RetroPie forum home
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Home
    • Docs
    • Register
    • Login

    Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved
    ControlBlock, PowerBlock & Co.
    controlblock2 lightningbolt usb
    5
    28
    6.4k
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • B
      barrymossel @StuMcBill
      last edited by

      @StuMcBill said in Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?:

      Does it make a difference that I am plugging it into a 4 way extension plug and not directly into the wall?

      No that doesn't matter.

      @StuMcBill said in Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?:

      Ok, I can't get my RetroPie to start up again, so I am going to flash a fresh RetroPie installation and then install the controlblock service on a fresh install.

      Would this be the correct procedure to get the PI & ControlBlock setup?

      1. Flash RetroPie to Micro SD Card.
      2. Boot up RetroPie & update via retropie-setup.sh (in RetroPie menu).
      3. Reboot Pi.
      4. Run ControlBlock Quick Installation Script.
      5. Shutdown Pi and disconnect power.
      6. Connect ControlBlock to GPIO Pins on Pi.
      7. Connect Micro USB to ControlBlock and Power on.

      Presumably this should then Power both the Pi and ControlBlock (with no power attached to the Pi).

      Hopefully someone can tell me if this is correct, and if not point me in the right direction?

      Thanks
      Stewart

      Yep, seems to be correct. Make sure to check if you don't get weird errors and no yellow lightning bolt in the top right corner of your screen (which indicates power problems).
      And try first with a power switch if you have one. (Otherwise get one, as this functionality is just great imo.)

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • S
        StuMcBill
        last edited by

        Thanks, I'm just in the process of installing now.

        I don't have a power switch, but I do plan on getting one soon, any you can recommend?

        B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • S
          StuMcBill
          last edited by StuMcBill

          Ok, fresh install, and EXT4 errors!?! Guess my SD card could be totally corrupted? Anyway I can check on my Mac?

          Didn't see any Lighting Bolts though.

          Right managed to get it working.

          Flash RetroPie to Micro SD Card. - Done
          Boot up RetroPie & update via retropie-setup.sh (in RetroPie menu). - Done
          Reboot Pi. - Done
          Run ControlBlock Quick Installation Script. - Running now.

          I've got to head out, so won't be able to finish this for a while, but I will keep the thread updated.

          Thanks for all the help.

          Stewart

          S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • B
            barrymossel @StuMcBill
            last edited by

            @StuMcBill said in Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?:

            Thanks, I'm just in the process of installing now.

            I don't have a power switch, but I do plan on getting one soon, any you can recommend?

            I depends mostly on looks. I am going to use a simple toggle switch like http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hot-Sale-15A-250V-SPST-2-Terminal-ON-OFF-Toggle-Switch-0L-/322552977354 but you can use any SPST switch you can find. It should just open and close the circuit (not a momentary switch though, which only closes the circuit for the moment you push the button).

            @StuMcBill said in Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?:

            Ok, fresh install, and EXT4 errors!?! Guess my SD card could be totally corrupted? Anyway I can check on my Mac?

            Didn't see any Lighting Bolts though.

            No lightning bolts means you probably have the right power supply and USB cable (and you should, as I neither have problems with a standard iPad charger). I unfortunately don't know anything about those EXT4 errors. What do they say?
            But as EXT4 has to do with the filesystem I probably means something is wrong with either the SD card or the image (and I can't imagine the latter it boots anyway).

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • O
              ortsac
              last edited by

              Like I said before, do not connect the ControlBlock unto the RPi on the fresh install. If problem occurs, you would be able to diagnose the problem on the P1, SD card, and Power Supply. Do not connect anything else on the Pi except a keyboard.
              If the EXT4 error occurs without the ControlBlock, surely the SD Card is bad or file is corrupted. EXT4 means system files are corrupted. Get a fresh SD card, do not reuse the old one and reimage Retropie into the new SD card.
              If lightning bolt is shown during the boot process, then your power supply is inadequate even with the minimal devices connected.
              If the system boots properly, hit F4 to exit out of Emulationstation and perform the ControlBlock installation. Now you know that your basic setup is OK.

