Joy-it StromPi 3 User manual

StromPi 3
3

StromPi 3
Published: 08.08.2019 Copyright by Joy-IT 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Overview
3. Current sources
4. Functions of the StromPi 3
4.1 Prioritization of input
4.2 Time-controlled applications
4.2.1 Real time clock
4.2.2 Automatic configuration of time
4.2.3 ShutDown timer
4.2.4 Alarm mode
4.2.5 PowerOff alarm
4.2.6 WakeUp alarm
4.2.7 Minute Wakeup Alarm
4.2.8 Weekend Wakeup Alarm
4.2.9 Interval function
5. Additional functions
5.1 Serialless mode
5.2 Example of usage with real-time clock
5.3 PowerOn button
5.4 PowerOff mode
5.5 Powersave mode
6Configuration of StromPi 3
6.1 Activation of serial communication
6.2 Execution of the GUI script
6.3 VNC for remote desktop connection
6.4 SSH-Connection with PuTTy and Xming
6.5 SSH-Connection with MobaXterm
7. StromPi 3 scripts
7.1 Serial scripts
7.2 Serialless scripts
7.3 Raspberry Pi Pin-Layout
7.4 Automatic execution of scripts
8. Modifications
9. Opening of the serial console of the Strompi 3
10. console commands
11. Support
12.EU-Declaration of conformity

StromPi 3
Published: 08.08.2019 Copyright by Joy-IT 3
Dear costumer,
Thank you for buying our product. The structure and funcons of the StromPi3 are explained in the
following chapters. We show you which sengs must be adjusted that the Raspberry Pi will work with
the StromPi perfectly.
If you get any dicules with the usage with the device, do not hesitate to conact us.
The StromPi3 enables the Raspberry Pi® and other single-board computer new areas of applicaon.
Addionally ,the StromPi 3 has next to the same voltage inputs (mUSB, WideRange 6-61V) as the
StromPi2 an oponal plug-in unit for baeries. This expands the Raspberry with a LiFePO4 baery which
is a rechargeable emergency power source. Unexpected power failures are now in the past.
The priorized inputs can easily be changed which means the StromPi 3 is able to t in your project
perfectly. With the voltage range from 6V to 61V and a current with up to 3A, there is enough power for
bigger projects.
In addion the StromPi 3 has an own congurable autonomously acng microsystem unit which can be
used for a programmable start-stop behaviour:
Let your system boot and shutdown at dictated mes to do meassurements or to switch devices on and
o (ideal for digital signals or for controlling machines). The included real me clock can be used to
synchronize the me with the Raspberry Pi without internet access. There is also an expansion to control
the serial interface (state baery charge, voltage of the in-/ outputs, control and conguraon) this
makes the StromPi3 to an absolute allrounder.
The StromPi 3 suits every applicaon area you choose perfectly.
1. INTRODUCTION
This Manual is made for the firmware version 1.71. We recommend upgrading the
firmware of the StromPi regularly. You can download the newest version here.
There is also a manual to flash the firmware in the download register.

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The StromPi 3 can heat up if it is under heavy load. Do not touch the board when it
is in operation you could burn yourself. Pay attention that the device has a good
air flow to prevent any damage from overheating.
2. OVERVIEW
high-power
USB output
data / voltage output
microUSB
voltage input
connceon LiFePO4 baery
GPIO port
Switch capacitor-buering
Wide-Range
voltage input

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The StromPi 3 can get its power from three different current sources. In case of a power
failure it switches steplessly to the current source which is configurated as the second and
after that to the third.
MICRO USB
The StromPi 3 can obviously, as usual, be powered via the microUSB port.
WIDE-RANGE
The Wide mode can be used with a current source from 6V - 61V. Connect the marked port
to an arbitrary current source, as power supply or a vehicle electrical system.
Attention! The current source must be switched on within the range of 6 - 61 V. Please pay
attention to the polarity to avoid damaging the Raspberry Pi or StromPi3.
3. CURRENT SOURCES

