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PC power on/off switch WITHOUT modifying PC motherboard/switch
edub:
Donkbaca,
I think you're right about the marquee light switch. Is there a way to turn a "toggle" into a "momentary" that is simple? I just don't know.
I can't think of any other powered component in my cab that has a momentary switch other than the PC. So, if I can't "rewire" the marquee light, then I'm left with:
1. Mod the PC switch with a Y as Donkbaca suggested earlier
2. Use an arcade button and leads and wire them directly to the motherboard (or use the switch suggested by wp34)
3. Provide access to the real power switch on the PC (thru a hole in the back or via a door on the front of the cab) - I really don't like this idea for the main reason that an "arcade button" is handy and can be mounted where, when you're done playing, you hit a switch and power down, and when you're ready to play, you don't need to access the innards of the cab to turn on the PC.
I found out that MA DOES support mapping a button (keyboard press) to either exit to explorer or "shutdown windows". So, at least the POWER DOWN part of the equation is solved. It is now POWER UP I'm concerned with.
If I had an older style PC, I think this would be easy. But my PC is a Dell Zino HD and it is a "bear" to get access to anything inside. Well, I didn't think about all this when I bought it over a year ago and I'm stuck with it. The best laid plans....
Maybe now that power down is solved, I could just "extend" the marquee switch to an external "toggle" switch on the cab - up, down - on, off. Wire the marquee light to the "control" circuit on the smart power strip. So, for POWER DOWN, I hit an arcade button to "exit MA and Shutdown Windows" and then toggle the extended marquee switch down to power off everything else. To power UP, I toggle the switch UP and it powers on the PC and everything else.
How does THAT sound?
Anyone ever extended a toggle switch like this? I'm sure it's a no-brainer - which means it would be difficult for me...
;)
Useless Eater:
what I did to turn my cabinet on and off is mount a surge protector power strip on the inside, then I drilled a 1" hole in the top of the cabinet, then I mounted a toggle switch on a electrical box cover plate and screwed that to the cabinet from the inside with the switch in the hole I drilled, then I cut the male end off the power strip and wired it to the toggle and took a power tool replacement cord and wired it to the other side of the toggle with the grounds from both wired together with the male end of that ran out the cabinet near the bottom, then I plugged everything inside into the power strip and set the computer to boot on power restore, I shutdown the computer as you usually would and when it turns off flip the toggle off and that turns the monitor, marquee light and amp off then when I want to turn it on again I flip the toggle to on and everything turns on
jamieoliver22:
All I have done for my bartop is to set it in the BIOS to automatically turn on when it is plugged in / turned on at the wall - it's the easiest way for me.
Smeghead:
--- Quote from: Cenobyte on February 22, 2011, 03:48:21 pm ---But how do you power down external stuff like the monitor, an external light source, etc.? With a relais powered by the PC?
--- End quote ---
the pc is the master device in the smartstrip, the pc button powers everything on / off
edub:
After weighing all of the options (and thank you all for weighing in on this topic), I've decided to go with the simplest route - i.e. with Useless Eater's suggestion.
If I had an older PC or the switch on my new PC was easy to modify, I would definitely go that route with a smartstrip. However, I really don't want to TOUCH this PC because it may be re-purposed in the future - never know. I also spoke to an electrician friend of mine and told him about the chosen idea and he said "simple" - and gave me a little more feedback.
So, here's the plan:
Purchase:
- appliance replacement cord (rated 15A) - Home Depot
- surge protector/power strip - cut the plug off (will be wired to switch on cab)
- toggle switch with mounting box (I'm getting the one that lights RED when power is ON)
- metal box for mounting appliance cord to cabinet (this is just a "crimp" to hold the cord in place at the bottom back of the cab)
So, here's the flow:
WALL OUTLET to CAB to TOGGLE SWITCH(bottom, back, crimped inside metal box to that it won't slide out), no electrical connection here - just passing thru to SWITCH
SWITCH - wire appliance cord to the "feed" part of the switch (like in a home), wire cut end of power strip to the switch also
SWITCH TO POWER STRIP - self explanatory (cut plug end of power strip off and wire to the switch)
All components will be plugged into the power strip.
FOR POWER UP:
- turn ON power at toggle switch on cab
- change BIOS settings on PC to power up when power is applied
- boot into my FE
FOR POWER DOWN:
- "SHUTDOWN" arcade button shuts down the FE, FE programmed to exit FE and shutdown windows (PC powers off)
- turn OFF power at toggle switch on cab
You know, this solution seems VERY simple and is the least intrusive to any other components (modifying the marquee light switch, PC power button/motherboard) and it meets my requirements to NOT unbox the PC.
I never would have arrived at this point without your unselfish help and comments - THANK YOU.
Now, the only question is WHERE to put the toggle switch (more hidden, harder to access OR less hidden, easier to access). And, where to put the "SHUTDOWN" arcade button. My opinion is the following:
TOGGLE SWITCH: TOP BACK of CAB near one side or the other - just reach back and flick it on (but you won't see the red light turn on, but no biggie). In this case, it won't inadvertently be turned off. Or, it could go on the top part of the cab toward the back. I think if it is anywhere else, people might "play with it". ;)
SHUTDOWN BUTTON: this is harder. I have an admin panel (like the Woody), but putting it here might cause a player (guest) to hit that button - not probably on accident, but to mess with someone else. But it would be very accessible there. I think if I had to make the decision today, I'd place it behind the marquee on top of the cab - easy to access, but out of the way enough.
Inputs are welcome...
Cheers,
edub