Powering arcade on and off

[Tlos]

Does anyone have a solution to safely power an PC arcade on and off with one button? It seems that powering it on doesn’t seem to be a problem but how do you safely power it off without hurting your PC?

[bperkins01]

I did it on my build:  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,156272.msg1648280.html#msg1648280

I wired a button that is a remote power switch for the PC.  Then used a smart power strip..  When I power on the PC, the strip recognizes it and turns on everything else..
then the same in reverse..

[MartyKong]

Yep, The easiest way is just to extend the PC power button (I used a Happ arcade button mounted on top of the arcade). Then just add a power strip as bperkins did. The PC is plugged into the primary plug on the smart strip. Other equipment, monitors, lighting are switched on/off when the smart strip senses power on/off going to the PC.

[Phreakwars]

What exactly is the issue? The way I do it is in the frontend. I use Attract Mode on most of my arcades and use the Windows exit command

Code: [Select]

shutdown -s -t 00
What this does, is when I tell it to exit Attract Mode, it sends a command to the PC to also do a shutdown. I have an arcade button wired up to the power button on the motherboard that powers it on. Been doing it the same way for years. Here's an old video from 5 years ago on one of my (AtomicFE) cabs where I show this:

[baritonomarchetto]

A "single button turns off both main cabinet power and PC" solution is not, but I found particularly useful having an autoit script turning off the pc when a dedicated button or combination of buttons is pressed. This way you have not to go throu the desktop and realize windows won again, and your HD will survive

[Osirus23]

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[Howard_Casto]

I use an outlet box activated by a 5v relay that  switches via either a pc molex connector or usb cable, that way turning the pc on and off turns all my other ac devices (speakers, monitor, ect) on and off along with it.   It's by far the cheapest and most elegant solution....

[Phreakwars]

I'm one of those who will take advantage of a PSU's 12v SATA and molex connections to power things like the amp or say video converter if it's an A1U screen. I like all my stuff unified so that I don't have a bunch of power packs plugged into some strip. Doing it that way, you don't need to worry about powering down the amp, lights, PC, monitor and whatever else. They will all power down when you send the shutdown command. Only disadvantage to this, is you can get cross talk (buzzing noise) between components and might have to use a $10 inline filter on the audio line out to the amp. Just a small tweak to make to gain 100% control over the entire electrical system.

[MartyKong]

Baritonomarche may have his windows shelled so it boots directly into the frontend and bypasses windows. He'd have to confirm. Mine still boot bios screen but I've removed all the windows loading crap, added a black background  and boots frontend. Not perfect but not too noticable.

[baritonomarchetto]

No, I have not shelled windows: I prefer to see for some seconds the desktop on startup and avoid complications. The desktop is has a custom color combination and is visible only for some seconds before the FE is loaded.
@osirus23 I have an utility script still running on background, so it's a no brainer against wiring a dedicated button to the PC power switch.

[Zebidee]

There are many ways to do controlled power on/off, and they have all be covered many times on this forum.

I did it on my build:  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,156272.msg1648280.html#msg1648280

I wired a button that is a remote power switch for the PC.  Then used a smart power strip..  When I power on the PC, the strip recognizes it and turns on everything else..
then the same in reverse..

A remote on/off button for the PC is almost always a good idea. This is very easy to do - you can even just neatly tuck the tinned ends of your two wires wires into the back of the "PWR_ON" and "COM" pins on your main power connection. You can also splice your wires to the mainboard power_on front panel header pins. Combining that with a smart "master/slave" power strip is simple, elegant and inexpensive.

I use an outlet box activated by a 5v relay that  switches via either a pc molex connector or usb cable, that way turning the pc on and off turns all my other ac devices (speakers, monitor, ect) on and off along with it.   It's by far the cheapest and most elegant solution....

Using a relay switch is even more elegant and cheaper again, not as simple but far from complicated. Add a fuse and an inline AC filter to take it to the next level. Takes a little electrical knowledge and thought to setup. This is how I do my cabs now.

... I found particularly useful having an autoit script turning off the pc when a dedicated button or combination of buttons is pressed. This way you have not to go through the desktop and realize windows won again, and your HD will survive

Adding a software shortcut/hotkey combo to initiate shutdown is a clever way to complement the hardware solutions, though keep in mind it won't work if Windows freezes or you lose focus/control of your keyboard encoder. It also won't work until the OS is loaded. So you may find you still want a hardwired power ON/OFF button. If your front end supports controlled shutdown, which many do, you don't even need a script - just make a hotkey combo to launch your front end from desktop, then shutdown from the FE (which is how I do it as I prefer to have less hotkey combos active).

