Start Raspberry PI 3 at a specific time

Question

Hello,

Am wanting to start raspberry pi 3 at a specified time e.g 08:00. Have looked at - SHIM RTC Realtime Clock https://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-68907?_ga=1.215302225.710711329.1484098904 but not sure if it can start PI. Have also looked at Witty Pi Realtime clock at $41.95 (looking for a cheaper option). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Michael

mcb1 · Answer

Jon Watkins produced these. Sleepy Pi - Spell Foundry As i understand they were designed for just the type of thing you're looking for. Mark

shabaz · Answer

It is a nice, competent product for exactly this task. Jon sent one to me at the time, and it was clear he'd put a lot of effort into it.

Very short blog post on the early version of it here:

Sleepy Pi Overview

msimon · Answer

SHIM RTC Realtime Clock will not do the job you want. SHIM RTC Realtime Clock (I miswrote it) Witty Pi Realtime will do but as you said it is expensive. Why do you want this? I mean RasPi consumes little power so you can turn off the peripheral devices and activate them when you need via software.

There are some methods you can apply:

If you have an uninterruptible power you can put Raspi in halt mode and activate it by lowering pin 5 (RPI safe mode - eLinux.org ). You can use an MCU with RTC and lower that pin whenever you want to activate it. You also need a software on Raspi to halt it.

If you turn off Raspi remotely, you can use external power timer. However, I recommend using a microcontroller and relay so that you can communicate between MCU and Raspi. Therefore, you won't cut-off electricity without shut downing the Raspi.

Mehmet

COMPACT · Answer

See if you can use WOL (Wake On LAN) If not then try using and external power timer.

mcb1 · Answer

It looks like overkill to me to have a computer to start another computer

yes and no.

There are many things the RPi just can't do, or doesn't do very well, and this also provides that functionality.

Many systems have a watchdog and this is simply a more capable watchdog.

Sadly I think it's pricing is making it less attractive, however it is a limited run, limited market and therefore quite justifiable.

If it was in the $10 range then it could become more mainstream.

Mark

COMPACT · Answer

The PI's two main chips the BMC2835 and LAN9512 both support low power modes and the LAN9512 supports WOL and Magic Packet.

Therefore it should be possible to put both in a suitable power/sleep mode and wake up from a time triggered WOL/Magic Packet.