              Let us know how it goes.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • S
                StuMcBill @StuMcBill
                last edited by

                @StuMcBill said in Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?:

                Ok, fresh install, and EXT4 errors!?! Guess my SD card could be totally corrupted? Anyway I can check on my Mac?

                Didn't see any Lighting Bolts though.

                Right managed to get it working.

                Flash RetroPie to Micro SD Card. - Done
                Boot up RetroPie & update via retropie-setup.sh (in RetroPie menu). - Done
                Reboot Pi. - Done
                Run ControlBlock Quick Installation Script. - Running now.

                I've got to head out, so won't be able to finish this for a while, but I will keep the thread updated.

                Thanks for all the help.

                Stewart

                OK, I have ran the ControlBlock installation script, rebooted the Pi, no problems. Powered off, disconnected power, connected the ControlBlock to the Pi, plugged USB power into the ControlBlock and.....nothing. No signs of life from the Pi (no lights at all, either Red or green).

                I'm going to leave it as is just now and try again when I get my official Pi Power Supply, and try again.

                If that doesn't work, does that mean I have a problem with my ControlBlock and should be looking for a replacement?

                Thanks.
                Stewart

                O 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • O
                  ortsac @StuMcBill
                  last edited by

                  @StuMcBill This is good info....Do you have an LED connected to the ControlBlock? This will provide a good feedback whether the ControlBlock is acting up or not. The Pi will not get its power until the ControlBlock is turned on properly. It must be waiting for the switch to get turned on and since you do not have one installed the Pi will never get turned on. Unless the "powerswitchOn = false in controlblockconfig.cfg " does not work, then this is a driver issue on the ControlBlock.
                  It is best to connect a switch and an LED to the ControlBlock . You will have visual feedback on the ControlBlock and manual control of the power turning ON or OFF.

                  S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • S
                    StuMcBill @ortsac
                    last edited by

                    @ortsac said in Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?:

                    @StuMcBill This is good info....Do you have an LED connected to the ControlBlock? This will provide a good feedback whether the ControlBlock is acting up or not. The Pi will not get its power until the ControlBlock is turned on properly. It must be waiting for the switch to get turned on and since you do not have one installed the Pi will never get turned on. Unless the "powerswitchOn = false in controlblockconfig.cfg " does not work, then this is a driver issue on the ControlBlock.
                    It is best to connect a switch and an LED to the ControlBlock . You will have visual feedback on the ControlBlock and manual control of the power turning ON or OFF.

                    Ok cool. I might try and grab a switch and led, as I don't have either of these.

                    I'm assuming that powerswitchOn has defaulted to true as it did before, so I'll try changing that to false and try again with my pi power supply.

                    I'll report back.

                    B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • B
                      barrymossel @StuMcBill
                      last edited by

                      @StuMcBill said in Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?:

                      @ortsac said in Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?:

                      @StuMcBill This is good info....Do you have an LED connected to the ControlBlock? This will provide a good feedback whether the ControlBlock is acting up or not. The Pi will not get its power until the ControlBlock is turned on properly. It must be waiting for the switch to get turned on and since you do not have one installed the Pi will never get turned on. Unless the "powerswitchOn = false in controlblockconfig.cfg " does not work, then this is a driver issue on the ControlBlock.
                      It is best to connect a switch and an LED to the ControlBlock . You will have visual feedback on the ControlBlock and manual control of the power turning ON or OFF.

                      Ok cool. I might try and grab a switch and led, as I don't have either of these.

                      I'm assuming that powerswitchOn has defaulted to true as it did before, so I'll try changing that to false and try again with my pi power supply.

                      I'll report back.

                      Uhm, of course it won't work without any modifications on the config and without using a switch. Get a switch and start over. If it doesn't work then, the problem lies with the ControlBlock. But actually I doubt it does.

                      S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • S
                        StuMcBill @barrymossel
                        last edited by

                        @barrymossel ok, thanks for the help.

