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A New Chapter for MagicMirror: The Community Takes the Lead
Read the statement by Michael Teeuw here.

Want to turn off my monitor

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Troubleshooting
monitorpower-saving
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  • D Offline
    doubleT Module Developer
    last edited by doubleT Jan 17, 2018, 6:57 AM Jan 17, 2018, 6:56 AM

    Don’t forget that the monitor will still be on, it’s just in standby, still consuming power. The Pi can’t switch the power of the monitor itself off.

    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
    • R Offline
      robmcc83
      last edited by Jan 17, 2018, 9:37 AM

      Yeah cheers I’m aware of that, it’s just monitor uses 37w whilst on and 2w in standby so I really don’t mind it being in standby at night.
      I think I’m going to look into mmm-remote as trying the other method using vgenmcd power makes my screensaver come back to life even though it’s Been disabled for the last 8 months.
      Is there any tutorials anywhere in setting up mmm-schedule and mmm-remote.
      Cheers all

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • R Offline
        robmcc83
        last edited by Jan 20, 2018, 11:27 AM

        Ok so after trying various ways to get my monitor to turn off I have still been unsuccessful.
        What I am trying now is with a webcam.
        I found in my box of computer bits a Microsoft lifecam hd 3000.
        After a little Google research I can confirm the webcam works with the pi using motion software.
        I also found a site explaining how I can add a start and and event on detection so I set vgencmd display_power 1 as start event and vgencmd display_power 0 as end event but still no luck it just keeps display on but if I enter the command in terminal my display turns on/off as it should.
        Am I going about this in the most awkward way or is there a simple way to get the monitor to sleep using the usb webcam.
        Thanks in advance

        M 1 Reply Last reply Jan 20, 2018, 2:26 PM Reply Quote 0
        • M Offline
          Mykle1 Project Sponsor Module Developer @robmcc83
          last edited by Mykle1 Jan 20, 2018, 2:29 PM Jan 20, 2018, 2:26 PM

          @robmcc83

          You could try this for ON

          if (something) {
          exec("/opt/vc/bin/tvservice -o", null); }

          And this for OFF

          { exec("/opt/vc/bin/tvservice --preferred && sudo chvt 6 && sudo chvt 7", null); }

          Or

          { exec('xset dpms force on', null); }
          { exec('xset dpms force off', null); }

          Create a working config
          How to add modules

          M 1 Reply Last reply Jan 21, 2018, 1:03 AM Reply Quote 2
          • C Offline
            cruunnerr
            last edited by cruunnerr Jan 20, 2018, 9:12 PM Jan 20, 2018, 2:53 PM

            did u try:

            sudo tvservice -o to turn off your Monitor
            sudo tvservice -p to turn on your monitor
            ?

            If this isn’t working i think your Monitor or your HDMI Cable are not supporting CEC.

            If this works u have several options.
            For example u can create two *.sh files and make them executable. Put these scripts into cronjob file for time based turning on or off the monitor.
            Or u can use a PIR or a simple Button to do that. Let me give you a small software tutorial for this example:

            Tutorial beginning:

            cd
            nano monitor_on.sh (creates the file)

            write this in this file:

            sudo tvservice -p
            

            save with “ctrl+x” and say “y” to save the file.

            nano monitor_off.sh

            write this in this file:

            sudo tvservice -o
            

            save with “ctrl+x” and say “y” to save the file.

            chmod +x monitor_on.sh (to make it executable)
            chmod +x monitor_off.sh

            So now you have two options. Write a python script to automatically start the shell scripts by using a GPIO or just put the Shell scripts into a cronjob.

            Here is the first way:

            nano pir.py (creates a script which executes the *.sh files via PIR or Button)

            write this into the file:

            #!/usr/bin/env python
            
            import sys
            import time
            import RPi.GPIO as io
            import subprocess
            
            io.setmode(io.BCM)
            SHUTOFF_DELAY = 119 # in seconds, how long the monitor will be on until next button press or PIR detection
            PIR_PIN = 25       # 22 on the board (this needn't to be a PIR. Can be a button also)
            LED_PIN = 16      # optional
            
            def main():
                io.setup(PIR_PIN, io.IN)
                io.setup(LED_PIN, io.OUT)
                turned_off = False
                last_motion_time = time.time()
            
                while True:
                    if io.input(PIR_PIN):
                        last_motion_time = time.time()
                        io.output(LED_PIN, io.LOW)
                        print ".",
                        sys.stdout.flush()
                        if turned_off:
                            turned_off = False
                            turn_on()
                    else:
                        if not turned_off and time.time() > (last_motion_time + 
                                                             SHUTOFF_DELAY):
                            turned_off = True
                            turn_off()
                        if not turned_off and time.time() > (last_motion_time + 1):
                            io.output(LED_PIN, io.HIGH)
                    time.sleep(.1)
            
            def turn_on():
            	subprocess.call("sh /home/pi/monitor_on.sh", shell=True)
            
            def turn_off():
            	subprocess.call("sh /home/pi/monitor_off.sh", shell=True)
            
            if __name__ == '__main__':
                try:
                    main()
                except KeyboardInterrupt:
                    io.cleanup()
            
            

            save with “ctrl+x” and say “y” to save the file.

            chmod +x pir.py

            You can check if your button works by simply typing python pir.py. Every time u move through the PIR or press the button it will show you some …
            End the test with “ctrl+c”

            now we editing the rc.local to start the script after booting the Pi:

            sudo nano /etc/rc.local

            write this in the file (above the “exit 0”):

            python /home/pi/pir.py &

            save with “ctrl+x” and say “y” to save the file.

            after all it should look like this:

            #!/bin/sh -e
            #
            # rc.local
            #
            # This script is executed at the end of each multiuser runlevel.
            # Make sure that the script will "exit 0" on success or any other
            # value on error.
            #
            # In order to enable or disable this script just change the execution
            # bits.
            #
            # By default this script does nothing.
            
