MAME Cabinet using laptop and smartstrip

[Abear]

Trying to finish out my build and noticed, when using the laptop as the controlling switch (connected by its charger), it automatically starts up all the slaved devices.  I have a smartstrip that allows you to select different power draws (low, med, high) but the charger seems to tell the strip the laptop is always on, even if the laptop is off.  I'm trying to use powering on the laptop as the starting sequence for the arcade - I have built an external button to push the laptop's power button.  Is there a way around this? Possibly not charge the laptop until powered on?   

[keilmillerjr]

Trying to finish out my build and noticed, when using the laptop as the controlling switch (connected by its charger), it automatically starts up all the slaved devices.  I have a smartstrip that allows you to select different power draws (low, med, high) but the charger seems to tell the strip the laptop is always on, even if the laptop is off.  I'm trying to use powering on the laptop as the starting sequence for the arcade - I have built an external button to push the laptop's power button.  Is there a way around this? Possibly not charge the laptop until powered on?   

I used the "ecostrip" that has a USB cable for determining state. So long as your motherboard is set to not power USB when off, it just works. Try that if you can't get yours to work. I haven't used one like that so I can't give any advice on getting it to work.

[ark_ader]

Trying to finish out my build and noticed, when using the laptop as the controlling switch (connected by its charger), it automatically starts up all the slaved devices.  I have a smartstrip that allows you to select different power draws (low, med, high) but the charger seems to tell the strip the laptop is always on, even if the laptop is off.  I'm trying to use powering on the laptop as the starting sequence for the arcade - I have built an external button to push the laptop's power button.  Is there a way around this? Possibly not charge the laptop until powered on?   

I had this problem with a smart strip adapter the cable company gave me to reduce electricity consumption, and this does not work with laptop power supplies, as the PSU is always on.  But there is an alternative of sorts that I like (I love to tinker) is this bluetooth power switcher and that is a pretty good smart option for a cabinet.  This one works with a PC.

Thinking outside the box yields all kinds of possibilities. 

I like what this guy has done:

[barrymossel]

Wouldn't removing the battery solve this? I guess the charger only draws power when a) powering the laptop or b) charging the battery. When there is no battery present and the laptop is turned off, it wouldn't draw power. Or am I missing something?