                        Would this work for a switch? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172767175146

                        And something like this for an led? http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/3mm-blue-led-ja20w

                        I'm going to get some Dupont gpio connectors to attach to the controlblock itself.

                        Thanks for all the help and patience.

                        O 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • O
                          ortsac @StuMcBill
                          last edited by

                          @StuMcBill Both the switch and LED will work. Make sure you observe the polarity on the LED.

                          S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • S
                            StuMcBill @ortsac
                            last edited by

                            @ortsac said in Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?:

                            @StuMcBill Both the switch and LED will work. Make sure you observe the polarity on the LED.

                            Perfect, will do!

                            I'm going offshore tomorrow so won't have a chance to do this till I get home in a few weeks, but I'll get everything ordered up!

                            Cheers

                            B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • B
                              barrymossel @StuMcBill
                              last edited by

                              @StuMcBill said in Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?:

                              @ortsac said in Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?:

                              @StuMcBill Both the switch and LED will work. Make sure you observe the polarity on the LED.

                              Perfect, will do!

                              I'm going offshore tomorrow so won't have a chance to do this till I get home in a few weeks, but I'll get everything ordered up!

                              Cheers

                              Good luck!

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • P
                                petrockblog Global Moderator @StuMcBill
                                last edited by

                                @StuMcBill said in Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?:

                                @ortsac I don't have a power switch attached to the controlblock, and I do have the driver installed.

                                You can also the use the ControlBlock, if you do not have a power switch attached to it:

                                1. Make sure in the configuration file /etc/controlblockconfig.cfgthat the power switch functionality is switched off.
                                2. Connect the micro USB power supply directly to the Raspberry and not to the ControlBlock. That will power the Raspberry and the ControlBlock with using the power switch circuitry.
                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • P
                                  petrockblog Global Moderator @StuMcBill
                                  last edited by

                                  Would this be the correct procedure to get the PI & ControlBlock setup?

                                  1. Flash RetroPie to Micro SD Card.
                                  2. Boot up RetroPie & update via retropie-setup.sh (in RetroPie menu).
                                  3. Reboot Pi.
                                  4. Run ControlBlock Quick Installation Script.
                                  5. Shutdown Pi and disconnect power.
                                  6. Connect ControlBlock to GPIO Pins on Pi.
                                  7. Connect Micro USB to ControlBlock and Power on.

                                  If you are using a power switch make sure to connect it to the ControlBlock.

                                  If you are not using a power switch make sure to connect it to the Raspberry Pi. Otherwise you cannot switch on the Raspberry.

                                  In any case you can attach the ControlBlock to the RPi before installing the ControlBlock driver.

                                  S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • S
                                    StuMcBill @petrockblog
                                    last edited by

                                    @petrockblog said in Ok, got my ControlBlock.....some questions?:

                                    Would this be the correct procedure to get the PI & ControlBlock setup?

                                    1. Flash RetroPie to Micro SD Card.
                                    2. Boot up RetroPie & update via retropie-setup.sh (in RetroPie menu).
                                    3. Reboot Pi.
                                    4. Run ControlBlock Quick Installation Script.
                                    5. Shutdown Pi and disconnect power.
                                    6. Connect ControlBlock to GPIO Pins on Pi.
                                    7. Connect Micro USB to ControlBlock and Power on.

                                    If you are using a power switch make sure to connect it to the ControlBlock.

                                    If you are not using a power switch make sure to connect it to the Raspberry Pi. Otherwise you cannot switch on the Raspberry.

                                    In any case you can attach the ControlBlock to the RPi before installing the ControlBlock driver.

                                    Ok, that makes sense now.

                                    If I've got a controlblock, and no power switch, I should disable power switch functionality and power via the pi.

                                    If I do have a power switch, I should connect it and power via the controlblock.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • First post
                                      Last post

                                    Contributions to the project are always appreciated, so if you would like to support us with a donation you can do so here.

                                    Hosting provided by Mythic-Beasts. See the Hosting Information page for more information.