On/Off Switch

[spamurai]

Hello.

As some of you know, I'm a newbie to this stuff but I've been having an interesting read of:
http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewt ... 0&p=104473

I was wondering if its beneficial to have an on/off switch because its going to get tedious to keep pulling out the plug and i'm not keen on leaving it on 24/7...

Is there something like this that could act as an on/off switch:
this (1)

If the above example (which is the only one i can find) was used, you'd also need: (2)
this (2)

Then you'd plug the switch (1) into the Pi and plug the convertor (2) into the switch, then plug the power cable into the converter... Then just use the switch to cut off the power instead of the wall socket/plug. (mines in a awkward place behind my desk).

The question is, does that on/off switch act as on/off power or on/off syncing for phones???

I can't help but think if there was an answer to this, someone would already have found it

Thoughts?

[grumpyoldgit]

There's this thing called a four/six gang extension. They are usually about £4.99 and are found in a big bin at B&Q or similar. I always pick the ones with individual switches.

[spamurai]

There's this thing called a four/six gang extension. They are usually about £4.99 and are found in a big bin at B&Q or similar. I always pick the ones with individual switches.

Its mainly because my Pi is powered from a four gang extension which i can not get to with ease (behind desk) and even if i could, that would then turn off the power to the other things i have plugged into it.
Also, i don't want to keep unplugging the microusb as it seems pretty delicate and i believe a few people have already broken the c6 near by

[grumpyoldgit]

Don't tell anyone but I have a four gang socket off a four gang socket!

[SN]

Get an extension with INDIVIDUAL switches and power the pi off a hub. Don't make this harder than it needs to be

[HTWingNut]

Yeah, power switch is somewhat problematic. I may splice into my 2.1A 5V power connector and add an in-line on/off switch. Actually I am looking at designing my own case, and may just add a switch with a USB connector on that. But it would have been really nice to have an on/off switch on the mainboard.

[mahjongg]

Actually do not simply switch off your PI, but always do a clean power down, otherwise there might be problems with the SD-card, for the same reason do not simply pull out the card while the PI is working. Actually unless you are not using it for weeks on end I would simply leave the PI turned on, unlike windows Linux doesn't have to be rebooted regularly, and it uses so little power, if you want to use it the next day, simply keep it on overnight.

[spamurai]

Yeah, power switch is somewhat problematic. I may splice into my 2.1A 5V power connector and add an in-line on/off switch. Actually I am looking at designing my own case, and may just add a switch with a USB connector on that. But it would have been really nice to have an on/off switch on the mainboard.

That's cool. A completely custom case is an option. But I have to agree, and on/off switch would be handy.

Actually do not simply switch off your PI, but always do a clean power down, otherwise there might be problems with the SD-card, for the same reason do not simply pull out the card while the PI is working. Actually unless you are not using it for weeks on end I would simply leave the PI turned on, unlike windows Linux doesn't have to be rebooted regularly, and it uses so little power, if you want to use it the next day, simply keep it on overnight.

I'm just not comfortable with leaving it on, it gets pretty hot as it is.
I do always do a clean shutdown and I don't pull out the cable until the system has halted.

My concern isn't using excessive amounts of power or even overheating but the fact that the micro-USB connection itself may get harmed or even broken if I keep connecting and disconnecting it, not to mention the c6 (off the top of my head) thingy is vulnerable to snapping off.

I have to leave the plug switched on anyway as the socket is behind my desk and not easy to get too.

I just feel an on/off switch would not only allow me to turn the Pi off and allow it to remain cool when not in use but could potentially save any damage to the board or it's conponents....

[leon_heller]

Most electronic equipment lasts longer if left on all the time. Switching it on and off a few times a day is likely to shorten its life.

[spamurai]

Most electronic equipment lasts longer if left on all the time. Switching it on and off a few times a day is likely to shorten its life.

That's just a theory. Never been proven nor disproven...

I would of thought the Pi is more vunerable to over heating/burning out than having a shorter life due to excessive stress to the electrical circuits.

[Joe Schmoe]

Most electronic equipment lasts longer if left on all the time. Switching it on and off a few times a day is likely to shorten its life.

That's just a theory. Never been proven nor disproven...

Like evolution...

[gritz]

Most electronic equipment lasts longer if left on all the time. Switching it on and off a few times a day is likely to shorten its life.

That's just a theory. Never been proven nor disproven...

Like evolution...

