Popcorn's GBZ

[Popcorn]

Which version of the shutdown did you use? Your original design or the mosfet alternate design?

I'm using my version. I'll try the newer alternative design once I hear word it's been proven to be working. You should still be able to use the same monitor software in both though.

[chiz]

@Popcorn

Glad to hear. Just want to clarify though if the added circuitry of the graceful shutdown resolved the PB1000C issue of triggering the low batt status too early?

Sorry, been away from here as work has dumped 3 simultaneous projects on me at once so I haven't been around. The Battery Monitor reads the Low LED status and if it sees any bounces, it displays the low battery warning message (since it's appropriate to know that the battery is getting low). When it sees a solid condition until a set timeout, then it knows the battery is actually low and only then, it displays the shutdown warning and does the graceful shutdown. I think the timeout was set for 10 or 15 seconds but you can adjust this. That means that the LED must be solidly on for that entire duration to trigger the shutdown.

I will still be releasing a newer version of the monitor that is cleaned up and uses a config file so you can adjust the parameters to your liking. Hope that helps!

@Popcorn
Thanks for the reply.

If I understood you correctly, the code detects the low voltage as being reported by PB1000C LBO pin whether it's blinking or steady and then triggers a timer (which is configurable) and shuts down the system. So I guess as a workaround to the PB triggering the low batt status too early, we can adjust the timer to something that is more or less close to the actual times the battery would have reached 3.3v or less.

Wondering if you have measured the actual voltage of the battery when the shutdown is initiated if it's really 3.2v or less? I was hoping that the added circuitry would have resolved the early triggering as Adafruit support recommended adding caps and resistors to trick the PB to start off with a high current load. Still, your graceful shutdown code is a great workaround until Adafruit fixes this flaw with the PB1000C.

Note: You might want to take a look at a separate discussion I started on the issue with the PB1000C triggering low batt status too soon.

[alien0matic]

@Popcorn
Thanks for the reply.

If I understood you correctly, the code detects the low voltage as being reported by PB1000C LBO pin whether it's blinking or steady and then triggers a timer (which is configurable) and shuts down the system.

No, it is connected to the red LED, not the LBO pin. It detects if the LED is blinking or solid.
The LBO pin is pulled high to the battery and is being pulled to 0V when the voltage of the battery is low.

[chiz]

I realized I posted my graceful shutdown question to Popcorn's GBZ thread. So as not to derail the topic, I've posted another question in the graceful shutdown thread. Sorry Popcorn

[otaola.franc]

hi popcorn!
looooooove your build man!
for me it one of the greatest.... i love the 10k mha and the L R buttons fron chiz....
my question is do you think it would be possible to place a better speaker with the larger battery? like the one here,
[spoiler="better speaker"]http://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=242[/spoiler]
i saw that they needed to trim a little bit of the battery compartment, but you are the one that has one with the 10k battery and from the photos i dont think it will fit but may yes? i dont know...

[Evilz]

Hi,

Very nice build !

One question : how do you switch from composite to hdmi display ??