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BATTERY-UNIT
The StromPi 3 can be expanded with an optional 1000mAh LiFe04 battery, which is a
rechargeable emergency power source. You only have to plug in the separate available
battery unit, which then can be configurated as the second or third current source.
Because of the implemented GPIO-bar, you do not have any restrictions with the usage of
the battery unit.
The StromPi 3 has a huge amount of configuration possibilities. You can configurate this
device after your desires like for example the prioritization of input, optional shutting
down as well as the WakeUp and PowerOff mode. More functions can be setup with our
graphical user interface script.
To use all of the functions that the StromPi provides you have to use our Phython scripts.
These are listed and explained in chapter 7 “StromPi 3 scripts“.
4. FUNCTIONS OF THE STROMPI 3

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1: Choose StromPi mode.
2: Activate or deactivate the powerfail warning
3: Setup of the BatteryShutdown mode
4: Activate or deactivate the Serialless mode
5: Activate or deactivate the Power Save mode
6: Activate or deactivate the Poweroff mode
7: Setup of the Alarm mode
8: Setup of the Wakeup alarms
9: Setup of the PowerOff alarms
10: Setup of the Interval alarms
11: Setup of the real time clock
12: Activate or deactivate the Shutdown timers and setup the time (in seconds)
13: Activate or deactivate the PowerOn buttons and setup the time (in seconds)
4. FUNKTIONEN DES STROMPI 3
To use all the settings which are described in the following chapters
you have to use the serial conncetion. In chapter 6 is an explanation
how to configurate a serial interface for the Raspberry Pi.

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4. FUNCTIONS OF STROMPI 3
StromPi mode:
The StromPi mode determines the prioritization of the separate current sources.
Powerfail warning:
The PowerFail warning will show when the primary power source is failing.
Battery shutdown mode:
The battery shutdown mode determines with which remaining battery level of the RaspberryPi the
device will shut down.
Serialless mode:
The serialless mode allows a further usage of the serial ports by communication on a GPIO pin.
[modifictaion required! Look at chapter 8 “Modifications“]
Power save mode:
The power save mode will reduce the power consumption if Wide is set up as the secondary power
source. However, this is only recommended when the device is in operation with a low amperage
(<2,5A / for example an Raspberry Pi without periphery).
Real time clock settings:
In the RTC settings you can setup the time and the date of the real time clock manually or
automatically with comparing and synchronizing the time with the Raspberry Pi.
Shutdown timer:
If you have activated the shutdown mode and the StromPi detects a power failure at the primary
power source the StromPi3 will send a signal to the raspberry through the serial interface to start
the shutdown. After that the counter starts that will disconnect the powersupply to the raspberry.
PowerOn button:
With the PowerOnButton you can start the RaspberryPi if it is in the poweroff state through short -
circuiting the two reset pins. [modification needed! See chapter 8 “modifications“]
Interval timer:
The interval timer can be setup to shutdown or boot the system after a selected time.
Alarm mode:
The alarm mode refers to the WakeUp and PowerOff alarm. It selects if the alarm goes of daily,
weekly or only at a specific date.
WakeUp alarm:
The WakeUp alarms start the Raspberry Pi at a specific time.
PowerOff alarm:
The PowerOff alarms shut the Raspberry Pi down at a specific time.
Poweroff mode:
The Poweroff mode requires the activation of the RaspberryPi with the PowerOn button after a
shutdown through the Shutdown timer. Additionally, this mode prevents the detection of a
reversion of the primary power supply.

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The power source where the StromPi draws its power from can be set up as desired. In
addition, you can select a second and a third power source which will take over if the first
source fails.
In the default settings microUSB is the primary power source and Wide is the secondary.
In total there are six different modes possible. The primary power source is the main power
source. The secondary power source will take over when the primary source fails.
The corresponding mode can be setup with the configcscript in “choose StromPi V3
Powerpath Mode“.
MODE PRIMARY SECONDARY TERTIARY
Mode 1 microUSB Wide-Range -
Mode 2 Wide-Range microUSB -
Mode 3 microUSB Battery -
Mode 4 Wide-Range Battery -
Mode 5 (V1.6 or higher) microUSB Wide-Range Battery
Mode 6 (V1.6 or higher) Wide-Range microUSB Battery
4.1 PRIORITIZATION OF INPUT
Primary power source
failure
Prim. Source
acve Sec. Source
ready
Prim. Source
failed
Sec. Source
acve
Automac change of power sources
due to primary source failure

