Author Topic: Power everything with one switch (Read 4506 times)

marcopolo · « **on:** January 02, 2003, 11:06:13 am »

I have an arcade cab with a 200W powersupply installed which provides power to the arcade monitor, marquee and coin door. Inside the cabinet I have a PC with an ATX motherboard and Case and it's own power supply. I would like the PC to turn on when I switch on the cabinet's power supply. Is this possible?

I guess one work around would be to extend the PCs power button onto the control panel, but it would be nice to have everything integrated.

Advice?

rhd · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2003, 11:18:10 am »

I'm planning to attach a relay to the 12v lead on the computer's power supply. Then you wire up a couple of AC outlets to the relay. It makes the outlets function like a switched outlet on your stereo system. Then you hook up the sound system and marquee light to the switched outlet. I've seen a couple of web pages that describe the technique so go to google and track one of them down.

Rood luck,
RHD

rampy · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2003, 11:18:34 am »

Quote from: marcopolo on January 02, 2003, 11:06:13 am

I have an arcade cab with a 200W powersupply installed which provides power to the arcade monitor, marquee and coin door. Inside the cabinet I have a PC with an ATX motherboard and Case and it's own power supply. I would like the PC to turn on when I switch on the cabinet's power supply. Is this possible?

I guess one work around would be to extend the PCs power button onto the control panel, but it would be nice to have everything integrated.

Advice?

It's certainly possible... one route commonly employed is the usage of a relay(s)... when power is supplied through a given relay (via your arcade power supply being turned on) it trips a switch and can turn on other items in your cabinet (over simplification). I'll dig up a link or two and edit it in here unless someone beats me to it...

Rampy

EDIT 1 http://home.bendcable.com/werstlein/ -- this link would be a good start

EDIT 2 Obligatory LotR comment, "one power switch to rule them all..."

eightbit · « **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2003, 11:22:27 am »

Sears sells a power strip that when you turn on a power tool it senses the current drop and turns on another outlet (like for a dust collecting vacumn). I'm not sure if this will work with a PC but I've been meaning to get over there and get one and give it a try. This will be much cleaner and cheaper even than building your own. Plus if it works it would be universal. I think someone said it was only $20.

There was a recent thread on this topic that gave links to sites where people had made their own or links to where you could buy them already made.

marcopolo · « **Reply #4 on:** January 02, 2003, 01:04:51 pm »

This relay idea is perfect!! I'll put a pushbutton (not sure what type yet, but something similar to the one on my pc) on the back of the cabinet. That button will turn on the PC, the 12VDC on the PC will power the relay and the relay will give power to a few outlets which have the monitor, marquee light and speaker subwoofer installed. This is awesome... Thanks for the help everyone!!

Mark

elfman12 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 02, 2003, 01:47:37 pm »

Quote from: marcopolo on January 02, 2003, 01:04:51 pm

This relay idea is perfect!! I'll put a pushbutton (not sure what type yet, but something similar to the one on my pc) on the back of the cabinet. That button will turn on the PC, the 12VDC on the PC will power the relay and the relay will give power to a few outlets which have the monitor, marquee light and speaker subwoofer installed. This is awesome... Thanks for the help everyone!!

Mark

Yeah, that's what I just put on my new cab - followed the http://home.bendcable.com/werstlein/ method and it works like a charm! Easy to build, and I have a normal pushbutton on the top of the cab that brings everything up. Suh-weeeeet.

mikgus · « **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2003, 01:54:20 pm »

check the bios for something like "power after powerfailure" set it to on
then it powers on when the powersupply gets power.

mr.Curmudgeon · « **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2003, 02:06:44 pm »

I wish this was cheaper...

Time sequenced power strip - [ link ]

I think I'll go the relay route myself...whenever I actually start the cabinet.

-mrC

eightbit · « **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2003, 02:33:17 pm »

Quote from: mikgus on January 02, 2003, 01:54:20 pm

check the bios for something like "power after powerfailure" set it to on
then it powers on when the powersupply gets power.

That will only work for PC's running windows that don't shut themselves down automatically. The ones that stop at the screen that says you may now shut off your computer. If you have a DOS machine then your idea will also work.

