question

Matias Käkelä avatar image
Matias Käkelä asked

Looking for a recommendation for an external Raspberry pi display

So, I bought a cheap 3.5" touch screen display from Aliexpress since it was mentioned in the Venus OS wiki, and I though it would be a good fit. I got it working after some hurdles, but then I realized it doesn't seem to support the ability to dim the backlight nor turning the screen off. A pretty big drawback in 100% off grid solution and for a device residing in the living room.

Now, I would not like to repeat my mistake twice. I'm asking for a recommendation for an external display to Raspberry Pi, which a) works well with Venus OS and b) can be turned off / dimmed when needed.

I did read quite a lot of posts here in the forum, but none of which I found really mentioned the specific displays. Googling 7" raspberry pi screen returns several different models, which I can't say for sure even work with Venus.

Hence, I would kindly ask for a recommendations for a specific screen models (a link to such device is a bonus).

Thank you!

Raspberry Pi
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laurenceh avatar image laurenceh commented ·

Matias

I used this

https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/raspberry-pi-7-touchscreen-display-with-frame

Probably the same as Jeroen is suggesting.

I put it inside this.

https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/smartipi-touch-2

With one of these:

https://www.sf-innovations.co.uk/product-page/custard-pi-3

Used this

https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/smartipi-touch-2-back-cover?variant=30277399838803

I built my own implementation of the ADC interface circuits like this:

https://community.victronenergy.com/idea/41865/home-brew-boxed-hat-and-cape-i2c-and-analogue-inpu.html


Yes dimming and screen time off and many other things all work well.





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Matias Käkelä avatar image Matias Käkelä laurenceh commented ·

@LaurenceH brilliant, thanks for the detailed answer!

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2 Answers
jeroend avatar image
jeroend answered ·

I have the original 7" Pi screen; https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-touch-display/

800x480 and supports dimming, auto screen off (and back on at touching the screen). Connected to the Pi board via it's own (included) flat cable.

It is supported 'out of the box' by the Venus OS, just the touch part needs a 1-time calibration (obviously).

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Ole Saether avatar image Ole Saether commented ·

I use the original 7" Pi screen also and it works well. The only drawback I see is that all fields of the HTML app does not fit one the screen. I am not able to scroll either.

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Rob Duthie avatar image Rob Duthie Ole Saether commented ·

Hi

You be able to scroll etc mine do and i have installed a few of these on projects.

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Ole Saether avatar image Ole Saether Rob Duthie commented ·

OK, maybe I haven't configured it correctly. I am running the browser in full screen "kiosk mode".

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Rob Duthie avatar image Rob Duthie Ole Saether commented ·

Hi

Yes in kiosk mode there is limitations, but in normal mode all function normally.

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Rob Duthie avatar image
Rob Duthie answered ·

Hi All


Attached re schematics of a raspi hat that does all for the raspi to interface with victron equipment etc. complete with comms, relay outputs, I/O etc.

Victron Raspi Hat.pdf

Victron Raspi Stetson.pdf


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