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4.2.1 REAL TIME CLOCK
The real time clock (RTC) of the StromPi 3 can be setup with the Configscript:
ADJUST TIME AND DATE MANUALLY
To adjust time and date manually click on Manual Setting. Now you can fill the fields in the
right. If you click on Update it will set your setting.
SYNCHRONIZING TIME AND DATE WITH RASPBERRY PI
To synchronize time and date with the Raspberry click on Sync with Raspberry Pi. With the
click on Update the time from the RTC of the StromPi will be compared to the time on the
Raspberry. The newer time will be overwritten with the current one. The default time of
the StromPi is the 01.May 2018 and the Raspberry Pi updates its time automatically if it is
connected to the internet.
4.2 TIME-CONTROLLED APPLICATIONS
The StromPi 3 has a additional real time clock.
If the power fails, the time-controlled applications are not endangered. Even time-
controlled shutdowns and boots are still possible!
Please note that you have to use atleast one power source connected (mUSB, Wide
or battery) - If all sources are seperated, the current time will not be saved.

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4.2.2 AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF TIME
In addition we provide a script which synchronizes the time after the boot of the
Raspberry. This script can be downloaded here in the download area in section „Scripts“.
Download the archive, unzip and copy the script to your Raspberry Pi.
In chapter 7.4 “ Automatic execution of scripts“ you can read how to add scripts to the
autostart that they perform automatically after the boot.

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4.2.3 SHUTDOWN-TIMER
The StromPi 3 has a Shutdown timer which cuts the power supply to the Raspberry Pi
automatically if the primary power source fails.
You can change the time that will pass before the StromPi cuts the power to the raspberry.
If you have set the shutdown timer to 600 (600 → 10 minutes) the system reacts like:
If the StromPi 3 detects a power failure on the main power supply it will start the timer.
After 10 minutes the StromPi cuts the power to the Raspberry Pi. Additionally, we offer you
a script which can detect a power failure through the serial console or with a GPIO pin and
begin the safe shutdown of the Raspberry Pi.
The Shutdown timer can be setup with the Configscript in point “Shutdown Timer“.
To activate the shutdown timer set “Choose Shutdown Mode“ to Enable and write down
the desired time in seconde in the field next to it.
At the end confirm with Update.

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4.2.4 ALARM-MODE
The StromPi 3 has the possibility to boot and shutdown the Raspberry time-controlled.
The combination of WakeUp and PowerOff alarm lets you configurate the start -stop-
behavoiur for the Raspberry Pi (for example every day at 10:45 AM is the boot and the
shutdown is at 1:00PM). This way your Raspberry is only running when the occuring duties
have to get processed in this time window.

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4.2.5 POWER-OFF-ALARM
The PowerOff alarm allows the Raspberry to shut down at the preset time every day.
Although, the Raspberry Pi can be only shutdown with this mode once a day.
To shut down the StromPi 3 time-controlled start the Configscript:
Switch the “Choose PowerOff alarm mode“ to Enable to activate the PowerOff alarm. The
time to shutdown the Raspberry can be put in the 2 boxes on the right next to it. The
„Choose Power-Off Minutes“ have to be set in minutes and the „Choose Power-Off Hours“
in hours.

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4.2.6 WAKE-UP-ALARM
The Wake-Up alarm allows you to start the Raspberry time-controlled. Additionally, you
have the opportunity to start it at a particular date or at a particular weekday.
To start the StromPi 3 time-controlled start the Configscript:
Switch the „Choose WakeUp-Alarm Mode“ to Enable to activate the WakeUp-alarm. The
time when the Raspberry Pi has to start can be filled in the boxes on the right next to it.
“Choose WakeUp-Alarm Minutes“ has to be set in minutes and “Choose WakeUp-Alarm
Hours“ in hours. The Raspberry Pi is only able to start once with this mode a day.
Depending what you have setup by „Choose Alarm Mode“ the Raspberry starts daily,
weekly or only to particular dates at the chosen time
Alarm mode1 starts your Raspberry every daily at the preset time.
Alarm mode2 starts your Raspberry at a particular date at the preset time.
Alarm mode3 starts your Raspberry at a particular weekday at the preset time.
Alarm mode4 activates the Minute Wakeup Alarm
The Alarm-Mode refers only to the WakeUp alarm, it does not have any influence on the
PowerOff alarm.
Attention! Your Raspberry Pi is only capable to start with the WakeUp-alarm, if it
got shutdown with the PowerOff alarm or manually with the serial command
„poweroff“.

