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Post by Chuck Elliot on Jul 20, 2015 17:13:48 GMT -5
I offer these 2 pictures as a teaser for what will follow. I decided to get a small HTPC case, Silverstone, to contain all the parts in a more orderly manner. Below it you will see the current Intel based HTCP that runs this system. The RPI Volumio solution sounds much better than the Intel Motherboard system. Much more to come. Hardware and then software. First I need to finish a power supply board that allow better control of the RPI power up/down sequence.   |
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Jul 20, 2015 18:16:43 GMT -5
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Jul 20, 2015 19:36:38 GMT -5
Looks like a fun project!
Mark
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Post by cwmcobra on Jul 20, 2015 20:28:02 GMT -5
I like it. I haven't thought much about a music server, but this might change my mind!
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Jul 20, 2015 20:32:44 GMT -5
I know that for some all this may be over your heads, but for those into electronic read on..... The PI Supply that I am building now adds some interesting features to the system. Normally the RPI must be turned off by issuing a shutdown command to the system via software. Although shutdown, the RPI continues to draw power until the power connector is pulled or the wall-wart is unplugged. This is ambiguous and a PITA. The PI Supply is basically a relay board. +5V is supplied via the micro USB connector on the right. Initially there is no power on the left mini USB connector. One given power on the right side, the cap C1 charges through R1 but the relay is still not activated. A momentary press of the ON switch passes electrifies the relay transistors and because of the charge on C1 flips the relay. The RPI will now start to power up.
The charge on C1 will last 2 min. which is plenty of time for the RPI to power up. Not true power is held until relay flip. Once powered up the RPI will put out 3.3V on GPIO pin 8 of the RPI (P1-2 on PI Supply). It becomes the duty of this circuit to keep the charge up on C1. The LED in the circuit will also illuminate to indicate that the RPI is running. With the software provided by PI Supply, GPIO pin 7 of the RPI (P1-1 on PI Supply) becomes a shutdown switch. The RPI senses the button press and performs a system shutdown. GPIO pin 8 of the RPI (P1-2 on PI Supply) no longer supplies 3.3V and after 2 min. the relay will toggle off.  |
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hemster
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Post by hemster on Jul 20, 2015 21:41:50 GMT -5
Chuck, as an electronics engineer I enjoy these posts. So thanks for posting and I know there are workarounds to the power shutdown issue but I'm sure you'll find them. They each have their pros and cons as they're all tradeoffs (e.g. waiting 2 minutes for shutdown, etc.. etc..).
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Jul 20, 2015 22:40:50 GMT -5
Chuck, as an electronics engineer I enjoy these posts. So thanks for posting and I know there are workarounds to the power shutdown issue but I'm sure you'll find them. They each have their pros and cons as they're all tradeoffs (e.g. waiting 2 minutes for shutdown, etc.. etc..). The dying man can only shout "I'm still alive....I'm still alive....I'm still alive...". Once he has passed he can never say "I'm dead". The only thing you can do is assume after some time without a "I'm still alive" he's dead! A RC timeout is the only simplistic method in which this can be done. 2 mins may be too long, but the cap value can be changed for a shorter delay. I've looked at dozens of RPI circuits and this is the best I can find! |
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hemster
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Post by hemster on Jul 21, 2015 0:23:53 GMT -5
Chuck, as an electronics engineer I enjoy these posts. So thanks for posting and I know there are workarounds to the power shutdown issue but I'm sure you'll find them. They each have their pros and cons as they're all tradeoffs (e.g. waiting 2 minutes for shutdown, etc.. etc..). The dying man can only shout "I'm still alive....I'm still alive....I'm still alive...". Once he has passed he can never say "I'm dead". The only thing you can do is assume after some time without a "I'm still alive" he's dead! A RC timeout is the only simplistic method in which this can be done. 2 mins may be too long, but the cap value can be changed for a shorter delay. I've looked at dozens of RPI circuits and this is the best I can find! While it is not absolutely guaranteed, it is the simplest method. There may be some more accurate but much more complex solutions to the problem but that may not be worth the hassle. I'm all for "what works in practice" no matter how inelegant. So the RC timeout will work but know that the actual timeout duration will vary over the course of time. However 2 minutes is long enough where it won't matter in practice.  |
