Newbie Ques - Power Problem

[mikeyv23]

Hey all,

I am have almost all of the part for my cab and am getting ready to start installing and configuring things (yeah!  ).

However I just realized a problem that never occurred to me before: how the hell am I gonna setup powering everything?    

I have searched these message boards and haven't found anything that makes a whole lot of sense to me.  I have very little background in relays and power supplies and all that good stuff.  Is there an easy way to do this so everything starts together (pc, monitor, marquee light, etc) without too much difficulty?

I don't mind adding a few extra buttons or switches to my cab, I am just looking for simplicity right now.  Any suggestions or ideas are greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance for any help!  

mikeyv

[SirPeale]

This wiring diagram will get everything powered on all at once.

If you don't have any experience with hands on stuff like this, you should do some practice first.

[mikeyv23]

Thanks for the info.  Unfortunately this is what I was afraid of.  I kind of understand the diagram, but not completely.  I don't suppose anybody has step-by-step instructions with a parts list?

I pretty much need a "Dummies" guide.  I do not want to fry my monitor, pc, etc because I don't know what I am doing.  Any ideas?  Thanks again!

[Pasqualz]

In my reasearch on this topic, I've found that quite a few people use a special power strip made by Bits Limited (http://www.bitsltd.net/SmartStrip/index.htm). It's called the Smart Strip and basically, you plug your computer into the special sensing outlet, then plug your TV, lights, speakers, etc... into the triggered outlets. When you turn on your computer, the power strip's circuitry senses the current draw and then turns on power to the triggered outlets! There is a cool review of this power strip at RetroBlast (http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/smartstrip2-1.html).

[pointdablame]

The diagram Peale posted is pretty simple if you just look at it one part at a time. It will all come together.

However, since you seem a bit worried about this, I would also recommend a BitsLimited strip for you.  Set the computer up as the sensing outlet as was suggested, and simply extend the PC power switch to outside the cab if you wanted. That way you would have a one button solution that would turn everything on. Then, simply turn off the PC through your OS as you normally would and everything will shut down also.

[mikeyv23]

  - Awesome!!  That power strip sounds perfect!  I may eventually get into trying the diagram, but this sounds like a perfect start for me.  Thanks again everybody for your help!

Mike

[big_garryb]

I followed bob roberts diagram, and had no probs..... wasnt really worried and didnt really have that great an idea of what i was doing............. got worried when it was time to test - but it went on fine and everything worked!

garry

[Wenis]

On my Cabinets I just bought a cheap power strip and then hacked it  by moving the power button to the outside of the machine and plugged everything into it. So when I turn it on all my stuff comes on at once, besides my pc which i ran a switch to the outside also.

[danny_galaga]

i posted a message here:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=19304

on the 27th that could be of use. it would be easier than trying to hack one of those powerstrips i imagine!

[sTyLeS]

Sears actually has a Craftsman brand powerstrip over in their power tools department that is a switching power strip just like the SmartStrip that was mentioned. It's intended to be used with power tools (like a saw plugged into the main plug, and a light and vacuum plugged into the switched plugs). I bought one and that's what I'm using to power my cabinet. Works like a charm. Plus it's cheaper than the SmartStrip, no S&H, and can be purchased at a local Sears.
Anyone else use this as a solution?

[darktemp]

How much is the Sears strip?

[ChadTower]

Sears part #?

[sTyLeS]

Finally found the link to the Sears power strip that I used. It's more of a power "block" the kind that is supposed to plug straight into the wall. All I did was use a regular power strip internally, and it's cable is what plugs into the wall, and the Sears "block" just plugs into my strip.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00924031000

Sears item #00924031000
Mfr. model #24031

$19.99

Call your local Sears to see if they have it, or you can order it online as well.

-sTyLeS

[Pasqualz]

The sears strip looks nice, but it seems you only get 2 switched outlets! The Smartstrip gives you 6, plus 3 always-on outlets! Obviously, you could plug a standard power strip into one or both of the sears outlets, but that's ultimately messier that the smartstrip solution. By the way, I finally ordered a smartstrip yesterday around 11:00 AM and it showed up at my job today around 12:00!!! Granted, I live in NY maybe about 4 hours from Bits Ltd, but still, that's awesome for free shipping!!!!