This also would require either you being able to reach the power strip button or have a remote power strip button. Its quite simple to have a remote PC power button on the newer style PC's. I used a arcade button mounted on the side of my cab. I pulled the power button connector off the motherboard shoved a wire into each side of the connector and crammed it back onto the mobo. Then hooked the wires to an arcade push button mounted to the side of my cab. and Wah lah, external PC on/off button.

marcopolo · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2003, 05:56:23 pm »

follow-on question guys:

I just finished the wiring, everything works great (was waiting for my hair to stand straight up when I first plugged everything in - but luckily everything went perfect). The only think I have left to do is extend the Power button from my PC to the back of my cabinet (decided to keep it off the CP because my kids like to hit all the buttons when they play games). I looked at the current power button on my PC and it looks like it says 8A at 125VAC. I went to Radio Shack to try and find a similar push button switch, but they only have 3A switches. Is this ok? Doesn't 8A seem overkill for a PC power switch.

Marco

Kilgore · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2003, 08:30:19 pm »

Quote from: marcopolo on January 02, 2003, 05:56:23 pm

follow-on question guys:

I looked at the current power button on my PC and it looks like it says 8A at 125VAC. I went to Radio Shack to try and find a similar push button switch, but they only have 3A switches. Is this ok? Doesn't 8A seem overkill for a PC power switch.

Marco

IANAE. Almost any momentary switch should be suitable for a power button for an ATX power supply (the power switch goes to the mother board). This includes arcade buttons. If this is an older AT power supply (switch goes to the power supply) and the switch actually switches on and off, then you (probably) need to stick with the higher rated switch.

Sasquatch! · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2003, 08:49:08 pm »

Reading that how-to on http://home.bendcable.com/werstlein/, I understood it until it go to the part that said "This is the connector which connects to the hard drive power connector from the PC" (http://home.bendcable.com/werstlein/P0000589.JPG).

Does the relay need to have 5V or 12V supplied to it? (In case you can't tell, I've never built a relay before.)

marcopolo · « **Reply #12 on:** January 02, 2003, 09:06:32 pm »

Quote from: Sasquatch! on January 02, 2003, 08:49:08 pm

Reading that how-to on http://home.bendcable.com/werstlein/, I understood it until it go to the part that said "This is the connector which connects to the hard drive power connector from the PC" (http://home.bendcable.com/werstlein/P0000589.JPG).

Does the relay need to have 5V or 12V supplied to it? (In case you can't tell, I've never built a relay before.)

The model relay mentioned on that website requires a 12V relay. He lists the part number and it's available at local radio shacks. On your PC the 12V lead is USUALLY yellow.

DeathMonk · « **Reply #13 on:** January 03, 2003, 10:51:14 am »

I'm having the same dillema.. I've came up with an idea that i'm not totally sure will work yet, but i'm confident. My idea was to take the "Power SW" wire that goes to the power button on the computer case to the motherboard, cut, strip, and then tie them together so they will always be "closed"... free and easy, if it works...

rampy · « **Reply #14 on:** January 03, 2003, 11:02:29 am »

Quote from: DeathMonk on January 03, 2003, 10:51:14 am

I'm having the same dillema.. I've came up with an idea that i'm not totally sure will work yet, but i'm confident. My idea was to take the "Power SW" wire that goes to the power button on the computer case to the motherboard, cut, strip, and then tie them together so they will always be "closed"... free and easy, if it works...

YMMv but I think that won't work with an ATX case/ps (unless you are using an AT case and in that case I don't remember how those worked)

If you did this... it would either never boot, or constantly reboot...

the power switch is a momentary pushbutton (like a doorbell, for example ...)

Rampy

eightbit · « **Reply #15 on:** January 03, 2003, 11:04:08 am »

Quote from: DeathMonk on January 03, 2003, 10:51:14 am

I'm having the same dillema.. I've came up with an idea that i'm not totally sure will work yet, but i'm confident. My idea was to take the "Power SW" wire that goes to the power button on the computer case to the motherboard, cut, strip, and then tie them together so they will always be "closed"... free and easy, if it works...

If your talking about a newer computer, 2-3yrs old, then this isn't going to work. The newer style computers use a momentary push button to turn the computer on and off. Closeing the circuit won't keep it in an on position.

DeathMonk · « **Reply #16 on:** January 03, 2003, 11:05:17 am »

ohhh yeaaa... d0h

DeathMonk · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2003, 11:06:30 am »

I am using an at case, but I guess I should have said that since 99% of ppl will be using atx..

rampy · « **Reply #18 on:** January 03, 2003, 11:10:14 am »

Quote from: DeathMonk on January 03, 2003, 11:06:30 am

I am using an at case, but I guess I should have said that since 99% of ppl will be using atx..

oh in that case you'll need to replace the 12AX7 tube before shorting the switch (that's a joke son... )
what cpu/mobo you running in that thing ?

rampy

eightbit · « **Reply #19 on:** January 03, 2003, 11:11:10 am »

Quote from: DeathMonk on January 03, 2003, 11:06:30 am

I am using an at case, but I guess I should have said that since 99% of ppl will be using atx..

