NesPi Case from Retroflag.com

Rion

@hurricanefan As i mentioned before i wonder if the shutdown button can be used with some modification with the mausberry shutdown script. Any insights into this @pjft , @cyperghost , @meleu ?

meleu

@rion yes I have: send one of this case for me and I'll give you a clean and efficient way to shutdown your system saving your metadata with no errors. :-)

Just kidding. We have no way to say how to shutdown cleanly with that button if we don't know how it works.

Did you buy it? Are there some specs on the web? When you get yours in hands we can hack it! ;-)

Cheers!

Rion

@meleu Sadly no. I was late to the party.

Maybe @greekmanx or @HurricaneFan can test them.

Hopefully there will be more of these available soon.

greekmanx

@rion what are we testing I am willing to try a script just don't know how to make one but would feel better if one existed the hard shutdown can scare some I am a little iffy on it

meleu

@greekmanx what do those buttons (power and reset) do? does it need any software installation?

HurricaneFan

@meleu The power button truly kills all power to the device when pressed. The reset button almost looks like you killed power for a second and it reboots the pi.

meleu

@hurricanefan wow! Quite rough, isn't it?

HurricaneFan

@meleu The power button reminds me of this power cord that I've used in a previous build.

https://www.amazon.com/Enokay-Supply-Raspberry-Charger-Adapter/dp/B01MZX466R/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1501899814&sr=8-2&keywords=pi+power+button

Clicking the button kills all power to the device.

Rion

@hurricanefan Thats what I was afraid of. But we're not entirely sure that's the case just yet.

But if it is you should be able to modify it using a Mausberry shutdown circuit (use your own switch pcb). There's plenty of room inside the case to install it somewhere.

Yahmez

Hey guys, I posted a link to a tutorial I made for hacking this case's buttons to provide soft shutdown and reset if you're interested.
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/12424/retroflag-nespi-case-soft-power-reset-hack

cyperghost

@rion There are three options now

Mausberry
Powerblock
Mosfet switch @Yahmez

I looked to his instructions and it should work... I saw several selfmade switches like that. You have one GPIO set to high, that delivers 3,3V ... as long as this GPIO is setted high the mosfat delivers power. When does the GPIO not deliver power? Right... if the Pie is shut off!
The cap will loose power and the mosfat output also closes.
--> POWER cutoff

As you press the power switch again
the Cap recovers power again = Switch acts as closed
Power to the Pi....

The solution is really good. And my explanation is just to simply to cover a detailed process description - sorry see it as shematic :D

Yahmez

@cyperghost
Yep, that's basically how it works. I meant to include a description of how the circuit operates but somehow forgot when writing it up.

Only thing I would add is that the power switch keeps the mosfet on as well, the pi's signal only really makes a difference after you switch off the power. The pi senses the power switch was turned off, and initiates a shutdown. Same goes for the reset button too.

Also, the mausberry and power block are both over $20 after shipping. The board I used was 7.50 after shipping and the other parts required are very cheap if you don't already have them in your parts drawer. So I'd say conservatively the mosfet method is at least half the price of the other options.

rop21

So, where is possible to buy it? Only Alibaba?

HurricaneFan

@rop21 Amazon still has it unavailable. It's on eBay but its pretty expensive. So Alibaba might be your only choice.

DIY_glenn

So which of these three solutions is the best/easiest?

PowerBlock
Mausberry
Mosfet Switch

We have a good tutorial here on the mosfet hack, but PowerBlock and Mausberry both have their own way of connecting to the Pi, Mausberry occupying the GPIO pins the NESpi originally uses, and Powerblock plugging into the power inlet of RPi (which is blocked by the NESpi case). The latter will probably require desoldering the micro USB power plug on the RPi.

I'm comfortable with an soldering iron, no problems there, but has anyone got a mini-tutorial for the other options? Seems like there's enough space in the top cover for some hardware.

Maybe Mausberry is the best option (smallest), if not using the original micro USB connector. Also, am I right that PP1/PP2 on RPi3 can be used for +5V in? The connector is obviously blocked, but I'd still want to have the 5V before the fuse, not directly to the GPIO.

Ground is simple, the best place to solder is the USB-shield pins.

Now it comes down to mausberry, can it be soldered instead of using the power connector?

cyperghost

@diy_glenn

The connector is obviously blocked, but I'd still want to have the 5V before the fuse, not directly to the GPIO.

The NesPI itself power the Raspberry via GPIO... so there is a fair chance to use a mausberry and power the Pie through GPIO or by soldering to PowerPads...

Ujohnson

@obsidianspider
Hei, the item is cray cheap now, i just found one that one guy put it on sale 21.49 usd with free shipping.
I want to got one now, but please you guys told me that this guy is selling the good thing or not:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/NESPi-Case-Raspberry-Pi-3-Model-B-Classical-NES-Style-Case-Game-Console-for-Raspberry-pi/2961127_32837853954.html
Thanks in advance.