Dawn Robotics Forum

I have a project that requires an Raspberry Pi to be run from a sealed Lead Acid battery that is recharged from a small Solar Panel.

The RPI periodically turns on a measuring device, via a relay and then monitors the results for a short period of time. The results are then transmitted via a GSM connection. This task only needs to happen four or five times a day, but it is 365 days a year application so the battery needs to be conserved.

I have read that the Arduino draws very little power compared to the RPI. The Co-OP can power the Raspberry Pi, but what I would like to know, is it possible to power it on and off programmatically and if so how?

Christian Rayner

Hi Christian,

Thanks for the question. Unfortunately this isn't something that's very easy to do with the Pi Co-op. You would probably need to use a relay to turn the power for the Pi on and off and you'd need to place this relay on the power line between the Pi Co-op and Pi, which could probably be done, but it wouldn't be very elegant.

Sorry I can't be more help. Project sounds cool.

Regards

Alan