Retroflag NESPi Case - Soft Power & Reset Hack

THRobinson

Gotcha... thanks.

Debating buying 20kits worth of parts to make it worthwhile for ship costs and just sell them on eBay (Canada only) at cost+ship... then make back my cost on shipping and save some money for my fellow Canucks.

Probably $8CAD for the full kit... if there's interest at all? As it is, the Pololu after shipping is about $20CAD, the kit may help some people out.

I believe the original poster had a kit online, found an old link, but doesn't seem to be selling anymore. @Yahmez If I put a few kits up on eBay, are you ok with me linking to your doc?

Yahmez

@throbinson Yes, I sold about 40 or so kits online but I completely underestimated the demand. I only put together the kits to help out a few online friends who had issues sourcing all the components, but I sold out in a few days. I decided against selling any more due to limited free time (I work full time and have four young kids). A few other people have been selling the kits since then, one guy made some custom pcbs to completely replace the stock switch PCB with all the parts for the safe shutdown mod. I am completely fine with you linking to my walk through, I shared it with the internets for anyone interested in trying it, not to make money.

THRobinson

@yahmez Cool... thanks. Didn't know that much of a demand. I'll only put a dozen up I think, just to make back the shipping costs. That's pretty cool about the guy who made a new board for it... may have to search for that.

I did see on eBay some people are selling the cases pre-modded. Can't recall how much more they were or what mod was done though.

mitu

@yahmez said in Retroflag NESPi Case - Soft Power & Reset Hack:

one guy made some custom pcbs to completely replace the stock switch PCB with all the parts for the safe shutdown mod

Is it this one - https://github.com/mafe72/Retroflag-NESPi-Front-Panel-Control-Board ?

Yahmez

@mitu I take it back. Two people have made pcbs. The one you linked does not include any mosfet switching capability it simply changes the function of the power and reset buttons into inputs for gpio.

Yahmez

@throbinson yes there are a couple of guys who mod the cases with my method and sell them on eBay.

xadox

@yahmez Thx for your great mod & guide.
I implemented your mod yesterday and it's working like charm.

Maybe you could also mention the ES gracefully Shutdown Mod in the starting post:
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/12895/ensuring-es-gracefully-finish-and-save-metadata-in-every-system-shutdown

Yahmez

@xadox good idea. I'll do that.

Riverstorm

@yahmez said in Retroflag NESPi Case - Soft Power & Reset Hack:

@mitu I take it back. Two people have made pcbs. The one you linked does not include any mosfet switching capability it simply changes the function of the power and reset buttons into inputs for gpio.

Referring to that link without the mosfet switching you're still not fully powered down and the LED will still be lit?

I would also be interested in what @mitu was asking. You would happen to know if these guys are selling a pre-built replacement PCB or a link to it?

mitu

@riverstorm From the link I gave a few posts back, there's a link to https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/V2yqoyFn which seems to have an order page.

Riverstorm

@mitu said in Retroflag NESPi Case - Soft Power & Reset Hack:

@riverstorm From the link I gave a few posts back, there's a link to https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/V2yqoyFn which seems to have an order page.

Thanks Mitu for the link. Would this shut down safely like a complete power off/on without unplugging the unit? The instructions are short and it looks you need an account to get the pricing. It looks good though.

Yahmez

http://www.ncspecialties.com/computers/customcomputers/nespi/softshutdown/v2/

That's the one I was referring to.

mitu

@riverstorm The instructions are on the github design page, which I linked in the 1st post. It seems to run similar to all the other projects that use push buttons to trigger GPIO in/out, it has a script to map the actions to OS commands - shutdown/reset/fan control.

Riverstorm

@mitu said in Retroflag NESPi Case - Soft Power & Reset Hack:

@riverstorm The instructions are on the github design page, which I linked in the 1st post. It seems to run similar to all the other projects that use push buttons to trigger GPIO in/out, it has a script to map the actions to OS commands - shutdown/reset/fan control.

@mito & @yahmez

Ok, I did register an account and the price difference between the two boards is like night and day.

The link you provided shows "3 of Retroflag NESPi Front Panel Control Board TH V1.0 copy" for $8.40 US. I think it's one board but shows three units for purchase or six units if purchasing 2. It's assembled it looks like and free shipping.

The link Yahmez provided is $45.00 US unassembled and $70.00 US assembled. Shipping included also.

Do both units do the same thing? Not the same way but the same task? Like powering down and resetting without pulling the unit from the outlet. You pointed out fan control but also it controls the LED?

It's fairly large price difference and it costs almost double of the case itself.

cyperghost

@riverstorm Sorry to spend 70$ (45$ unsoldered!) is really a joke. With this money I would rather buy a Mausberry or a PowerBlock (provided here in the forum) and just use the switches as inputs.

I think 45$ soldered and tested is a fair deal but not 70$. But this is only my opinion.

My project-setup "Yet annother NESPi case" was round about 35$

25$ MausberrySwitch + VAT
10$ for time and small parts....

Of course.... it costs some time to build this!
All in all it took 8h-10h to rebuild the PCB, to put the MB into the case and to do the wiring. But this thing is really unique and you learn a lot.

Thanks again to @Yahmez ...

Yahmez

$70 for a simple assembled PCB is too rich for my blood as well, but it's an option for some I suppose. The hack as I originally outlined is by far the cheapest solution for fully functional power and reset buttons, short of freeforming all the Pololu boards components. I paid $6 or $7 and spent an hour on a recent build.

cyperghost

@yahmez Yes I'm thankfull for your solution. If I got time maybe I will try this on annother NesPI case. I think there is even a cheaper solution via Mosfet that were linked here in the forum.

Maybe if you are a "talented" coder you can use a small Atmel and write some code. The Attiny85 costs just 1$ and offers 6 (?) GPIOs so enough for some switches. For the power you need just a mosfets or a simple p-transistor ;)

I tested some of these DIGISPARKs here ;) Makes fun and the whole board costs just 2-3$ ;)

It's a real pity that some people make money out of everything.

Riverstorm

@cyperghost & @Yahmez - It seemed high in comparison so that's good to know. I'm just looking at all the options. How about that $8.40 board? Is it doing the same essentially or is Yahmez's hack a better way to go?

It seems that all the hacks connect to the GPIO pins and run a script. There isn't a ton of information on the link but honestly I don't know what they are doing different. $8.40 for a fully assembled board doesn't seem like a bad way to go.

https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/V2yqoyFn

I also see kits/parts for your hack on eBay going for like $10 US which seems reasonable too. It's nice to have several different options.

Riverstorm

That OSH Park seems interesting.

This is a community printed circuit board (PCB) order. We take designs from lots of people, put them all together on a panel and then order the panel from a fab. Since we're all splitting the panel setup cost, this lets us make circuit boards inexpensively.

I still couldn't quite tell if get 3 boards or a single board is considered 3 units. On their order page it shows this also. If you get 3 for $8 and they work without soldering that's pretty darn cheap.

"3 boards at $8.40 per batch of three."

It looks like it replaces the switch board underneath and then uses DuPont connectors directly to the GPIO pins.

cyperghost

@Riverstorm This is a simple switch that was introduced

. It seems a nice option .... but it does not cut the "real" power. The Pi will be in a kind of "standby" mode - means the red LED is always on. But I think this is also an option to consider. But you have to buy the electric parts as well... no worries these costs just a few cents but the switches have to be desoldered from the original PCB.
Btw: the github from mafe72 is here

Maybe master @Yahmez can tell you more.

~~btw: Does anybody knows where to buy the original switches for the NESPi case? In my build I removed them and used momentary push buttons!~~ YES! Take a look at mouser ;)