PiJuice Portable Power Platform for Raspberry Pi - Portable UPS

In this review of the PiJuice Portable Power Platform for Raspberry Pi the bottom line is simple: it is for makers and remote Pi projects that need a reliable, portable uninterruptible power solution. The PiJuice combines an onboard 1820 mAh Lipo battery with support for much larger packs, an integrated real time clock and intelligent on/off controls to keep a Raspberry Pi running away from a mains outlet. For anyone building offgrid sensors, mobile prototypes or fielded Pi systems this HAT turns a standard board into a self powered device with programmable shutdown and deep sleep features.

Key Features

• Onboard battery: The included 1820 mAh Lipo gives roughly four to six hours of constant use, making short field sessions or portable demos feasible without additional wiring.
• Expandable capacity: Support for much larger Lipo packs such as 5000 mAh or 10,000 mAh lets projects run up to about 24 hours or longer when higher capacity cells are fitted.
• Uninterruptible power: The HAT provides a full UPS behavior so the Raspberry Pi can continue through power changes and perform safe shutdowns when needed.
• Compatibility: Designed to work with Raspberry Pi 4, A+, B+, 2B, 3B and Zero v1.3 and Wireless, which makes it suitable for a wide range of Pi models.
• Real time clock: The onboard RTC keeps accurate time without network access or external power, useful for scheduled tasks and logging.
• Intelligent control: An integrated MCU and programmable on/off switch allow soft shutdown, deep sleep and intelligent startup behavior for remote deployments.

Who It's For

The PiJuice is best for hobbyists, educators and developers building portable or remote Raspberry Pi projects that need clean battery power, safe shutdown and timekeeping without network connectivity. It is particularly useful for sensor nodes, mobile demos, field data loggers and any setup where mains power is unreliable or unavailable.

Users who require very high continuous current for powerhungry HATs or peripherals should carefully evaluate total draw, since one customer reported the power source did not supply enough current for a specific heavy load. Buyers on a strict budget who do not need portability may prefer a simpler power supply solution.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Reliable portable power with an onboard battery that keeps a Pi running for hours without external power.
• Expandable battery support lets projects scale runtime up to a day or more when paired with larger Lipo packs.
• Integrated RTC and MCU deliver useful features like accurate timekeeping, soft shutdown and deep sleep for remote systems.
• Broad compatibility across Raspberry Pi models makes the HAT versatile for many projects.

Cons

• Some customers noted the supplied battery/current may be insufficient for particularly power hungry peripherals, so total system draw must be checked.
• Perceived value varies among buyers; the unit may feel premium priced for simple use cases.

Specifications

Product	PiJuice Portable Power Platform for Raspberry Pi
Included battery	Onboard 1820 mAh Lipo / LiIon
Extended battery support	Compatible with 5000 mAh, 10,000 mAh and larger Lipo packs
Compatibility	Raspberry Pi 4, A+, B+, 2B, 3B, Zero v1.3 and Wireless
Key features	Uninterruptible power, RTC, intelligent on/off switch, MCU managed shutdown
Typical runtime	About 4-6 hours with onboard battery; up to ~24 hrs with larger packs

Our Verdict

The PiJuice Portable Power Platform is a practical UPS HAT that converts a Raspberry Pi into a true portable system with useful features like RTC and programmable shut down. It is a good value for makers and remotedeployment users who need clean, uninterrupted power and the option to extend runtime with larger batteries, though those with very high peripheral power needs should verify current draw first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the PiJuice work with my Raspberry Pi 4?
The HAT is explicitly compatible with Raspberry Pi 4 and several earlier models, so it will work with a Pi 4.

How long does the onboard battery last?
The included 1820 mAh battery typically runs a Pi for about four to six hours under constant use; larger batteries extend that up to roughly 24 hours or more depending on capacity.

Can it safely shut down the Pi when battery is low?
Yes, the integrated MCU and software support soft shutdown and a true low power deep sleep state to protect the system during power loss.