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Eneby analysis

Wout Slakhorst edited this page Mar 9, 2020 · 2 revisions

Connecting Eneby hardware

Power

The Eneby runs on 18V, so some conversion to the Pi's 5.1V is needed.

How convenient: https://www.tinytronics.nl/shop/nl/step-down/dc-dc-step-down-buck-converter-2a-5v-met-usb

Space

The Pi fits inside the battery module. The pins on the headers should be very short though. Also heat might become a problem? (Some holes might fix that). The RFID reader should fit somewhere...

Removing the battery module would provide with enough space for both.

Button

The Eneby button has two soldering points which short on press. These can be connected to pin 5 and 6 for on/off functionality.

Status LED

For debugging purposes the Pi status LED can be routed to the back by drilling an extra hole?

Software monitoring

Standby

The Eneby goes into standby after a period of inactivity. To turn of the Pi, the status of the BT connection can be monitored. If the configured no BT device is connected to the Pi, turn it off after X minutes.

Possible problems

Mismatch state

The power-on/off cycle duration for the Pi and Eneby are probably not the same, so it might occur that the Pi is on and the eneby is off. Pressing in this case will turn the Pi on, but the Eneby off. The auto-off on the Pi could reduce this state to only a minute or so. Also, the Eneby will blink if it doesn't have a connection, telling the user to be patient.