G2 not powering up correctly…

[MW0XDT]

Hi Guys,

Not sure what has happened this morning with my ‘no screen’ G2. Normally when turning on the 13.8v power supply feed to the G2, I hear a little click or two and there is a red glow from a power LED visible through the cooling fan inlet on top of the case. Then obviously power up using the button on the front and the G2 springs into life with a couple of extra green LED’s visible through the top of the case.

This morning, I flicked on the power supply, pressed the power button on the front of the G2, and everything appeared normal, although power ring LED on the front turned red immediately (maybe a little too fast).

When trying to connect to Thetis the PC questioned whether the hardware was connected, so there’s no network connection (connected direct to PC). It was at this point I noticed the green LED’s were lit inside the case but no red LED glowing.

Clearly something has failed with the ‘missing’ red glow when the 13.8v is applied.

The G2 does not power down with a short push of the power button as normal.

The G2 is just sending a multicoloured blank screen out on the HDMI, rather than the normal Pi desktop.

I wonder if any of you owners out there could just check to see where that ‘red LED’ is located to give me a clue as to what is not powering up? Is it on the Raspberry Pi board itself?…it used to glow from that area.

Any help gratefully received!

Cheers Rich MW0XDT

[MW0XDT]

Update:

I have powered down removed the top cover, pulled the SD card from the board and made a coffee! Re inserted SD card, and applied 13.8v, no lights, however pressed power button and got instant green lights…and then after a few seconds a slightly ugly relay click and two red LED’s lit in the right area, one solid, one flashing.

I connected the network cable and sure enough, the connection is there and all looks good…and it powers down correctly from the front button or from the Pi desktop which I can view on my PC.

However I’m really not sure about the way it’s powering up…I’m sure the relays are sounding different and maybe the sequence has changed.

I’ll post a video here shortly. I’d be very grateful if any of you guys could just compare with your start up and shut down sequence. I don’t want to damage anything if it’s not functioning correctly.

I’d also like to make a back up of the SD card using the raspberry pi…one of you guys posted instruction on how to do this, which typically I can’t find! If somebody could confirm the utility I need to use, I’ll get that done.

Many thanks again in advance!

Rich

[w-u-2-o]

No need for a Pi to clone an SD card. You can use your normal Windows or Linux PC to do this. All you need is a cheap USB SD card reader. I bought a "UGREEN" reader for $8 on Amazon and it works great.

This website has excellent directions: https://www.ourpcb.com/create-image-from-sd-card.html

[MW0XDT]

Many thanks, I didn’t realise it was that easy to clone the card.

73, Rich

[VE2XK-Michel]

Hello Rich and other's

A simply way to backup or cloning the SD card is describle also by Capt Darren N4VFR into the following youtube link :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSTeA7hoTgs

If you have the needed device to be able to do it you can simply do it by using the «SD CARD COPIER» program . (see Darren video )
It will take approximatly 10 minutes to backup or cloning your original Micro SD card .
I have do mine into a 128 Gbytes Micro SD card . My original G2 Micro SD Card was apparently a 64 Gbytes one .
73's Michel VE2XK