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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: JazBrown on October 22, 2008, 10:24:34 pm

Title: need specific advice re wiring a laptop power button
Post by: JazBrown on October 22, 2008, 10:24:34 pm

So I need some help here guys. I want to wire a external button to power up my lap top and I'm afraid of screwing the proverbial pooch. I need to know where I should solder my wires from. I have attached some pics in hopes that someone can point me in the right direction.

In the first pic this is the top of the board. The power button in dead in the middle above the F9 button.

The second pic is the bottom of the board. The underside of where the button is is just above the *

Hope this gives someone enough to go on.

Thanks

Title: Re: need specific advice re wiring a laptop power button
Post by: Kevin Mullins on October 22, 2008, 10:34:22 pm

How many of these contact points belong to the button?
Looks like maybe four......
Maybe a slightly different angle pic might help as well. The ribbon section is kinda in the way to see.

Do you have a multimeter?

Title: Re: need specific advice re wiring a laptop power button
Post by: JazBrown on October 22, 2008, 10:42:00 pm

I am assuming that all four of them belong to the button??? As they are all directly under it. 2 hot and 2 ground maybe?

Unfortunately I don't have a multimeter... And if I did I can say I would know what to do with it... It goes in my belly button right?

If I just tried wiring up a button to 2 of  these points would there be any risk... Bodily or to the computer?

Title: Re: need specific advice re wiring a laptop power button
Post by: JazBrown on October 22, 2008, 10:48:05 pm

Ill try and get you a better pic. The macro on my camera isn't so hot. One moment...

Title: Re: need specific advice re wiring a laptop power button
Post by: JazBrown on October 22, 2008, 10:53:00 pm

here is a slightly clearer pic. I hope this helps.

Title: Re: need specific advice re wiring a laptop power button
Post by: Martijn on October 23, 2008, 11:19:31 am

you should get a multimeter and measure what points make a difference when you press the button

you can solder this from the top with just small awg wire

i think 1-3
and 2-4 make contact when you press

measuring is your answer

Title: Re: need specific advice re wiring a laptop power button
Post by: JazBrown on October 23, 2008, 12:15:37 pm

Thanks for the advice!

It looks like a multimeter is something that I should have around if I'm going to screwing around with the inards of electronics.

If anyone is interested I found a pretty cool tutorial on a "carputer" geek site that shows how to wire up an external power button for a lap top that is connected with a removable 1/8 inch audio jack. Pretty cool

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/laptops-tablets-upmcs-etc/108758-simple-clean-remote-laptop-power-switch.html (http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/laptops-tablets-upmcs-etc/108758-simple-clean-remote-laptop-power-switch.html)