trying to wire an arcade button to the power button on my pc

[Donkbaca]

Yup as long as its working, why mess with it?  Its done, time for high fives and beer.

[RandyT]

So my suggested solution.  That part I mentioned earlier.  It will fit on two prongs on that connector labeled "CNTRL_PANEL".  Even though it's on a daughter board, most full size boards have those included on them, and the pin connectors look exactly the same.  Once that is connected, if you push the micro switch on the end, it will do the exact same thing as soldering wires from the control panel to a separate micro switch.  Unless the main power from the power supply doesn't run into the motherboard and runs somewhere else, which I've never seen but anything is possible, then it should have no problem working.  You haven't tried my suggestion, but I'm pretty sure it would work.  Heck, if I had that same PC I'd be willing to try it.  I'm almost even tempted to buy that same model just to test it out.  I'm not trying to step on toes, I just think there is a more efficient and easier approach to accomplishing this.

The pins which do what you are writing about are not directly across from each other.  So to do what you are suggesting, one would need a wire with two single, but separate, connectors.  And even after you come up with that uncommon configuration, you still lose the function of the power led and anything else which might be on that board.

Soldering in parallel to the existing switch is the easiest solution here, and requires no specialized parts.

[DillonFoulds]

Out of curiosity, I had a few very similar dell machines here. The pins in question on the motherboard on the 3 versions i checked all line up adjacently, but the header has a plastic bracket, that standard front panel connectors wouldn't fit on, either.

[DaOld Man]

I needed two separate plugs once. I took one of the two pronged plugs and cut it right down the middle. I cant remember what I used to cut it, but I think it was my pocket knife with a well placed hammer behind it.
Worked pretty good, just like separating Siamese twins.

I wouldnt recommend anyone doing this, but if you do, place a piece of scrap wood under the plug and wear safety glasses, the knife blade could come apart and fly into your eyes.

The pins which do what you are writing about are not directly across from each other.  So to do what you are suggesting, one would need a wire with two single, but separate, connectors.  And even after you come up with that uncommon configuration, you still lose the function of the power led and anything else which might be on that board.

Soldering in parallel to the existing switch is the easiest solution here, and requires no specialized parts.

[Hituro]

I wouldnt recommend anyone doing this, but if you do, place a piece of scrap wood under the plug and wear safety glasses, the knife blade could come apart and fly into your eyes.

lol omg, yes please, no one wants a knife in their eyes!

[Hituro]

So my suggested solution.  That part I mentioned earlier.  It will fit on two prongs on that connector labeled "CNTRL_PANEL".  Even though it's on a daughter board, most full size boards have those included on them, and the pin connectors look exactly the same.  Once that is connected, if you push the micro switch on the end, it will do the exact same thing as soldering wires from the control panel to a separate micro switch.  Unless the main power from the power supply doesn't run into the motherboard and runs somewhere else, which I've never seen but anything is possible, then it should have no problem working.  You haven't tried my suggestion, but I'm pretty sure it would work.  Heck, if I had that same PC I'd be willing to try it.  I'm almost even tempted to buy that same model just to test it out.  I'm not trying to step on toes, I just think there is a more efficient and easier approach to accomplishing this.

The pins which do what you are writing about are not directly across from each other.  So to do what you are suggesting, one would need a wire with two single, but separate, connectors.  And even after you come up with that uncommon configuration, you still lose the function of the power led and anything else which might be on that board.

Soldering in parallel to the existing switch is the easiest solution here, and requires no specialized parts.

In that case I want to apologize then.  From looking at the pictures it's hard to tell, but I suppose if those contacts are not across from one another it would be difficult, so I can see why you went with the soldering.  I'm sorry if I came across as being a jerk, I wasn't meaning to, I was just trying to offer help and possibly an easier approach, but I understand where you guys went with this now.  I guess I'm just stupid :p  Anyhow, hopefully I didn't piss anyone off too much, and sorry if I came across as a big angry troll on the thread :p

Randy get's another +1 :p