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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: brianoneill on January 24, 2007, 06:31:00 am

Title: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: brianoneill on January 24, 2007, 06:31:00 am
Hi,

Anyone know how to do this ? I'd like to be able to power on the PC in the cab from a button (cherry switch) rather than from the PC hold up in the cab.

Can I use the normal wires I use from the buttons to the iPac ?

Cheers,
Brian.
Title: Re: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: leapinlew on January 24, 2007, 06:50:00 am
Hi,

Anyone know how to do this ? I'd like to be able to power on the PC in the cab from a button (cherry switch) rather than from the PC hold up in the cab.

Can I use the normal wires I use from the buttons to the iPac ?

Cheers,
Brian.

Do not run the buttons through the ipac! Just relocate the power button on your computer and run it to a different switch.

You may want to consider not having it on the front of your cab.
Title: Re: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: brianoneill on January 24, 2007, 07:02:55 am
Thanks. Oh yeah. That was a bit stupid about the iPac connection. oooops.

Yeah. Side/top of cab might be safer.

So if I have a happs arcade button I just wire from the happs button to the two pins on the motherboard that control the power?

Cheers.
Title: Re: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: SirPeale on January 24, 2007, 07:06:35 am
This has been discussed before. 

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=search
Title: Re: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: leapinlew on January 24, 2007, 07:06:45 am
Thanks. Oh yeah. That was a bit stupid about the iPac connection. oooops.

Yeah. Side/top of cab might be safer.

So if I have a happs arcade button I just wire from the happs button to the two pins on the motherboard that control the power?

Cheers.

If your motherboard turns on that way - give it a shot. I used to take a screw driver to manually jump it.
Title: Re: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: _) (V) (-) on January 24, 2007, 08:53:33 am
If you have cats in your house you may wish to reconsider using a cherry switch for the power button on top of your cab. Cats tend to climb up on top the them cabnets (aka space heaters) for a nap, and it's way too easy for them to turn the thing on/off while stomping around up there.
Title: Re: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: Cutty on January 24, 2007, 09:14:38 am
I wish I thought of placement more before I wired my power button, its on top, but on the front left corner, and i never thought that would be the exact place people would stand and watch, while resting a hand on the top of the cab..........only got turned off once though, and no hi scores were at stake.
Title: Re: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: More Cowbell on January 24, 2007, 09:41:34 am
I simply hack a power strip and extend the on/off button to a switch wherever I want it on my cab. This way everything that I plug into it will power up with the same switch, (computer, monitor, speakers, marquee lights, etc.)
Very easy and very effective.
Title: Re: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: brianoneill on January 24, 2007, 11:58:05 am
thanks guys. actually that reminds me of another problem I am going to maybe have.

Until now I had a 22" CRT monitor in the cab. BIG BULKY and HEAVY. I m chucking that in favor of a now, out of a job, 17" TFT monitor.

I am wondering how the monitor is gonna get turned on each time I power up the cab !?
Title: Re: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: Kaytrim on January 24, 2007, 12:00:47 pm
Keep the 22" if at all possible man,  a 17" monitor is small for an arcade machine.
Title: Re: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: brianoneill on January 24, 2007, 12:07:12 pm
well the 17" is flat screen and the 22" is CRT so not as much difference as you might think.

Also, the 22" weighs a tonne! The amount of times I've had to move the cab around with that thing in it is real annoying.

Actually, on other question..free for all now :) but what guage wire do I need to connect up my buttons to the iPac. I have it already wired up but want to re-wire (cleanly). No idea what gauge(?) the wire is. At a guess 22 gauge ?
Title: Re: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: More Cowbell on January 24, 2007, 04:32:06 pm
At a guess 22 gauge ?

22. 23. Whatever it takes.  ;)
Title: Re: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: Huskerfan on January 24, 2007, 04:56:48 pm
"220. 225. Whatever it takes."  Not sure how many movie buffs are in the audience. ;D

I used 20 gauge "bell wire" that I bought from Home Depot.  It comes in red and white strands.
Title: Re: Wiring arcade button to Power on a PC
Post by: rcrules on January 25, 2007, 03:36:41 am
"Nice shot. what did you use, a 38?"  "38, 39, whatever it took."