Why cut and strip then? Just turn the switch on and leave it on.

I thought you mentioned wires going back to the motherboard. If your power switch goes to the motherboard instead of the power supply then your using an atx style power supply

DeathMonk · « **Reply #20 on:** January 03, 2003, 11:14:13 am »

P3-550/Compaq Generic.. I didn't think they made at cases after the k6/pentium days... guess I was wrong..

-just orderend a 2100+ mobo combo off pricewatch tho...

DeathMonk · « **Reply #21 on:** January 03, 2003, 11:17:41 am »

Well, it definately is an at case/power supply (2 separate power leads, etc.) but the power switch never feels like it stays closed when you press it.

eightbit · « **Reply #22 on:** January 03, 2003, 11:18:38 am »

Quote from: DeathMonk on January 03, 2003, 11:14:13 am

P3-550/Compaq Generic.. I didn't think they made at cases after the k6/pentium days... guess I was wrong..

-just orderend a 2100+ mobo combo off pricewatch tho...

I didn't think you could put the word generic and the word compaq in the same senctence.

DeathMonk · « **Reply #23 on:** January 03, 2003, 11:21:08 am »

You think compaq uses Abit, Soyo, Asus, etc?

rampy · « **Reply #24 on:** January 03, 2003, 11:21:39 am »

Quote from: DeathMonk on January 03, 2003, 11:17:41 am

Well, it definately is an at case/power supply (2 separate power leads, etc.) but the power switch never feels like it stays closed when you press it.

I'm confused... but i'd bet dollars to donuts it's an atx case/ps

My last AT case was a cyrix p150+ to give you an idea... everybody conforms to that standard now (any converse proves the rule =P )

it's not supposed to stay closed as it's a momentary switch... just touching/shorting the wires for a milli second is enough to "tell" the motherboard to begin the boot process (or to begin the shutoff process if the computer is already "on").. know what I mean?

*shrug* good luck...

rampy

DeathMonk · « **Reply #25 on:** January 03, 2003, 11:25:47 am »

I think I just have a freak... Ur prolly right, atx power/case with the physical characteristics of an at case... dumb compaq

eightbit · « **Reply #26 on:** January 03, 2003, 11:44:26 am »

I have never seen a Compaq running a standard power supply. They use mostly proprietary parts. I hope you ordered a case with that new mobo/cpu combo you ordered because I've never seen a Compaq that you could swap in a standard mobo.

Smittydc · « **Reply #27 on:** January 03, 2003, 04:12:31 pm »

In the creative power control department:

Local drug stores are selling radio controlled power strips for outdoor x-mas lights.

And I suppose the Clapper would work too, though you'd have to be careful not to applaud yourself out of a high score.

Myself, I'm planning to set the bios Poweron Keyboard option to work so I can just tap a key and have it boot up -- but haven't really played around with that yet.

atog · « **Reply #28 on:** January 03, 2003, 05:38:21 pm »

You guys are working WAY too hard.

I built the werstlein box and used it in my cab. I had all the same thoughts about building a push button switch that you did, but then I was talking to one of the computer nerds at work about what I was doing and he told me to go into the computer inside my cabs bios, and look for a setting titled something like "power up on key-press".

Sure enough there was something like that in there, so I enabled that, and now whenever I push any button on my cab's control panel, it powers up the pc, the stereo in there, the lights, the sub, everything. It's so damn slick, and everybody who see's it cannot believe it!

Brunnen-G · « **Reply #29 on:** January 03, 2003, 07:07:29 pm »

Before you get too deep in wiring and playing around, check your computer's BIOS settings.

Every motherboard I've owned for the last two years (about 8 of them) had the option of setting the power state after power failure. On, off, or last state. Set it to on, and whenever the computer gets AC power it will turn on automatically. Then all you need is a single switch.

elfman12 · « **Reply #30 on:** January 03, 2003, 07:09:51 pm »

I did the werstlein box, and turn everything on with a happ button on top of the cab. I like this better than using the "wake on keyboard" method, because if anyone brushed the CP, or the cat jumped up there or anything, you boot up for no reason. (bad if you're away for the day...)

Also, I just hit that same button to power down. It closes open apps, shuts down the PC then everything else. Cool.

rhd · « **Reply #31 on:** January 06, 2003, 11:36:01 am »

I think (but am not sure) that if you take the 12v off of the power connectors after the hard drives then it will work even if you do have the "soft power down" switch. That's because the power will be shut off to the hard drives after the power down sequence by the motherboard.

Can anybody confirm that?

Thanks


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