Raspberry Pi PLC Industrial Controller (Relay Output)

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

CAN bus

CAN bus is a reliable two-wire communication network originally designed for vehicles and now common in machinery and robotics. It matters when you need multiple controllers or devices to share status and control messages in a noisy electrical environment.

I2C

I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.

IoT

Short for Internet of Things, meaning physical devices that connect to networks or the internet to send data or be controlled remotely. It matters if you want projects such as connected sensors, remote controls or classroom data-logging activities.

RS485

RS485 is a robust wired serial communication standard often used in factories, farms, and buildings where cables may be long or electrically noisy. It matters because it lets this controller connect to industrial sensors, meters, and control equipment over longer distances than typical hobby serial wiring.

RTC

A Real-Time Clock keeps track of time even when the main processor is asleep or powered down, usually with a small backup battery. It matters for data logging and tracking projects that need accurate timestamps.

SPI

A fast serial communication bus often used for displays, memory cards, and sensors. It matters because SPI devices need specific pins for clock and data, plus a separate chip-select line for each device.

SRAM

Fast temporary memory used by a processor while a program is running. More SRAM helps with projects that handle larger data buffers, networking, displays, or more complex code.

UPS

An uninterruptible power supply is a battery-backed power system that keeps a device running when external power is unplugged or fails. For an embedded computer, it helps prevent sudden shutdowns that can corrupt files or interrupt a project.