[Vocalitus]

Powering the PC up and down is elementary.  What you need is a facility that you can added that requires no physical touch.

I have these in all my cabs and I just tie them up to Alexa or you can use Google and use the word Arcade as a command or whatever you want.



Once you have shut down your PC safely just tell Alexa to turn it off.  I have an Echo in the bathroom (can close door for privacy from Amazon) and it works very well.

As a bonus it tells me the power wattage from the wall socket.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D8ZNNPZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Osirus23]

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[Zebidee]

Adding a software shortcut/hotkey combo to initiate shutdown is a clever way to complement the hardware solutions, though keep in mind it won't work if Windows freezes or you lose focus/control of your keyboard encoder. It also won't work until the OS is loaded. So you may find you still want a hardwired power ON/OFF button.

You also still need the button for powering ON the system.

What are you talking about? Already there.

I guess you mean a 250v toggle switch for the mains power, an optional extra you could add. Some power intake sockets already have them built in, in addition to a fuse and/or line filter.

[Bambam1963]

Yep, The easiest way is just to extend the PC power button (I used a Happ arcade button mounted on top of the arcade). Then just add a power strip as bperkins did. The PC is plugged into the primary plug on the smart strip. Other equipment, monitors, lighting are switched on/off when the smart strip senses power on/off going to the PC.

This is the solution I went with and it works great.  Any momentary switch will work when tied in to the PC Power switch on the motherboard. A power strip is a must unless you want to go around turning everything on individually.

[fablog]

Yep, The easiest way is just to extend the PC power button (I used a Happ arcade button mounted on top of the arcade). Then just add a power strip as bperkins did. The PC is plugged into the primary plug on the smart strip. Other equipment, monitors, lighting are switched on/off when the smart strip senses power on/off going to the PC.

This is the solution I went with and it works great.  Any momentary switch will work when tied in to the PC Power switch on the motherboard. A power strip is a must unless you want to go around turning everything on individually.

Did that too and my 8 years old daughter power on and off the cabinet without me.

Envoyé de mon LEX722 en utilisant Tapatalk

[Howard_Casto]

Powering the PC up and down is elementary.  What you need is a facility that you can added that requires no physical touch.

I have these in all my cabs and I just tie them up to Alexa or you can use Google and use the word Arcade as a command or whatever you want.



Once you have shut down your PC safely just tell Alexa to turn it off.  I have an Echo in the bathroom (can close door for privacy from Amazon) and it works very well.

As a bonus it tells me the power wattage from the wall socket.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D8ZNNPZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The problem with solutions like this is you are adding more complications and there is more to set up and more to go wrong.  The power goes out?  I guess you'll potentially have to setup all your cabs again.  Change routers or it's password?   Time to update/reinstall all those smart switches.   Something goes wrong during boot?   Well your stuff will be stuck in whatever state it was before the freeze.   Improper shutdown?   Yup more issues.   

Meanwhile a relay tied to your pc in some way just needs voltage... if the pc is physically on then your accessories are on and if off they shut down.   They make commercial equivalents but they can be pricey.   I'm telling you... get on ebay and buy a relay(s) and diode(s), go to the hardware store and buy an outlet and box then get online for directions and solder it up.   It's like a 15 minute project and you'll be out maybe 5 dollars.   Remember K.I.S.S.  (keep it simple, stupid).

[Phreakwars]

Yeah, I could never understand what the point of a smart plug would be on a cab. Sure you could get Alexa to turn it on and off, but you'd never have a proper shutdown without first sending a proper shutdown command. Like Howard said... keep it simple. Most any PC right now, if you press the power button while it is on, will initiate a shutdown. It's not very hard at all in both Linux and Windows on PC or Pi to initiate a proper shutdown when not using the cab. And even if you have a hefty amp, lights, rgb buttons, LED strips, Ultimate I/O, and on and on, it STILL won't draw that much power that 1 power supply with 1 cord can't handle. That's what they make sata or molex to barrel adapters for ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F5KL9T0 )., they come in both 12v and 5v flavors. Kind of silly spending all kinds of money and have all kinds of wires and cables for such a simple task that 1 small button mounted most anywhere can handle.