[sTyLeS]

I'm not saying the Sears one is better or worse than the SmartStrip. It's just another option. It's the option that I went with, and therefore the only one that I'm familiar with first hand.
But sure, you can "daisy-chain" other strips on the Sears strip. Like what I did with plugging the Sears into another powerstrip, so I have several "always-on" outlets from the normal strip, then I have the functionality of the Switched outlets.

[AlexC]

I use one of these :
http://www.shopfromyourhome.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=HW2190&Category_Code=Wireless_Remote_Home_Automation

I had it laying around from Christmas and thought I would be nice to have a remote control to start my cab  
I have a regular power strip plugged to it.

[Scoobie]

I'm glad I found this thread since I am also trying to wire everything to power on/off with one button.

I would like to avoid reaching to the back of my cab to do this however.

Could I simply use the SmartStrip and then cut and splice the red (hot) and black (ground) directly from my power button on my computer to a basic on/off switch from Radio Shack?

If so, are there any parameters or volt/watt info I need to look for in the on/off switch (they sell MANY that all look the same)?

Do I wire this with disconnects?


Thanks!

[wj2k3]

The power button on your PC is a momentary switch, just like the buttons on any of our control panels.  Pretty much any momentary switch will do.

-wj2k3

[Scoobie]

I bought an illuminated toggle switch (it looked nicer than the push button momentary switches).  It has 3 pins/connections and according to the diagram on the box, one of them is copper (common) while the other 2 connections are power (hot).

I cut the red (hot) and black (common) wires from the momentary switch on the computer and hooked the common to the copper connection and the hot to one of the 2 available power connections (I tried each power connection separately).

When I plug the computer in the wall outlet, the computer turns on.  However, the toggle switch doesn't control the power on/off at all and it also doesn't illuminate?!

What do I need to do differently?  Will only an external momentary switch work for this?

Thanks!!

[wj2k3]

Is the switch you purchased a momentary switch?  Doesn't sound like it.  It should stil work if you flip the toggle on, momentarily, and then flip it back off.  

The switch will no illuminate because there is basically no power.  The wire is not (hot) like a wall switch in your house.  You are just connecting two pins on your motherboard temporarily.

I would suggest getting a monetary toggle switch.  I believe mine only had two connections.  I just hook one of the wires to each connector on mine and it worked great.  I got mine at  www.mcmaster.com part #7343K764

-wj2k3

[Scoobie]

This is a bit strange.  I thought any button would work by simply connecting the 2 wires from the computer's original power button to the new one (toggle in this case).

Is there something different I need to do to hook this up?  Maybe I need to add a third wire to the third connector?  If so, where would this wire come from?

If a toggle switch does not work the same as an arcade button or a momentary switch, I'll buy a momentary and see if that works.  It would be nice to figure out what I'm doing wrong with the toggle switch though.

[Scoobie]

Okay, the computer now turns on while connected to a momentary switch...BUT it turns off automatically within 3 seconds??!!

I bought a few different switches (including one just like wj2k3's model), but they all do the same thing.

Someone please help me!  What am I doing wrong?

Thanks!

[REBIRTH]

I am coming into this conversation late but here is what I did for this, works with two diffeent Mame PC's - incredibly simple and cheap and is a 1 button on/off for everything.

- 1 standard everyday power strip with everything in my cab plugged into it

- I bought a standard on/off pushbutton switch at Home Depot.  That switch has two wiring posts, all I did was cut 1 wire in the the power strip cord in the middle, connect two wires from the on/off pushbutton to either side of the power strip wire (just like inserting a light switch in your house).

That's it

- On the PC, turn on your power management settings in the CMOS.  What this does is boot up your PC any time power is turned on.  This is different than hitting the power button on the PC, which I do not have to do.  As an example, what this esentially does is if you power down your PC and then  unplugged it from the wall, when you plug it back into the wall later the PC will automatically boot back up without having to hit the power button.  When I hit my on/off power button I installed on the cab  it is as if I just plugged it back into the wall in my example and it will boot right up.  99% of all CMOS' can do this.

- similar on the monitor, most monitors have a setting that will turn it on when power is supplied instead of having to hit the actual monitor on/off

- marquee light, etc. all powers on/off with that button as well.

So all I do is walk up to the maching, hit that one on/off pushbutton (I put on top of my cab) and everything comes on.  When I finish playing, my front end will power down my PC when I tell it I am done (which I do by hitting my player 2 start and player 1 coin at the same time).  I then just hit the on/off pushbutton to turn everything off.  Later hitting that button will power everything back on again and I am good to go.