            # Print the IP address
            _IP=$(hostname -I) || true
            if [ "$_IP" ]; then
              printf "My IP address is %s\n" "$_IP"
            fi
            
            python /home/pi/pir.py
            
            exit 0
            

            Here comes the second way:

            Next steps we will do as root to be sure it works. Maybe not the best way, but i am just a simple guy, who is still learning the stuff. ^^
            Lets say we want to turn on the monitor every day at 6am and turn off at 8pm:

            sudo nano /etc/crontab (to open the crontab)

            write this into the file:
            0 6 * * * /home/pi/monitor_on.sh
            0 20 * * * /home/pi/monitor_off.sh

            this should look like this:

            # /etc/crontab: system-wide crontab
            # Unlike any other crontab you don't have to run the `crontab'
            # command to install the new version when you edit this file
            # and files in /etc/cron.d. These files also have username fields,
            # that none of the other crontabs do.
            
            SHELL=/bin/sh
            PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin
            
            # m h dom mon dow user  command
            17 *    * * *   root    cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.hourly
            25 6    * * *   root    test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.daily )
            47 6    * * 7   root    test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.weekly )
            52 6    1 * *   root    test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.monthly )
            0 6     * * *   root      /home/pi/monitor_on.sh
            0 20    * * *   root      /home/pi/monitor_off.sh
            #
            

            I wrote this just out of my head so i hope i didn’t forget anything.

            Tutorial ending!

            That is just an example of using a GPIO to turn off and on your monitor via HDMI-CEC.
            How i said, if your monitor or cable doesn’t support this u need to choose another way (turn a relays on and off to the power supply of the monitor e.g.)

            edit:

            sorry @mykle1, did not notice that you already answered, because I already started to write while you answered :D

            M J 2 Replies Last reply Jan 20, 2018, 3:13 PM Reply Quote 1
            • M Offline
              Mykle1 Project Sponsor Module Developer @cruunnerr
              last edited by Jan 20, 2018, 3:13 PM

              @cruunnerr

              No worries, mate. I hope to learn something from your answer. (which is totally amazing to me)

              Peace!

              Create a working config
              How to add modules

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • R Offline
                robmcc83
                last edited by Jan 20, 2018, 5:11 PM

                Thanks this is very useful information that I didn’t know before.
                I have issued the sudo tvservice -o command and it did indeed shut down my monitor.
                But what I am trying at the moment is to have it shutdown and wakeup the monitor with a usb webcam now.
                That’s what I’m struggling with.
                Cheers

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • R Offline
                  robmcc83
                  last edited by Jan 20, 2018, 5:19 PM

                  One interesting thing I like about the second way is it seems easy :) lol.

                  Would it be possible to say have the screen come on 6-9am in the morning Monday to Friday then come on again 4-10pm as everyone out at work or school during the day. Than say set it so that its on 8am till 10pm on a saturday and sunday when everyone is usually about.

                  Thanks

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • C Offline
                    cruunnerr
                    last edited by cruunnerr Jan 20, 2018, 8:09 PM Jan 20, 2018, 5:52 PM

                    Sure, this is possible. For the beginning it seems easy, because u needn’t any optional hardware :)

                    For your understanding how cronjobs works u should note the following:

                    * * * * * user executive_command
                    ┬ ┬ ┬ ┬ ┬
                    │ │ │ │ │
                    │ │ │ │ └──── Weekday (0-7, Sunday is 0 or 7)
                    │ │ │ └────── Month (1-12)
                    │ │ └──────── Day (1-31)
                    │ └────────── Hour (0-23)
                    └──────────── Minute (0-59)
                    

                    So for your special wish ^^it should look like this:

                    # /etc/crontab: system-wide crontab
                    # Unlike any other crontab you don't have to run the `crontab'
                    # command to install the new version when you edit this file
                    # and files in /etc/cron.d. These files also have username fields,
                    # that none of the other crontabs do.
                    
                    SHELL=/bin/sh
                    PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin
                    
                    # m h dom mon dow user  command
                    17 *    * * *   root    cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.hourly
                    25 6    * * *   root    test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.daily )
                    47 6    * * 7   root    test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.weekly )
                    52 6    1 * *   root    test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.monthly )
                    0 6,16  * * 1,2,3,4,5   root  /home/pi/monitor_on.sh
                    0 9,22  * * 1,2,3,4,5   root  /home/pi/monitor_off.sh
                    0 8     * * 6,7   root  /home/pi/monitor_on.sh
                    0 22    * * 6,7   root  /home/pi/monitor_off.sh
                    #
                    

                    Or if you don’t want to create the *.sh files u can also just type the directly command.
                    Like this:

                    0 6,16  * * 1,2,3,4,5   root  /usr/bin/tvservice -p
                    0 9,22  * * 1,2,3,4,5   root  /usr/bin/tvservice -o
                    0 8     * * 6,7   root  /usr/bin/tvservice -p
                    0 22    * * 6,7   root  /usr/bin/tvservice -o
                    

                    Last thing is the extremely easiest way because u just need to modify the crontab. there is nothing else needed at all.
                    Just put these commands in your crontab and u are done ^^

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • R Offline
                      robmcc83
                      last edited by Jan 20, 2018, 6:25 PM

                      That’s brill your a legend, got a few hours to myself tomorrow so armed with all this information and sure be giving this a try see what the outcome is.
                      Thank you so much :)

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