Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit Power Switch Issue

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit are experiencing difficulties when attempting to control the power of the device using an external switch. The specific symptoms include:

• When the switch is turned on, the LED and fan activate for a few seconds before shutting off.
• The device powers on normally without any additional wiring.
• The issue occurs during the setup of a custom power control solution.
• The problem impacts the ability to manually control the power state of the Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit.

Possible Causes

1. Incorrect Switch Type: The use of a push-hold switch instead of a momentary tact switch can cause the power button signal (PWR_BTN) to remain low continuously.

2. Improper Wiring: Incorrect connections between the switch and the J14 header pins may lead to unexpected behavior.

3. Power Management Conflicts: The continuous low signal from the push-hold switch might conflict with the device’s internal power management system.

4. Hardware Limitations: The Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit may have specific requirements for external power control that are not being met.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Use the Correct Switch Type:

   • Replace the push-hold switch with a momentary tact switch.
   • A tact switch will only pull the PWR_BTN signal low for a short duration when pressed, mimicking a normal power button press.

2. Verify Wiring Connections:

   • Ensure that pins 5 and 6 on the J14 header are correctly connected.
   • Confirm that the switch is properly wired between pins 11 and 12.

3. Test with Direct Wire Connection:

   • As a diagnostic step, try connecting pins 11 and 12 directly with a wire to see if the behavior changes.
   • If this works, it confirms that the issue is related to the switch type rather than the wiring.

4. Review Power Button Behavior:

   • Understand that the power button on Jetson devices typically requires a momentary press to trigger power on/off events.
   • Holding the power button low continuously can cause unexpected behavior or force shutdown.

5. Check Official Documentation:

   • Refer to the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit documentation for specific guidelines on external power control.
   • Look for any application notes or user guides that detail the correct implementation of power switches.

6. Implement Proper Switch Circuit:

   • Design a simple circuit that converts the push-hold switch behavior to a momentary pulse if changing the switch is not an option.
   • This can be achieved using a capacitor and resistor to create a pulse when the switch is activated.

7. Software-based Power Management:

   • If hardware-based power control is problematic, consider implementing a software-based solution using the Jetson’s GPIO pins and a custom script.
   • This approach can provide more flexibility and avoid potential hardware conflicts.

8. Community Support:

   • If the issue persists after trying these solutions, consider reaching out to the Nvidia Developer Forums or Jetson community for additional support.
   • Provide detailed information about your setup, including exact model numbers and any modifications made to the dev kit.

By following these steps and implementing the correct switch type, users should be able to successfully control the power of their Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit using an external switch. Remember to always consult the official documentation and exercise caution when modifying hardware connections to avoid potential damage to the device.