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Post by sahmen on Jul 21, 2015 0:34:34 GMT -5
I know that for some all this may be over your heads,..  lol! Pay no attention to me, Chuck. All this electronic wizardry is making me feel a little envious is all... I wish I could also DIY my own Music server, instead of buying a mac mini whenever I need an htpc. In the meantime, though, consider me completely and properly dazzled |
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Post by linvincible on Jul 21, 2015 2:31:48 GMT -5
Hi Chuck, did you check this: www.msldigital.com/pages/more-informationI use it on my Pi and it's perfect. Single button for an and off, IR available as well (can be two different commands for on and off or just one) Plus someone clever enough could make use of the IR capabilities of the board and linux to pass basic commands to the software like play/pause, next etc... I just haven't been able to do that ;o) |
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Post by bluemeanies on Jul 21, 2015 6:36:24 GMT -5
I know that for some all this may be over your heads,.. lol! Pay no attention to me, Chuck. All this electronic wizardry is making me feel a little envious is all... I wish I could also DIY my own Music server, instead of buying a mac mini whenever I need an htpc. In the meantime, though, consider me completely and properly dazzled :) :) :) Sahmen...have you ever consider TIDAL! It could be your MUSIC SERVER that eliminates storage issues, has great streaming ability and 25,000,000 tunes to enjoy that encompasses all genres. IPad, iPad mini, Apple TV....a lot less than half the price of building a NEW music server without the hassle. Apple iPad mini NEW $219 USED under $200 Apple TV $69.00 If you go to TIDAL's web site the fee is $19.00 a month. That's the cost of one cd! If you listen to a lot of music you get high value in return. |
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Post by ÈlTwo on Jul 21, 2015 6:42:59 GMT -5
That board seems like an elegant solution, since, obviously, without at least a tiny draw you can't turn the unit back on with a remote. There is a short thread at the volumio.org forum about a previous version of this board: thread |
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Post by sahmen on Jul 21, 2015 18:53:24 GMT -5
Sahmen...have you ever consider TIDAL! It could be your MUSIC SERVER that eliminates storage issues, has great streaming ability and 25,000,000 tunes to enjoy that encompasses all genres. IPad, iPad mini, Apple TV....a lot less than half the price of building a NEW music server without the hassle. Apple iPad mini NEW $219 USED under $200 Apple TV $69.00 If you go to TIDAL's web site the fee is $19.00 a month. That's the cost of one cd! If you listen to a lot of music you get high value in return. bluemeanies: Tidal has been on my radar for some months now, and certainly offers an attractive package that I might consider jumping on soon. Why the delay? I do not want to kill off a pet project I have been planning for about three years now, and have been putting off from intimidation and procrastination... Ironically, it involves building my own server for both my Blu ray/DVD ripped movies and cd-ripped music using already acquired apple components (the paraphernalia you have listed, plus three mac minis) and a synology NAS I also have... I already use some of those items in partially set up configurations (mainly mac mini to mac mini via Ipad and asus router), but I need to consolidate all the ripped files in the synology NAS, and get the entire system fired up. However, I have to confess that I have been very lazy about it. Hopefully, I can get it done this Summer, and then afterwards, I can consider adding the Tidal subscription... I am anxious to finish the project, and I'm afraid that getting the Tidal before finishing it would only make me more lazy about it (Getting Netflix and Hulu has made me awfully lazy about ripping my blu ray movies for the NAS, for example). Unfortunately, Tidal cannot make up for the movies I have in my personal collection, nor even for all the cd-music I own in my collection (I have checked, and Tidal does not seem to have some of the cd albums I own in their rather substantial collection of titles). Besides, I consider building the server as a sort of "initiation ritual" I need to go through successfully as a music and movie enthusiast. I hope you understand |
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