“Worked as expected after overcoming two minor challenges:
1. The active cooler should be installed after putting the Pi into the case.
2. There was no cutout for the Power/Reset button, so the Pi would not boot as the button was held in by the case. I hacked a section of the plastic out so it would run.
Instructions included with the case would have saved some time.
There is no cover, so the Pi is vulnerable to bumps and splashes”
Ahoy Chris -
Thanks for the review and sorry to hear you had issues. There's an assembly tutorial here: https://learn.pimoroni.com/article/building-your-pibow-5 (we tend to go for online instructions these days as they're a lot easier to keep up to date).
The little tab next to the power button should let you press the power button from the outside of the case. The layer does need to be able to move a little for that to work though, so it could be that the bolt at that corner was too tight? Sounds like you've come up with a solution, but if you'd like to try another layer 3 (or need any other help) do drop us an email at support@pimoroni.com .
“The margins are just too small. I am used to handling small & fragile components and I tried my very best & was very careful, but the first layer that goes on top of the board (no. 3, red in the rainbow version) just doesn't fit 100% flush. This means that the flimsy plastic pogo pin of the official active cooling fan, the one that is behind the USB ports, has a lot of trouble "catching". I fixed it by (again, very carefully) cutting off the thinner ends of the flares on that pin. Unfortunately, I don't have much faith in the pin anymore. The spring on the other pin can still compress a bit but this one is pressed flat. There is just no margin.
A second criticism is that the wonderful new on/off button of the Pi 5 is completely hidden behind the case. I suppose that the way it is supposed to work is that layer 3 rests against the button and you can flex it to operate the button. But it can only do that if it has some give. This only worked for me when I completely loosened the nylon nuts on that side of the case. They are now not secure and prone to fall off at some point.
I do not recommend this case.”
