# Pi Zero current drain when powered off **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [4 March 2019 03:21 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pi-zero-current-drain-when-powered-off/4698 "2019-03-04T03:21:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![James46717](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@James46717](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/James46717)\ **Post date:** [4 March 2019 03:21 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pi-zero-current-drain-when-powered-off/4698/1 "2019-03-04T03:21:26Z")
With respect to the Pi zero; I would really like to know what is dragging 45mA when it is powered off. Cannot find any circuit diagrams and I am not about to reverse engineer the board. Just engineering interest at this time. If I use an On/Off Shim to power the Pi Zero, current dain is less the 1uA; when powered off. The Pi Foundation wont publish the circuit diagram because of a past situation where someone made poor quality copies of their boards. Anyway that is what I have read. Cheers PS I can get a Pi Zero to run in idle mode at about 68mA; by disabling display, keyboard, and mouse. So why does it need 45mA when powered off. … ---
**Author:** ![Graham](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/graham/32/54_2.png) [@Graham](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Graham)\ **Post date:** [4 March 2019 04:19 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pi-zero-current-drain-when-powered-off/4698/2 "2019-03-04T04:19:51Z")
Hi James, Issuing a shutdown will just be the Linux side of things. The voltage regulator, network hardware, etc, will remain powered. A bit like shutting down a PC, parts of the motherboard often remain powered. To remove power entirely, an external switch or circuit would be needed to isolate power from the USB power. ---
**Author:** ![James46717](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@James46717](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/James46717)\ **Post date:** [5 March 2019 04:11 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pi-zero-current-drain-when-powered-off/4698/3 "2019-03-05T04:11:39Z")
Thanks for your reply Graham. I found a circuit diagram (just the input power) from a web site dedicated to fault finding a non running Pi Zero. PAM2306AYPKE dual voltage, DC to DC converter IC; same as other Pi models. [https://www.petervis.com/Raspberry\_PI/raspberry-pi-zero/raspberry-pi-zero-repair.html](https://www.petervis.com/Raspberry_PI/raspberry-pi-zero/raspberry-pi-zero-repair.html) The light on the Pi Zero going off would make you think it has powered down and use of the command _poweroff_ would do the same. Most likely the low level commands just switch the processor into _Standby_ mode, not _Shutdown_ mode, so the processor is still powered somewhat. In a battery powered design where the Pi is woken up, does something, then goes back to sleep; use of the Pimoroni On/Off Shim would be the best solution. This device removes power completely. Anyway, this has been an interesting exercise for me, hopefully this is useful. > **[Pimoroni OnOff SHIM for Raspberry Pi](https://core-electronics.com.au/pimoroni-onoff-shim-for-raspberry-pi.html)** > > Add a tiny yet convenient power switch to your Pi with Pimoroni's On-Off SHIM! Pimoroni's SHIMs (Shove Hardware in the Middle) are a new range of boards designed .. read more ---
**Author:** ![Lindsay36840](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/lindsay36840/32/1851_2.png) [@Lindsay36840](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Lindsay36840)\ **Post date:** [10 March 2019 12:45 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/pi-zero-current-drain-when-powered-off/4698/4 "2019-03-10T12:45:42Z")
Good question. I guess some circuitry needs to be on to allow soft power on.