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4.2.7 MINUTE WAKEUP ALARM
The Minute wakeup alarm allows you to set a timer that will start the raspberry after it got
shutdown through the Poweroff Alarm or the „poweroff“ command.
You have to activate the mode in the Configscript.
Click on „Choose Alarm Mode“ and select „4 = Minute Wakeup-Alarm“.
After that you have to choose the time (the timer is set to minutes).
4.2.8 WEEKEND WAKEUP ALARM
The Weekend Wakeup Alarm is used to Enable or Disable the Wakeup Alarm on the
Weekend.
If you set this Mode to „Disabled“ the Wakeup Alarm won‘t start the RaspberryPi at the
Weekend (Saturday and Sunday).
If you still want the RaspberryPi to start on the Weekend you have to set the Weekend
Wakeup Alarm to „Enabled“.

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4.2.9 INTERVAL FUNCTION
The interval function allows to define time intervals when the Raspberry shuts down and
starts with the StromPi 3.
This function can be activated and configurated with the configscript in point “interval
timer“.
Switch the “Choose Interval-Alarm Mode:“ to Enable to activate the interval function.
The “On-Time in minutes“ will determine how long the raspberry will be running.
Specify in “Interval On-Time in minutes“ the time how long the Raspberry Pi has to be
switched off in minutes.

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The Serialless mode allows to suppress any serial communication of the StromPi with which
you can use another HAT which uses the serial interface at the same time as the StromPi.
However, it inhibits the configuration of the StromPi 3. For that reason it is advisable to
configurate the StromPi bevor activating the Serialles mode.
Additionally, the Shutdown-Warning will not occure on the serial interface as before with
this mode it will occure on a free GPIO pin.
To activate the Serialles mode you have to set “Choose Serialles Mode“ to Enable.
Then you have to run the script “Start_Serailles.py“.
If this is done, the Serialles mode is activated and the serial communication is suppressed.
To terminate the Serialless mode , you have to run the script “Stop_Serialless.py“. This
script set the GPIO pin to low. If it is low for more than 5 seconds, the Serialless mode gets
deactivated.
5.1 SERIALLESS MODE
The used scripts need Python3.
For this mode a Serialless modification is necessary which is
described in chapter 8 “Modifications“.

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To show you one of the many possibilities of application we created a script
(RTCSerailles.py) which deactivtes the Serailles mode after starting the script until the real -
time clock is synchronized. After that the Serialles mode is activated again.
Here is the console output after a successfull running of the script:
5.2 EXAMPLE OF USAGE WITH REAL-TIME CLOCK
5.3 POWERON-BUTTON
The funcon of the PowerOn buon allows aer shut down of the StromPi with a “PowerO“-command
or with the PowerO-alarm without seperang the voltage source or without removing the BaeryHATs
to restart it.
For this funcon is a minor modicaon necessary. There has to be a cable bridge between two solder
pads. Aer this it is possible for the StromPi 3 to restart by shorng the Reset pins.
If the StromPi 3 is already modied for the Serialless mode or if the Serialless mode want to be used with
the PowerOn buon modicaon, you must perform another minor modicaon.
In chapter 8 “Modicaons“ is the explanaon for the modicaon.
IMPORTANT: The adjusted me in the conguraon script is the inializaon me of the
PowerOn buon. We recommend a minimum me of 30 seconds

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Published: 08.08.2019 Copyright by Joy-IT 20
The Powersave mode allows to reduce the power consumption of the StromPi 3 through a
voltage transformer which will be deactivated if the Wide port is not in use and is only
activated if a power failure is detected on the primary power source. This is only possible if
the amperage is low. (under 2.5 ampere)
If the voltage level is too high, it is possible that the powerpath switching could fail.
To Activate the PowerSave mode the shown jumper must be switched on OFF.
Additionally, in point “Choose Powersafe Mode in the Configscript must be on Enable.
5.5 POWERSAVE MODE
The Poweroff mode ensures that after a power failure your Raspberry remains off until you
press the PowerOn button ( look chapter 5.3).with this mode you lose the option to
recognize a power back. The Raspberry will always shutdown and the StromPi will seperate
the power supply after the preset time. To activate the PowerOff mode you must setup
Enable in the Configscript in point “Choose Poweroff Mode“.
5.4 POWEROFF MODE