I understand the question of how to do this, I had it myself, but never quite understood the lengths people go to for a solution, the smartstrips people buy (which can be a bit pricey), the relays people build, etc...  My solution cost about $10 (actually I had the power strip already so it really only cost about $5 for the on/off switch).  My solution should work for almost everyone (would not work if your CMOS doesn't allow the power management setting - but that is rare in any PC less than 5-7 years old).

[SirPeale]

This thread

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=19304

references a solution to having your computer turn on when the rest of the power in the cabinet it turned on.  That way you can have everything plugged into an outlet strip (unless you have an arcade monitor, that you'll have to wire separately)

[Scoobie]

REBIRTH,
I am running WinXP.  Where would I go on my computer to setup the CMOS in power management?  There are some power options in control panel, is this it and what do I change in there?

Peale,
Unfortunately for me, that thread describes more relays and more wiring than I thought was necessary.  Do I actually need a relay?  Can't I simply take a momentary or toggle switch and cut the wires to my computer's main power button?  Then connect each of the 2 wires to the momentary/toggle switch?  

Again, this worked, but how do I get the power to stay on?

If someone has a solution to this probably simple problem the way I am currently trying...Please...Help!

[SirPeale]

Unfortunately for me, that thread describes more relays and more wiring than I thought was necessary.  Do I actually need a relay?  Can't I simply take a momentary or toggle switch and cut the wires to my computer's main power button?  Then connect each of the 2 wires to the momentary/toggle switch?  

Read the end of the thread.  The solution is as simple as a 16v 10uf capacitor.

[wj2k3]

Scoobie-

Yes.  Just cut the wires and install a momentary switch to turn on your computer.  Then use a smart strip or a Craftsman auto switch, found at:  
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00924031000

Plug your computer into the special switched socket and everything else into the other sockets.  I used the Sears auto switch and then used another power strip plugged into that so that I would have enough plugs.  The power strip has more room on it but I didn't want to order it and wait so I went down to the local sears.

With this configuration, when you hit your momentary switch (I replaced the old toggle that came on my cabinet with a momentary toggle) the computer will turn on and the auto strip will turn on everything else (monitor, speakers, marquee, etc...)

This, I feel, is much simpler than a 16v 10uf thingy majig and relays.  (No offense Peale - I am just not an electronics wizard)

-wj2k3

[rsoandrew]

Just to make sure that things are clear and to summarize what everybody is trying to tell you.

1) You need a momentary contact switch for the powerbutton (arcade button works fine).

2) You need to use Advanced Configuration and Power Management Interface (ACPI) and/or APM to shut down the computer with one button. In newer bios and windows 2000/xp, this is enabled by default. If your bios didn't support it but you've since reflashed, you need to let windows know that ACPM is now available. Startup shouldn't be a problem.MS site on ACPI

3) If you're using a non-generic motherboard, there may be some electronics where the switch is mounted that your motherboard needs to remain powered up. Pull the front of the case and look at the switch wiring. You may have to solder a couple of wires to where the power button attaches to the PCB. If it's surface mounted (and you're not a soldering pro) you may be better off detroying the switch and soldering to the guts of the switch instead of the pcb.

4) Use the smart strip. When you power on your computer, everything else will be powered up. The other thread was more complicated because Peale wanted to use a specific arcade wiring diagram. For what you want, the smart strip would be fine.

I'm guessing that your problem probably has to do more with #3 than anything else.

[SirPeale]

This, I feel, is much simpler than a 16v 10uf thingy majig and relays.  (No offense Peale - I am just not an electronics wizard)

No relays are necessary.  Just the cap.  Just one of them.  Just hook it on and go.  You have to make sure to put it on the right way (that's what a multimeter is for) but that's it.

[rsoandrew]

This, I feel, is much simpler than a 16v 10uf thingy majig and relays.  (No offense Peale - I am just not an electronics wizard)

No relays are necessary.  Just the cap.  Just one of them.  Just hook it on and go.  You have to make sure to put it on the right way (that's what a multimeter is for) but that's it.

Peale - Don't forget that he's running XP. The startup would go fine but the OS wouldn't last long after he shut it down a few times unless he first shut it down in windows and then hit a master power switch like your plans (I realize you're not using Win XP).

