Auto shutdown on Low Voltage
Auto shutdown on Low Voltage
Checked the BIOS and couldnt find anything there is there a hardware configuration or option which will power down the pc before it crashes?
-
TimeScience
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2009 6:47 am
Re: Auto shutdown on Low Voltage
You could rig one yourself if you wanted a fun diy project. It would be pretty easy to add a small backup battery and a voltage sensor. Phidgets makes pretty low cost and very easy to use/program voltage sensors. Their drivers work in almost any language. You'd just have it load on startup and then run a batch script to shutdown or hibernate the computer if the voltage got low. Keep in mind that unless you have the AutoOn fitpc you'll have to turn it back on manually.
Voltage Sensor: http://www.phidgets.com/products.php?product_id=1123
Input board: http://www.phidgets.com/products.php?product_id=1018
12v batteries: http://www.batteryspace.com/capacity200 ... packs.aspx (A 1Ah battery will give you up to an hour of backup time).
- Note that 8 AA batteries together makes 12 volts so you could also just buy a plastic battery pack holder from radio shack or somewhere and wire one yourself. Radio Shack has power tips that will probably fit the pc
Voltage Sensor: http://www.phidgets.com/products.php?product_id=1123
Input board: http://www.phidgets.com/products.php?product_id=1018
12v batteries: http://www.batteryspace.com/capacity200 ... packs.aspx (A 1Ah battery will give you up to an hour of backup time).
- Note that 8 AA batteries together makes 12 volts so you could also just buy a plastic battery pack holder from radio shack or somewhere and wire one yourself. Radio Shack has power tips that will probably fit the pc
Re: Auto shutdown on Low Voltage
Sorry for the stale reply, but I had a question related to this.
What happens if the voltage drops below 8V? Since the internal DC-DC supply accepts 8-15V, obviously >15V would cause damage, but what would happen if it were to drop?
My guess is it would cause system instability (reboots, etc), but I am not an electrician.
What happens if the voltage drops below 8V? Since the internal DC-DC supply accepts 8-15V, obviously >15V would cause damage, but what would happen if it were to drop?
My guess is it would cause system instability (reboots, etc), but I am not an electrician.
-
TimeScience
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2009 6:47 am
Re: Auto shutdown on Low Voltage
I'd guess it would turn off. I'd hope it would anyway. If you have an auto-on fitpc and the power hovered around 8v you'd probably have bad things start happening. On the other hand, if you are using a 12v battery and it drops to 8v you probably have bigger problems than the pc and you'll have a very dead battery on your hands pretty fast. Best to add a cheap charge controller or something similar that will cut power to the system if the battery gets below 10.5v or so, if that is an option.