Strange question perhaps, but I was wondering if anyone knows if a Pi would in theory consume more energy when the GND pin is connected to pin #16? I have an interactive piece of software running on the oi that changes what video is playing when a switch is pressed and the connection between GND and pin 16 is made. I'm just trying to understand if my overall power consumption will be different if no one interacts with it, versus if that switch is constantly being interacted with all day.
1 Answer
Will the Pi consume more power if a GPIO is connected to ground?
If the GPIO is set to mode INPUT then the current draw will be effectively zero.
If the GPIO is set to mode OUTPUT and set LOW the current draw will be effectively zero.
If the GPIO is set to mode OUTPUT and set HIGH the current draw will be as high as the GPIO can supply (say 50 milliamps). This will likely destroy the GPIO and eventually the Pi.
-
second point isnt true, if the pin is set to ouput, and set low, the GPIO pin will now sync current through that low pin. (Assuming the connected device is being 'switched' on the low side)– Chad GAug 18 at 21:51
-
@ChadG The question was purely about a GPIO connected to a ground pin. If the GPIO is connected to something else that is a separate question with a different answer.– joanAug 19 at 8:39
-
I have tested and confirmed that #1 scenario you described is accurate, using a power usage meter– dongleAug 21 at 21:05
"I have an interactive thing with a switch, ..."Are you following a tutorial, or setup instructions by connecting pin #16 to GND? Exactly what is the interactive thing? Trying to see through the fog you've laid w/ your question, I suspect the answer depends upon the nature of the interactive thing. Can you explain that?