Author:** ![Astrox](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/astrox/32/13039_2.png) [@Astrox](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Astrox)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 10:23am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/8 "2025-06-12T10:23:14Z")
also another question, is the raspberry pi OS the only OS that will work on it? ---
**Author:** ![Nick\_Stevens](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/nick_stevens/32/8839_2.png) [@Nick\_Stevens](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Nick_Stevens)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 1:09pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/9 "2025-06-12T13:09:39Z")
This is amazing! Would anyone consider making an adapter board? I for sure would buy one ---
**Author:** ![jmatonis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a587f6/32.png) [@jmatonis](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/jmatonis)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/10 "2025-06-12T13:23:33Z")
Edit: In my haste, I realize that j301 and j302 are opposite of the actual board layout per the drawing. oops! I saw this and built me a board as well. I am using a pi zero 2w. I confirmed that the board and the code worked on a monitor, but after wiring it up I don’t think my system has enough ass to power on the pi. I even tried with brand new batteries that I let charge up over night. I am getting about 2.3v on Vsys pin when the pi is connected. I’ve also tried 2 different pi boards and both are brand new as well. ![20250612_072540](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/6/66cdb08199c1604a1ad619d04d975c10a6756272.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![DigitalDreams](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/digitaldreams/32/16007_2.png) [@DigitalDreams](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/DigitalDreams)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/11 "2025-06-12T13:28:33Z")
Vsys is via a mosfet switch that is limited to 2A current, probably not enough spare with the display, stm32 and backlights etc… “The Zero 2 is powered via a micro-USB socket and requires a [5V 2.5A power supply](https://thepihut.com/collections/raspberry-pi-psus/compatible-with_raspberry-pi-zero+type_microusb) just like previous generations.” ---
**Author:** ![jmatonis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a587f6/32.png) [@jmatonis](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/jmatonis)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 2:05pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/12 "2025-06-12T14:05:56Z")
I am using Michael Mayer’s case with the screw cover and it fits nicely with my low profile board. I just have to get it working now. ---
**Author:** ![pelrun](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/pelrun/32/12323_2.png) [@pelrun](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/pelrun)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 2:36pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/13 "2025-06-12T14:36:48Z")
While the Zero is designed to run off a 5V input, it can go lower if you accept some limitations. The CPU itself runs on 3.3v and 1.8v supplied by a switching dcdc converter, so it doesn’t actually care what the input voltage is as long as it’s higher than about 3.4v. As the PicoCalc passes power directly from the batteries to the socket (although current-limited to 2A) this is pretty easily achievable, but the PMU’s low battery indicator isn’t likely to be accurate. (this is also why you shouldn’t connect the Pico’s USB socket to power when there are batteries installed, yikes) USB and HDMI aren’t guaranteed to work without a full 5V, but some devices don’t actually care. Edit: As far as the “2.5A power supply” is concerned, the Zero itself only really needs about 0.5A of that. The rest is for powering whatever you have plugged into the USB ports or the expansion header. ---
**Author:** ![M57](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/m57/32/12528_2.png) [@M57](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/M57)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/14 "2025-06-12T14:48:10Z")
Wish I had this knowledge. Just got into making through hole components & how electronics work ---
**Author:** ![wasdwasd0105](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/wasdwasd0105/32/12538_2.png) [@wasdwasd0105](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/wasdwasd0105)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 10:05pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/15 "2025-06-12T22:05:39Z")
![IMG_1370.HEIC](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/2/2c5171d95e3a37c5be47f8434e51a5972b8cf570.jpeg) The vsys has around 3.8-4 V. It is good enough to power on Zero 2 ---
**Author:** ![jmatonis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a587f6/32.png) [@jmatonis](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/jmatonis)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/16 "2025-06-12T23:03:50Z")
The issue was me having the wiring reversed. All is good and it is running. I am getting about 4.2v with brand new fully charged batteries. Good thing this system is forgiving if you do it backwards, it could have been a lot worse. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jmatonis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a587f6/32.png) [@jmatonis](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/jmatonis)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 11:56pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/17 "2025-06-12T23:56:22Z")
Here’s the completed case thanks to Michael Mayer’s. I need to work on the clip for the battery cover to lock properly. ![20250612_061234](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/a/a7a6980c000a0b981fddbd61889e9c01e98a9091.jpeg) ![20250612_175247](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/f/f834298dbf7033732ca4396dab36297df437ac84.jpeg) ![20250612_175254](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/0/0dce7f442d2296f0b786a98977bd29f833db23a6.jpeg) ![20250612_175259](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/d/d7e4db5df9bd2f827c3b38cce4662291ac489c6d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![wasdwasd0105](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/wasdwasd0105/32/12538_2.png) [@wasdwasd0105](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/wasdwasd0105)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 5:20am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/18 "2025-06-13T05:20:57Z")
> [@n602\_na](#): > > mouse (emulation How to emulate mouse? ---
**Author:** ![peterj](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/peterj/32/11676_2.png) [@peterj](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/peterj)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 6:47am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/19 "2025-06-13T06:47:50Z")
Here’s my attempt: This one has a 5V boost on the VSYS line to get the proper voltage, and a USB hub backpack. I’m not sure why the resolution expanded when I enabled VNC, and the resolution is a little small to use for most things, but it works. (Also not sure how to enable the mouse emulation) Great work! ![IMG_0864](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/2/2dc9b1c2690c68d433b0bf257d122381306810a4.jpeg) ![IMG_0859](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/c/cff7c27234da3ecf4805f9e7f3d6e91f47931fc0.jpeg) ![IMG_0861](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/c/cfb68469848c562bd3d81cbac4d9df64570ef1aa.jpeg) ![IMG_0865](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/f/f53078eba4c07e3d70533c22c97241ae5db556f8.png) ---
**Author:** ![wasdwasd0105](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/wasdwasd0105/32/12538_2.png) [@wasdwasd0105](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/wasdwasd0105)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 7:11am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/20 "2025-06-13T07:11:50Z")
You can change UI size on Preference → Appearance Settings → Defaults ---
**Author:** ![DigitalDreams](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/digitaldreams/32/16007_2.png) [@DigitalDreams](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/DigitalDreams)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 8:06am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/21 "2025-06-13T08:06:15Z")
Lol that’s quite a hump 😳 [Next page](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946.md?page=2)