Button pushing a button to turn on/off computer

[2PacMan]

I'm going to do this, just wondering if anyone else tried this....

I've seen lots of talk about re-wiring power buttons to your computer and stuff, seems like alot of work if you're not electronically gifted like me.

I have some extra leaf buttons laying around.  So i thought i'd just push the computer tower all the way to the front of the inside of the cab, drill a hole in the lower front of the cab and stick a leaf button in there w/o the leaf switch behind it.  That way the leaf button will puch the power on button on the front of the computer tower inside the arcade cab.  Seems like it'll work in theory, and the button is still pretty discrete being way down at the bottom, and i can just turn it on with my toes when i'm lazy.  I'm gonna try it out.

[Goz]

I'm going to do this, just wondering if anyone else tried this....

I've seen lots of talk about re-wiring power buttons to your computer and stuff, seems like alot of work if you're not electronically gifted like me.

I have some extra leaf buttons laying around.  So i thought i'd just push the computer tower all the way to the front of the inside of the cab, drill a hole in the lower front of the cab and stick a leaf button in there w/o the leaf switch behind it.  That way the leaf button will puch the power on button on the front of the computer tower inside the arcade cab.  Seems like it'll work in theory, and the button is still pretty discrete being way down at the bottom, and i can just turn it on with my toes when i'm lazy.  I'm gonna try it out.

Sounds as simplistic as drilling a hole and pushing the button with a stick. The other way may seem daunting to you (electrical skills) and if it is; you might want to consider a different hobby / project. I'm not trying to be a jerk; but in your journey down this road you will splice wires and work with switches and possibly high voltage.

-Goz

[markb]

You cannot get ANY easier than re-wiring your power button.

Most mobos have a 2 pin connector for power on/off, simply run a a couple of wires from the jumper on the mobo to a microswitch and away you go.

[Stingray]

The other way may seem daunting to you (electrical skills) and if it is; you might want to consider a different hobby / project. I'm not trying to be a jerk; but in your journey down this road you will splice wires and work with switches and possibly high voltage.

Gonna have to back up Gozur here. Re-wiring a button is about as easy as it gets, if you can't do that you may just want to buy yourself an X-Arcade & call it good enough.

-S

[AlanS17]

That solution may work in this case, but sooner or later you'll have to run leads.

Plus re-wiring a button is probably easier than lining up the hole, drilling it, making sure the PC is in position, making sure it can't come out of position. Wow... now THAT sounds like a lot of work.

[UndeadMeat]

I agree with the others. Rewire your power button. Its really easy. You don't need to know how to solder or anything. Coming from the power button on the front of you case are two wires that end in a jumper like end.  You can tell which one is the power by the silk screen on the motherboard or by a little label on the actual end that slips over the contacts.

1. Just cut the wire somewhere in the middle (Not trying to sound condescending, but MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS UNPLUGGED FROM THE WALL!)
2. Strip all the ends
3. Get two new long pieces of wire
4. Reconnect the ends you cut and add the new wire (You can use wire nuts, electrical tape, or even quick disconnects like the ones used to wire up your control panel. Just make sure that the connections can't touch each other or you'll cause a short. Electrical tape is your friend.)
5. Strip the others ends of the new wire and attach to a micro switch button
6. Mount the button
7. Power up the computer

7 very easy steps you can follow to create an external power button for your computer, and the one on the case should still work as well. If you've wired a control panel at all this is not any harder.

Good luck.
-UndeadMeat

Edited for typos

[sheisserick]

I really hate my first post being a stupid question, but here goes..

Just to recap on this.... There are 2 wires from the PC.... a "+" and a "-"..

Where on the switch should they each be connected on the switch?

My guess:

+ = Always open
- = Ground

Is this right? I dont want to fry my powersupply 

[grueinthebox]

Where on the switch should they each be connected on the switch?

Polarity doesn't matter.  Either way you wire it, the button presses and closes the circuit.  One wire goes to ground, the other to Normally Open.

[sheisserick]

Heh.... makes sence when you think about it actually..

Just nice to hear it from someone, so all doubts are gone..

Thanks dude.

[Stobe]

I'm assuming you already checked your BIOS to see if your mobo had a "wake-on" setting?

I'm sure there are a few people here that were willing to upgrade their mobo to avoid wiring a remote power switch.  Which is fine.  It all gets the job done.

-Stobe

[sheisserick]

It does

[BarontheFirst]

Well if you need an example still I thought I would toss this up for you. I got the buttons at radio shack and just drilled out a blank plate. Used a soldering iron to extend the wires from the mobo. Really it was easy and I placed them behind my cp and in front of my bezel. Out of the way and almost out of sight. Hope this helps you out worked out well for me.

[sheisserick]

I added a regular microswitch button on the side of the cabinet... Works like a charm 

[spystyle]

.

[Jakobud]

A rock-style switch won't work for this application correct?  With a microswitch, you press the button, it closes the circuit, then releasing the button opens the circuit back up again.  But with a  rocker switch you close the circuit and it stays closed until you switch it back.  The type of button you want to use is similar to a microswitch right? Another name for it is a momentary switch.

[UndeadMeat]

Yes, Jakobud, you are correct. You want a momentary switch. An arcade button works fine, but I'm going with something with a little more swank.

http://www.frozencpu.com/ele-70.html

A nother option I've seen (and I wish I could find the site I saw it on, because it had great step by step instructions and pictures) is to put your power strip inside the cabinet, cut the cord on it, and install a rocker style switch (one that is designed to handle household current) between the wall and power strip. Then set your BIOS to boot on power restore. You can then mount the switch anywhere  you want providing you have a long enough cord. Throw the switch and the whole power strip comes back on. Of course using a smart power strip makes this unnecessary, but again, I like cool looking switches.

http://www.frozencpu.com/ele-137.html

UndeadMeat