Electromigration vs thermal cycling vs electricity bills vs having to scrabble under the bench and unplug the PSU. Life sure is complicated.

[PaulCheffus]

Actually do not simply switch off your PI, but always do a clean power down, otherwise there might be problems with the SD-card, for the same reason do not simply pull out the card while the PI is working. Actually unless you are not using it for weeks on end I would simply leave the PI turned on, unlike windows Linux doesn't have to be rebooted regularly, and it uses so little power, if you want to use it the next day, simply keep it on overnight.

Hi

I booted my Pi yesterday before switching the TV to the correct AV input. The Pi just sat there with the Red LED on and didn't boot. Switching the Pi off and on then resulted in it booting. If I left the Pi on all the time but changed the inputs as for example I wanted to watch TV on switching the input back would the Pi still display on the screen?

Cheers

Paul

[alexeames]

Hi

I booted my Pi yesterday before switching the TV to the correct AV input. The Pi just sat there with the Red LED on and didn't boot. Switching the Pi off and on then resulted in it booting. If I left the Pi on all the time but changed the inputs as for example I wanted to watch TV on switching the input back would the Pi still display on the screen?

Cheers

Paul

It does with HDMI. I expect it would with the RCA as well. As long as you boot with the TV connected correctly it ought to be OK.

[davesedar]

Hello.

As some of you know, I'm a newbie to this stuff but I've been having an interesting read of:
http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewt ... 0&p=104473

I was wondering if its beneficial to have an on/off switch because its going to get tedious to keep pulling out the plug and i'm not keen on leaving it on 24/7...

Is there something like this that could act as an on/off switch:
this (1)

If the above example (which is the only one i can find) was used, you'd also need: (2)
this (2)

Then you'd plug the switch (1) into the Pi and plug the convertor (2) into the switch, then plug the power cable into the converter... Then just use the switch to cut off the power instead of the wall socket/plug. (mines in a awkward place behind my desk).

The question is, does that on/off switch act as on/off power or on/off syncing for phones???

I can't help but think if there was an answer to this, someone would already have found it

Thoughts?

Hi
you could try this USB cable with a switch in the middle, between your USB charger and the USB-microUSB cable.
I haven't tried it, but seems like it should disconnect the power.
[http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-A-Male-to ... 1608wt_989]

[dlp2k]

You could get really fancy and have a remote control on/off switch (in fact you can have 3...) all for the princely sum of £5

http://reviews.asda.com/1440-en_gb/0040 ... eviews.htm

[ech0]

i'm not keen on leaving it on 24/7...

While an on/off switch would be great for some, I don't see the reason not to keep it 24/7.

[dom]

I booted my Pi yesterday before switching the TV to the correct AV input. The Pi just sat there with the Red LED on and didn't boot. Switching the Pi off and on then resulted in it booting. If I left the Pi on all the time but changed the inputs as for example I wanted to watch TV on switching the input back would the Pi still display on the screen?

If it didn't boot then it's probably this issue:
https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/issues/54

(which is fixed in latest firmware)

Yes, you can switch TV away from the Pi's channel and switch back, and image will still be there.

[PaulCheffus]

I booted my Pi yesterday before switching the TV to the correct AV input. The Pi just sat there with the Red LED on and didn't boot. Switching the Pi off and on then resulted in it booting. If I left the Pi on all the time but changed the inputs as for example I wanted to watch TV on switching the input back would the Pi still display on the screen?

If it didn't boot then it's probably this issue:
https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/issues/54

(which is fixed in latest firmware)

Hi

Thanks for the reply and information but this happened after I had updated yesterday at around 11am. I'm using the Wheezy beta.

Cheers

Paul

[dom]

Thanks for the reply and information but this happened after I had updated yesterday at around 11am. I'm using the Wheezy beta.

Are you sure it didn't boot? Can you repeat test but watch OK led. If it flashes for ~20 seconds, then it has booted (and you should be able to see it on network with ping or ssh) - even if display is blank.

It will default to composite if the TV doesn't assert hotplug. Most TV's do assert hotplug even when on wrong input, but not all do. If yours doesn't, and you always want HDMI output then add:
hdmi_force_hotplug=1
to config.txt.

[spamurai]

Hello.

As some of you know, I'm a newbie to this stuff but I've been having an interesting read of:
http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewt ... 0&p=104473

I was wondering if its beneficial to have an on/off switch because its going to get tedious to keep pulling out the plug and i'm not keen on leaving it on 24/7...

