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PC power on/off switch WITHOUT modifying PC motherboard/switch
edub:
Hello all,
I have done some searching on this forum and have found some great ideas for power on/off. But I'm missing something that I hope you can help me with.
Ok, so I plan to use a smart power strip - PC will be the "control" and everything else will be hooked to the "switched" outlets. So, when the PC is powered ON, everything turns on and vice versa.
Let's assume that I have a std arcade button as my "power on/off" switch as is popular. That's what I plan to do also. But, the only way to make this work is to muck with the power switch on the motherboard. The PC I plan to use may get purposed elsewhere, so I don't want to decap it and wire in the arcade button to the motherboard. The downside to not using the PC power switch is that I cannot use the auto Windows shutdown power mgmt feature in the BIOS (which is VERY handy).
In this case, what should I wire between the arcade button and the smart power strip as my "control"? I have the monitor, powered usb hubs, marquee light, audio amp, PC, etc. in my system. If I don't want to modify ANY of these component's switches, what are my options? "Something" needs to be placed between the arcade button and the smart power strip's "control" outlet. Any suggestions?
Now that I've thought about it more...the only equipment I'm willing to "muck" with is the marquee light. Everything else may be repurposed down the road and I want it in "original" condition (no hacking).
So, here are my questions:
1. If I don't want to modify anything, what can I place between the arcade button and the smart power strip's "control" outlet?
2. If I don't mod the PC's power switch, then I can't take advantage of the "power mgt", "auto shutdown windows" when PC switch is turned off, right?
3. If I mod the marquee switch, do those things draw enough power to trigger the switched outlets?
4. What else do you suggest?
I guess if the advantages of simple power on/off (arcade button wired to modified PC power switch) outweigh any other option, maybe I will just bite the bullet and modify the power switch. I have a Dell Zino HD - not the easiest access to the motherboard and switch - easier to SCREW UP and then, what, buy another one? I'm really not comfortable with that possibility...
Thanks for the help...
edub
DaOld Man:
Some computer bios will allow you to set a keyboard button to power up the computer:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5682023_use-keyboard-turn-computer.html
Not sure if yours will.
Another option would be switching the marquee light on, ans having it plugged into the "master" outlet, like you said, but if it's not enough current to turn on the power strip, add something else in parallel to up the current.
What that something else would be is hard to say, but maybe a power resistor.
Paul Olson:
http://www.amazon.com/Power-Motherboard-Cable-Switch-Button/dp/B00345WH4A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1298081949&sr=8-3
All you really need is the housing shown in the pic and some wire to run to your pushbutton. If you don't have crimpers, something like this will probably be easier though.
Donkbaca:
Turning it on is easy, you can set your bios to wake on LAN, or set it up so it boots when it gets power. It's the shutting down that is hard unless you want to shut down from your cab though software. I wouldn't recommend a hard power down where you just turn it off without shuttin down properly
bkenobi:
It's not hard if your FE has a shutdown option (I know GameEx does, but I'm sure there are others as well). All you need to do is get that switch cable that's posted above and cut the switch off. Then, solder on some extra cable (or use crimped on connectors) and connect to your arcade push button. When you push the arcade button, it will turn on the PC as you want. When you are in the FE, just select the power down option and it will turn everything off (assuming you are using that smart strip as you suggested).
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