emonPi - backlight on all the time

Received my Kickstarter emonPi and it works well.

But the display backlight stays on all the time, well beyond the 5-minute timeout.  Is this a hardware or software fault?

My test procedure:

sudo /etc/init.d/emonPiLCD stop

displays LCD STOPPED as expected

ps -fe|grep LCD

confirms daemon is no longer running

cd /home/pi/emonpi/lcd
sudo ./lcd_test.py

displays the 123 test message and the messages about backlight off/on .... but the backlight never goes off.

 

Steve

Thumperup's picture

Re: emonPi - backlight on all the time

Mine stays on if I leave it at the CT power screen (showing power flow) probably keeping the screen active. But I switch it to the network address and light goes out.

glyn.hudson's picture

Re: emonPi - backlight on all the time

Hi Steve,

Could you confirm if you are experiencing the same as Thumper up? Does the backlight switch off on other screens? Thanks for reporting bug, I'll investigate 

Steve's picture

Re: emonPi - backlight on all the time

Glyn,

Negative.  The only time the backlight goes off is when the power is off!

Just tried leaving it on the WiFi screen for 5+ minutes and the backlight is still constant.  I wasn't expecting it to go out because lcd_test.py did not make it go out.

Steve

glyn.hudson's picture

Re: emonPi - backlight on all the time

Oh dear, it sounds like you have a faulty backlight unit. We're happy to send you a replacement backlight unit. Please drop us an email to support@openenergymonitor.zendesk.com with your shipping address. 

Steve's picture

Re: emonPi - backlight on all the time

Glyn,

Email sent.  This is good support.

Steve's picture

Re: emonPi - backlight on all the time

Replacement display is good.  My emonPi is in my kitchen, next to the consumer unit, so seeing the backlight on all the time was a daily annoyance.

The faulty display has clear signs of rework on the I2C daughter board.  I realise these are bought-in units, made for almost no money on a far-away production line.  Either the solder did not flow properly or they replaced the I2C chip; most chip pins look like hand soldering and the iron touched the plastic side of the contrast pot which is close to the chip.

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