[REBIRTH]

REBIRTH,
I am running WinXP.  Where would I go on my computer to setup the CMOS in power management?  There are some power options in control panel, is this it and what do I change in there?

You get into the CMOS on boot up, before Windows pops up.  When you first turn on the PC you have to hit a certain key before the Windows screen shows up.  You have to look at your particular PC as for what key you hit - but it is usually the "delete" key or F1 key (check your PC's manual or search the web).  Sometimes there will be a quick message shown while booting up like "Hit F1 for setup" that tells you.  

Once you hit that key, instead of Windows popping uop your CMOS settings will pop up.  Go to the POWER section of the CMOS and change the setting for this (all CMOS's are different, so I can't give you exactly what to look for and change, but there shouldn't be much in that Pwer section so it should be easy to spot).  if you can't figure it out , let me know what PC you have and I'll see if I can search for you CMOS particulars.

EVERYONE ELSE: I love all the great ideas here, but I still do not understand the issue.  This subject comes up all the time and everytime I get confused like I must be missing something.  I am using nothing more than a standard $5 powerstrip and a standard $5 button - I push the button and everything turns on and boots up.  I don't get all the need for relays, circuits, caps, smartstrips... for most people anyway, I can see a rare case whenre something like that would be needed, but I would think 99% of people could do what I did for $5-$10 and almost no special talent or time setting it up.  I have to believe I am missing something magical that people with these special electronics setups are getting that I am not?  I can't imagine what that might be because I hit one button to power up, hit the same button to power everything down - I think that is what everyone is searching for.  My assumption is that people do not realize there is a standard setting in almost all CMOS' that will boot up the computer without having to hit the PC power button, so they have to go to great lengths to figure out how to get the PC to turn on without having to physically press the power button on the PC?   Seriously, I don't mean to say I am better than everyone else or something obnoxious like that, I am honestly wondering what my setup is lacking.  My post a bit earlier in this thread eaxplains what I did.  I would love to know what I might be missing?  Thanks!  

[Industen]

I also think there are simple ways to do this without a huge hassle. I just bought a SmartStrip and soldered a START pushbutton to my power on wire on the motherboard. Plug the computer into the main outlet and everything else triggers on immediately. I guess that diagram is something you'd have to contend with if your cabinet is an original game, but for Mame simple solutions work.



http://joelsgadgets.com/computeronpushbutton.html

I do have no question though? How exactly can I setup the computer to shut down by hitting the power switch? I have to hold it for 5 seconds to shut it down. Is this a windows setting or power management setting within the BIOS?

[REBIRTH]

I also think there are simple ways to do this without a huge hassle. I just bought a SmartStrip and soldered a START pushbutton to my power on wire on the motherboard. Plug the computer into the main outlet and everything else triggers on immediately. I guess that diagram is something you'd have to contend with if your cabinet is an original game, but for Mame simple solutions work.



http://joelsgadgets.com/computeronpushbutton.html

I do have no question though? How exactly can I setup the computer to shut down by hitting the power switch? I have to hold it for 5 seconds to shut it down. Is this a windows setting or power management setting within the BIOS?

A couple of things - with the smartstrip, or any normal power strip, you can turn on the power management in your BIOS so that there is not need to solder or touch the PC in any way.  This is my point, that is what the power managment is all about - turning on and booting up windows without ever touching the power button on the PC.  Windows made it so you couldwalk up and touch the mouse, keyboard, anything and it would power up (which most people have no need for so it is set to "off" by default).  Turn that on and just by switching the powerstrip on the computer will boot right up.  So in your case you soldered a button connected to your PC motherboard, which obviously works, but instead you could have left your PC alone and just pluged it into a standard $5 powerstrip.  Then just hit the powerstrip power button, or connect an external button to that powerstrip like I did, and it all turns on and boots up.

As for powering down - most front ends will have an option to "shut down" windows on exit of the front end.  If not, you can download a free utility that will do that for you - if you search these threads you can find some that people use.  As for me I use Emulaxian which includes the option to power down windows when I exit.  So it loads up automatically when that machine boots up, and then when I am done I tell the front end to exit by hitting the "player 2 start and player 1 coin" at the same time and windows shuts down and the PC turns off  (you can tell the front end whatever CP button(s) you want to assign to this).