How are people doing 1 button power on/off these days?

[Jakobud]

Back in the day I used a Smart Strip:

https://www.amazon.com/SCG-3MVR-Protector-Autoswitching-Technology-7-Outlet/dp/B000P1QJXQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1500349426&sr=8-4&keywords=smart+strip

With the computer plugged into the control port on it. Then I cut the cord and wired it up to one of these:



I also opened up the Smart Strip and wired it's switch wires to the switch in that power jack as well, so that the back of the cabinet had a master power switch (that was left on most of the time).

Finally, I wired up a button on the top of the cabinet to the computer motherboard power switch. This would turn on the computer and then the Smart Strip would power on everything else.

In the end I would shutdown the computer via the frontend software and then the Smart Strip would turn off everything else.

Is this how people still do it? Is there a more straightforward way these days?

[ark_ader]

To be honest, I do not bother anymore. Everything is wired to a bar and one switch.  Did some modifications to the Xbox and hard wired it.  Then tested starting the cab, waited 5 minutes, powered it off, waited 30 seconds and wash and repeat five times.  If you get the right equipment then you do not need a smart switch.  The 18 year old TV is working like a champ.  No corruption, startup in 30 seconds on average.

I'm probably tempting fate. 

BTW don't do this with a Pi3.  You can render a 64gb card worthless.   

[Hockeyboy]

I did exactly what you did - used a master switch on the bottom corner that is plugged into the wall and a Smart Strip inside the cabinet, with a button at the very top of the cabinet going to the computer power switch. I would do it the same way again.

[pbj]

Smart strip with the flatscreen TV being the control.  Ordinarily I'd shove a relay inside a cheap power strip, but it was like $5-10 and meh.

 

[Ian]

Jakobud... still rocking that blue mame cab that is on your website? That was a clean looking cab. It blew me away back in the day.

[thomas_surles]

I did a dumb strip with the power inlet but changed the bios in the pc to boot when power is applied. So it works just like the smart strip setup but a whole lot cheaper.

[baritonomarchetto]

I have my PC connected to the cabinet main switch. The PC is bios set to turn on when it sense current. This way when i turn on the main cabinet switch everything switch on.
To shut down the pc i use the frontend, then tun off the main cab switch

[DudeRegular]

Smart strip with the pc as the controlling item. Wired a regular arcade push button to the pc power and put the button inside the bill collector spot. This powers up the crt, pc, amp, and marquee all in one button press. Use the frontend (attractmode) to shut it all down. My games are all along the wall. Not fun moving cabs to get to the power switch.

[equlizer]

I have one of those you posted wired up to a small power bar.  Then i use a regular arcade button on the back of my cab wired to the power switch on the mobo that turns everything on and off.  Set windows to shut down

[UEDan]

Single outlet wired to master kill switch.
From kill switch to, 2 outlet box inside cabinet.
Monitor goes to sleep with no signal. Power use is minimal.
PC power switch is hooked up to main cam lock (full open is power-on/off).
Speakers are USB powered and 12V marque powered by 12v rail on PSU.

Insert key and turn to power on/off. Safe shutdown every time.

[cgrisamore]

Just updated my Mame cabinet PC to an Intel NUC.  It has an IR sensor so I use a Logitech programmable remote to power it on.  I just open the coin door and point the remote and press the poweron button.  As I already owned the programmable remote, it was no incremental cost to me...