Master power switch

[jlfreund]

I've read some past threads and think I know what I want to do:

1) Put a jumper on the POW_SW pins on my motherboard with two wires coming out from it
2) Hookup the wires from the jumper to a momentary switch somewhere on the cabinet
3) The PC is connected to a Smart power strip's control outlet
4) The rest of the gizmos (marquee lamp, speakers, monitor, etc) are always left on, and hookup to other smart power strip outlets.

Theoretically, pressing the momentary switch will turn the entire cabinet on or off.

My questions are:
1) What is the minimum that I need for my momentary switch?  3A? 125VAC?, etc?
2) Will my smart power strip theory work, given the following peripherals:

My setup is:
1) Computer with ATX power (maybe 300W)
2) 21" Dell CRT
3) A pair of $10 Labtec amplified speakers
4) 20" Flourescent lamp similar to http://www.happcontrols.com/lighting/49100100.htm

I'm looking to use this smart strip: http://www.bitsltd.net/smartstrip/faqlcg3.htm

I'm worried about allowing the monitor to turn on and off from that smart powerstrip instead of using the monitor power button.  But maybe that's what the smart strip was designed for.  I don't understand any of the electrical ratings in the smart strip description.

Jason

[NightGod]

1) Shouldn't need much, if anything. AFAIK it just shorts out two ground pins, no real voltage crosses it.
2) I can't think of a reason it won't work like that, monitors turn off and on via power strips all the time without any problem.

[Hippo]

Yes it will work, I build my own 'smartstrip' and thats how I power up my cab.

Actually at the moment until I get the power switch from the PC extended im using the 'keyboard any key power-on' option in the bios. So when I mash any keys on the control panel the thing boots

[MYX]

I have the Bitz Limited Smart strip and it does exactly this.
I just took the 2 wires coming from the mother board and snipped them (so I could use the connector that hooks to the mother board) I soldered 2 longer wires to the piece connected to the mother board. I ran it to an arcade push button on the front of the cab. There is no extra voltage needed here. Just a connection (Closing a circuit). I used 22G wire.

As to the smart strip, it works like a champ. I have the PC connected to it. I press the new power button, the PC kicks on and almost immediatly the monitor, and power supply #2 kick on as well. There is an adjustment on the side of the power strip. This will allow for you to find the sweet spot to kick on and off the aux sockets. At first do not be supprised if once the computer turns off, everything else stays on. Adjust the little trip pot and eventually it all will kick off.

[BamBam]

I installed a standard arcade button to the top of cabinet, out of sight, and connected it to my power switch on the computer.  The computer and all of the other items are plugged into my Smart Switch.
Works great and it was simple to do.

John

[krick]

Check out this post...

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=37153.msg329904#msg329904

[Texasmame]

Why is a smart strip needed and not just a regular surge protect?  What am I missing here?

[MPTech]

I have my cab hooked up like MYX.
I extended the PC switch and rigged it to one of the coin return buttons on my coin box.  All of the electronics are plugged into the smart strip.
when the cab is completely off one push of the coin return powers everything up. (PC, monitor, lights, speakers, etc)

It was easier to setup with the smart-strip.  It's a little pricey, but works great!

[MYX]

Why is a smart strip needed and not just a regular surge protect?  What am I missing here?

Smart strip has a Trigger outlet. Once that device is turned on, all other outlets turn on. There are also 2 always hot outlets. Grreat device.

[MustardTent]

Actually at the moment until I get the power switch from the PC extended im using the 'keyboard any key power-on' option in the bios. So when I mash any keys on the control panel the thing boots

This is very similar to what I have.  My PC boots when you press the spacebar.  So, the switch I have hooked up for the space bar is my coin door.  The cabinet turns on when I drop a token in the slot.

It's nice to simply re-use something like this...I found it to be very useful.

[MYX]

Actually at the moment until I get the power switch from the PC extended im using the 'keyboard any key power-on' option in the bios. So when I mash any keys on the control panel the thing boots

This is very similar to what I have.  My PC boots when you press the spacebar.  So, the switch I have hooked up for the space bar is my coin door.  The cabinet turns on when I drop a token in the slot.

It's nice to simply re-use something like this...I found it to be very useful.

Yeah, but does your system turn off if you hit the start button a second time? (drop a token in and it shuts down) or did you turn this off?

[MustardTent]

It actually isn't an option with the BIOS "power up on keypress" functionality.  What I did was use my quit button.  I have three "admin" buttons: play, pause and quit.  If you hit the quit button while in mamewah, it'll turn the cab off (can bring up the "quit" menu or simply turn the whole thing off).

[Texasmame]

Why is a smart strip needed and not just a regular surge protect?  What am I missing here?

Smart strip has a Trigger outlet. Once that device is turned on, all other outlets turn on. There are also 2 always hot outlets. Grreat device.

Hmm. . . well, why not just use the toggle switch on a regular power surge strip to serve that purpose?

[MustardTent]

If you use that toggle switch, the sequence of events to turn the cab on are:

1) Hit Toggle Switch (I assume this turns on all peripherals)
2) Power on PC

If you use the smartstrip, the sequence is:

1) Power on PC (smartstrip powers up peripherals)

I think the power down is more important, though.  You can't just throw the toggle to kill the power when using most PCs (I know this isn't a hard rule, though).

For Toggle switch:
1) Power down PC
2) Hit Toggle (powers off everything else)

For smartstrip
1) Power down PC (start->shutdown, programatically, etc) -- trips smartstrip which powers everything off

Just a bit cleaner for a job which is supposed to be simple -- namely turning the cab on and off.

[JustMichael]

1) What is the minimum that I need for my momentary switch?  3A? 125VAC?, etc?

Get whatever momentary switch you like the look of.  So little current goes throught it that it really doesn't matter.

2) Will my smart power strip theory work, given the following peripherals?

It depends.

If the monitor has a real on-off switch (not just a power down switch (monitor goes out and light changes color)), plug the computer into the control outlet on the powerstrip.  Your button wired to the computer will turn on the computer and the powerstrip will power up the other devices.

If the monitor light just changes color, you will need to set the pc to come on when ac is applied.  Plug the monitor into the control outlet on the smartstrip and wire your button for turning on the cabinet to the monitor's button.

[miles2912]

If you PC has 'wake on power detect' feature and most of the newer ones do then just hack a normal power switch.  Extend the  on/off button from a power switch to an external switch mounted on your cab.  Then hitting the switch will turn the whole thing on and to shut down use whaever windwows shutdown command you want (can be in a front end or use the start button).  When the PC powers down, flick the switch.  Cheap and simple.

Click on my logo to see how I did it.  Page 3 I believe.

D-

[Texasmame]

If you use that toggle switch, the sequence of events to turn the cab on are:

1) Hit Toggle Switch (I assume this turns on all peripherals)
2) Power on PC

If you use the smartstrip, the sequence is:

1) Power on PC (smartstrip powers up peripherals)

I think the power down is more important, though.  You can't just throw the toggle to kill the power when using most PCs (I know this isn't a hard rule, though).

For Toggle switch:
1) Power down PC
2) Hit Toggle (powers off everything else)

For smartstrip
1) Power down PC (start->shutdown, programatically, etc) -- trips smartstrip which powers everything off

Just a bit cleaner for a job which is supposed to be simple -- namely turning the cab on and off.

Well, there it is.  I THOUGHT that's all there was to it.  Ah, well.  I'll probably get a smartie just the same.