Waveshare 2.13-Inch E-Paper: Smart Badge Project

The Waveshare 2.13-inch e-paper is perfect for smart name badges, shelf labels, and status indicators with zero idle power consumption.

Specs

• 2.13-inch, 250×122 pixels, black/white
• SPI interface, ~2s full refresh, ~0.3s partial
• Zero power when idle, 180-degree viewing angle

Setup

Connect via SPI, enable SPI on Pi, install: pip3 install waveshare-epd Pillow

Python Code

from waveshare_epd import epd2in13_V4
from PIL import Image, ImageDraw, ImageFont
epd = epd2in13_V4.EPD()
epd.init(); epd.Clear(0xFF)
img = Image.new('1', (epd.height, epd.width), 255)
draw = ImageDraw.Draw(img)
draw.text((10,10), 'Jayesh Jain', font=ImageFont.truetype('/usr/share/fonts/truetype/dejavu/DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf', 24), fill=0)
draw.text((10,40), 'Zbotic.in', font=ImageFont.truetype('/usr/share/fonts/truetype/dejavu/DejaVuSans.ttf', 16), fill=0)
epd.display(epd.getbuffer(img))
epd.sleep()

Partial Refresh

Update only changed areas in ~0.3s without full screen flash. Ideal for clocks and counters.

Projects

• Conference name badge with QR code
• Retail shelf price labels
• Desk availability status indicator
• Plant care display with moisture reading
• Bus schedule at home stop

Frequently Asked Questions

Battery life?

Months to years — only draws power during refresh.

Readable in sunlight?

Yes, e-paper is at its best in bright light.

Power cut behaviour?

Display retains last image with zero power.

Refresh cycle lifespan?

1,000,000+ refreshes.

Conclusion

The 2.13-inch e-paper excels for always-on, ultra-low-power displays like badges and labels.

Browse the full Waveshare collection at Zbotic.in with fast shipping across India.