Is there something like this that could act as an on/off switch:
this (1)

If the above example (which is the only one i can find) was used, you'd also need: (2)
this (2)

Then you'd plug the switch (1) into the Pi and plug the convertor (2) into the switch, then plug the power cable into the converter... Then just use the switch to cut off the power instead of the wall socket/plug. (mines in a awkward place behind my desk).

The question is, does that on/off switch act as on/off power or on/off syncing for phones???

I can't help but think if there was an answer to this, someone would already have found it

Thoughts?

Hi
you could try this USB cable with a switch in the middle, between your USB charger and the USB-microUSB cable.
I haven't tried it, but seems like it should disconnect the power.
[http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-A-Male-to ... 1608wt_989]

I saw something similar to that which i posted on another thread. Had the same Charge/Data switch. But, I'm pretty sure even through the data switch, it would allow power to run through and not actually cut the circuit all together... I might try though out of curiosity.

You could get really fancy and have a remote control on/off switch (in fact you can have 3...) all for the princely sum of £5

http://reviews.asda.com/1440-en_gb/0040 ... eviews.htm

That does seem pretty cool

i'm not keen on leaving it on 24/7...

While an on/off switch would be great for some, I don't see the reason not to keep it 24/7.

Well, if you read this thread and my replies, you'd see where i'm coming from...
If you want to risk it, thats great. I'd just rather take precautions if/where i can

[PaulCheffus]

Thanks for the reply and information but this happened after I had updated yesterday at around 11am. I'm using the Wheezy beta.

Are you sure it didn't boot? Can you repeat test but watch OK led. If it flashes for ~20 seconds, then it has booted (and you should be able to see it on network with ping or ssh) - even if display is blank.

It will default to composite if the TV doesn't assert hotplug. Most TV's do assert hotplug even when on wrong input, but not all do. If yours doesn't, and you always want HDMI output then add:
hdmi_force_hotplug=1
to config.txt.

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

I can't try it at the moment as I am away but will try it when I get back.

Cheers

Paul

[mahjongg]

I would of thought the Pi is more vunerable to over heating/burning out than having a shorter life due to excessive stress to the electrical circuits.

I see no proof of the PI's chips getting hotter than other similar circuits, or that there is excessive stress on its board. I don't see any PI board curling up,and I have seen pictures of XBOX 360 board that were crooked as a hoop, but still working.
On the other hand, its clear that regular thermal cycling could in theory be harmfull for BGA packages, after 100.000 cycles or so, if brittle solder is used.

Both factors do not make me concerned in case of the R-PI, anymore that I would be concerned about say the DVD player I have, and sometimes I leave that on for weeks, and sometimes I power it up and down twice daily, and it costs a lot more than a PI would.

The difference is that I do not screw it open to see if there are chips in it that are uncomfortable to touch.

[PaulCheffus]

Thanks for the reply and information but this happened after I had updated yesterday at around 11am. I'm using the Wheezy beta.

Are you sure it didn't boot? Can you repeat test but watch OK led. If it flashes for ~20 seconds, then it has booted (and you should be able to see it on network with ping or ssh) - even if display is blank.

It will default to composite if the TV doesn't assert hotplug. Most TV's do assert hotplug even when on wrong input, but not all do. If yours doesn't, and you always want HDMI output then add:
hdmi_force_hotplug=1
to config.txt.

Hi

Had chance to test this tonight.

Yes it does flash the Ok LED for around 20 seconds, I must have missed this last time.

Adding the line above has allowed me to switch it on with the TV on a different AV input to the Pi and then to get an output when I switch to the correct input.

Thanks for all the help.

Cheers

Paul

[spamurai]

I would of thought the Pi is more vunerable to over heating/burning out than having a shorter life due to excessive stress to the electrical circuits.

I see no proof of the PI's chips getting hotter than other similar circuits, or that there is excessive stress on its board. I don't see any PI board curling up,and I have seen pictures of XBOX 360 board that were crooked as a hoop, but still working.
On the other hand, its clear that regular thermal cycling could in theory be harmfull for BGA packages, after 100.000 cycles or so, if brittle solder is used.

Both factors do not make me concerned in case of the R-PI, anymore that I would be concerned about say the DVD player I have, and sometimes I leave that on for weeks, and sometimes I power it up and down twice daily, and it costs a lot more than a PI would.

The difference is that I do not screw it open to see if there are chips in it that are uncomfortable to touch.

Thats actually a good way of looking at it. Maybe i am just being too over protective