[Vocalitus]

Powering the PC up and down is elementary.  What you need is a facility that you can added that requires no physical touch.

I have these in all my cabs and I just tie them up to Alexa or you can use Google and use the word Arcade as a command or whatever you want.



Once you have shut down your PC safely just tell Alexa to turn it off.  I have an Echo in the bathroom (can close door for privacy from Amazon) and it works very well.

As a bonus it tells me the power wattage from the wall socket.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D8ZNNPZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The problem with solutions like this is you are adding more complications and there is more to set up and more to go wrong.  The power goes out?  I guess you'll potentially have to setup all your cabs again.  Change routers or it's password?   Time to update/reinstall all those smart switches.   Something goes wrong during boot?   Well your stuff will be stuck in whatever state it was before the freeze.   Improper shutdown?   Yup more issues.   

Meanwhile a relay tied to your pc in some way just needs voltage... if the pc is physically on then your accessories are on and if off they shut down.   They make commercial equivalents but they can be pricey.   I'm telling you... get on ebay and buy a relay(s) and diode(s), go to the hardware store and buy an outlet and box then get online for directions and solder it up.   It's like a 15 minute project and you'll be out maybe 5 dollars.   Remember K.I.S.S.  (keep it simple, stupid).

You must be stupid to think that smart devices lose their "memory" when the power goes out.  Nobody (unless you are using a Pi) shuts down their PC at the power switch.  Even my 8 year old nephew knows that.  Come on Howard wake up.

Yeah, I could never understand what the point of a smart plug would be on a cab. Sure you could get Alexa to turn it on and off, but you'd never have a proper shutdown without first sending a proper shutdown command. Like Howard said... keep it simple. Most any PC right now, if you press the power button while it is on, will initiate a shutdown. It's not very hard at all in both Linux and Windows on PC or Pi to initiate a proper shutdown when not using the cab. And even if you have a hefty amp, lights, rgb buttons, LED strips, Ultimate I/O, and on and on, it STILL won't draw that much power that 1 power supply with 1 cord can't handle. That's what they make sata or molex to barrel adapters for ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F5KL9T0 )., they come in both 12v and 5v flavors. Kind of silly spending all kinds of money and have all kinds of wires and cables for such a simple task that 1 small button mounted most anywhere can handle.

You still have to power down the PC if you are using a smart strip like my post stated. 

My 1up cab has the power switch method as you describe but it doesn't power down the amp or the video board afterwards.

You sound like Howard. What is the matter with you? 

[Phreakwars]

What's the matter with me? Like I said... what would be the point? All Alexa would be bringing to party is the equivalent of just unplugging it when you are done. And LIKE I SAID, powering the amp and video board can be handled by the power supply. That's how I do it. No extra power packs, no extension cords. 1 plug, 1 outlet. Power switch method on a 1Up cab is super simple, so simple, I show how to do it on a Countercade.

1 simple 12v power pack runs it all. PC, amp, Lights, video converter. All controlled with the stock switch.

[Osirus23]

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[Gilrock]

I don't like a one button solution.  I like a physical switch so I know when I flip it the AC is cutoff.  Then extend the PC button out to right beside the switch.  Works great on my vpin I reach under and flip the switch in the same location as a real pinball and then press the button beside it all in one second.

[Zebidee]

I don't like a one button solution.  I like a physical switch so I know when I flip it the AC is cutoff.  Then extend the PC button out to right beside the switch.  Works great on my vpin I reach under and flip the switch in the same location as a real pinball and then press the button beside it all in one second.

My vertical cab is setup similarly. There is a on/off switch at the PC-style (removable cord) power intake at back, with an LED (and fuse) built in so you always know the status.

Once this mains switch is on you can press the momentary button that turns on PC which then, via 5v triggered relay, routes power to the rest of the cab. Same button initiates orderly shutdown and turns everything off automatically once that is complete.

There is also an old-school flip-switch for power, inside the cab door, which I retained for nostalgia (I re-made from an old cab) and wired in. But in practice I don't use this one, it just stays on.

My brother-in-law uses this vertical cab more than I do, almost every day (his fave games are Flying Shark, Contra, Arkanoid). He is not a complicated or technical man. Yet he is happy because the cab is so easy to startup and shutdown. He doesn't need to ask me for help or anything - just connects power (if not already connected) and presses then button. Game on!