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Getting PC to power up...
_Iz-:
I have a button on my cabinet that powers up the PC. It's just a standard arcade button wired to where my case power switch used to connect to my motherboard. The beauty of an ATX powersupply and windows being ACPI aware means I can also push this button to do a proper shutdown/power off as well. If I got one of those fancy powerbars with the sensing outlet that controls the rest of the strip then this setup would power EVERYTHING on and off from the single button and do it properly without corrupting windows.
I don't have the fancy-schmancy sensing powerbar because
1: I use a PC monitor which goes into standby anyway when the computer turns off
2: I really don't care if my speakers stay on or not and
3: I like to be able to turn my marquee light on or off independent of the rest of the system. Sometimes I just like to have it on when the system is off because it looks cool, mostly the kids like to have it off when they're playing because that's what they prefer... So I have the marquee light plugged directly into power and wired to the original switch on the top of my cabinet that used to turn the original game on and off...
Cue-Ball:
--- Quote from: _Iz- on April 17, 2003, 01:49:18 pm ---
--- Quote from: Cue-Ball on April 17, 2003, 01:28:14 pm ---How would you possibly write a script that can control a power supply? ???
--- End quote ---
An ATX powersupply is capable of being switched off via software, specifically an ACPI aware host OS. Same thing as pushing the powerbutton on an ATX computer running win98 or higher, it tells the OS to initiate shutdown. You can code a command to tell the OS to do the same thing. It's exactly the same as clicking start -> shutdown -> turn off.
--- End quote ---
Let me clarify. What i should have said is "How would you possibly write a script that can control a power STRIP?"
Turning the PC on and off is easy. The big problem becomes how to turn on/off the marquee, coin lights, trackball lights, etc without needing a separate power switch (ie: the switch on the power strip that everything is plugged into). The only way i've seen this done properly (unless you're using DOS) is to either hack a power strip or construct a junction box that is powered using a relay connected to the PC.
_Iz-:
You can buy powerbars with a sort of built-in relay. They have one always hot outlet and monitor the current on it. (They have several other "controlled" outlets as well). The idea is, you plug your PC into the sensor outlet, it always has power and the PC works as normal. The powerbar monitors this outlet and when it notices that the current is flowing (PC turned on) it automatically activates the rest of the outlets. When the PC turns off, it notices the lack of current flow on the sensor outlet and kills the power to the rest of the outlets. Now all you need is a way to turn the PC on and off (my externally mounted pushbutton example is ideal) and everthing else is taken care of.
There have been several posts mentioning where these special powerbars are available from. I believe Rampy alluded to them with his "$20 and a ride to Sears" comment in this very thread. They do not require any modification or hacking, they are "plug and play" - ready to go.
rampy:
yeah I alluded!
anyways to bring this full circle.. or uh.. something...
may I point out this thread in buy/sell/trade: Found cheap supplier of 1 button power supplies
*shrug*...
rampy
SirPeale:
--- Quote from: Cue-Ball on April 17, 2003, 01:28:14 pm ---How would you possibly write a script that can control a power supply? ???
--- End quote ---
See http://www.skum.org/bartop/software.htm