How to let the screen be powered off by software

LukeKendall
LukeKendall Member Posts: 5 New User
edited March 2023 in 2017 Archives
I'm using an Acer 31.5" EB321HQU display on Linux.  When the system tries to power off the monitor after a nominated idle period, instead the monitor goes into an endless cycle of power off for a few seconds, then trying to get a signal via HDMI, DisplayPort, etc., over and over.
Is there some way to tell the monitor to let the system just power it off?  I feel it's being too smart and trying to re-establish an input signal.

Best Answer

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer
    edited December 2017 Answer ✓
    probably your linux distro doesn't send the correct signal to the monitor, so instead of put it to sleep/idle, it cuts off the signal only, so the monitor do a continuos input search.

    i don't know if your model can be blocked to a single input, so it doesn't go to an endless search.
    I'm not an Acer employee.

Answers

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer
    edited December 2017 Answer ✓
    probably your linux distro doesn't send the correct signal to the monitor, so instead of put it to sleep/idle, it cuts off the signal only, so the monitor do a continuos input search.

    i don't know if your model can be blocked to a single input, so it doesn't go to an endless search.
    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • LukeKendall
    LukeKendall Member Posts: 5 New User
    I tested by using: xset dpms force off
    to force the screen to turn off (from software), and it did exactly that.
    Just hitting Enter woke it straight back up.
    So it looks like Gnome is doing the wrong thing, as you say.  Thanks, IronFly!

  • LukeKendall
    LukeKendall Member Posts: 5 New User
    Actually, I spoke too soon.  If I'd waited a few more seconds, I would have seen that the same thing started happening.  Since it seemed to power off for a couple of seconds, it does seem to accept the power off command from software.  But then it cycles through the input modes. None of the other monitors I use on this computer behave like this (I've used four others); only this Acer model refuses to power off properly from software.
    xset can be used to put a monitor into standby, suspend, off (or on).
    In all cases for this Acer monitor, five seconds after being put into any kind of 'off' mode, it then wakes and starts cycling through the input sources indefinitely.  To me it looks like a firmware coding error in the monitor.
  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer
    LukeKendall said:
    To me it looks like a firmware coding error in the monitor.
    It can be...at least, normally, must go to sleep after a circle or two of input searches.
    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • LukeKendall
    LukeKendall Member Posts: 5 New User
    It doesn't go to sleep after a circle or few of input searches - it will cycle happily for hours. I doubt it's good for the hardware to cycle through power off, then hunt for inputs, endlessly. So I try to remember to manually turn the power off every time I think I won't be using it for 10 mins or more.
  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer
    if you are still under warranty, give Acer support service a call, since i can't find information about the continuos input searches.
    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer
    on the OSD menu of the monitor, if you select the wrench icon, had you try to set only one input?
    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • LukeKendall
    LukeKendall Member Posts: 5 New User
    I bought the monitor about one month ago. When I entered its ID number into the Acer site to chat to a service rep, the site said it was out of warranty (which surprised me).
    Under the OSD, under the Wrench icon, it is currently set to DP (Display Port), but I couldn't find an option to stop it 'hunting'.
    I have downloaded the User Guide for this model, but it was unhelpful. (E.g. there is no explanation of what the settings under the Wrench icon do; the explanation of DP Format is "DP Format selection, the default out of DP signal setting is DP 1.1. User can follow the setting message to confirm selection of DP 1.1 or DP 1.2" - and the manual has nothing regarding my problem.)

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer
    edited December 2017
    no other ideas.

    by the way, don't worry about the out of warranty if you have the original receipt.
    I'm not an Acer employee.

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