wiring a power switch on a Dell Optiplex

[brihyn]

Curious if anyone has wired an external momentary power switch to a Dell Optiplex. The 270 that I have has the power switch directly soldered to a small board in the front panel, with a flat cable running to the mobo...all proprietary connectors. I was hoping to not have to tear apart the front panel of the pc to wire this, as the pc may later be used for something else if I upgrade, and i'd hate to have to upgrade just to get a power button wired in. Any ideas?

[slug54]

Here is a link to where someone on another site gives the pinout info for the 34 pin connector on the main board,

http://www.mp3car.com/hardware-development/105026-dell-optiplex-gx270-front-panel-pinout.html

I would say that you could scavenge a 2 pin connector and use it to wire an arcade button to pins 19 and 20 on the 34 pin connector should do it.

[matt4949]

Check out this video

[ChadTower]

I've done it.  Just pop the PCB out and solder a couple wires to the power switch contacts on the backside of the PCB.  Then run them up inside the cab to whereever you want your momentary power switch.  My mame cab is like that and it works well.

[brihyn]

Thanks.
Getting to the board with the power button didn't seem easy...in fact I couldn't find what to tear apart to get to it.  The link above, however, led me to ust solder to pins 2 and 3 of the 16 pin on the sub board...works great.
You guys rock...i hadn't been able to find much to help in my google searches.