Power Switch

[switz]

I want to make a power switch on top of my desk to turn on and off my pc. How would I go about doing this? I know I can either do the push button to turn on off, but can I use http://cgi.ebay.com/Missile-Style-Switch-BLACK-Cover_W0QQitemZ190091252894QQcategoryZ6775QQssPage NameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
that?

How do I do it exactly?

I saw a thread a while ago, but I cant remember where it is,
thanks

[azminisk8r]

yes you could do that and ive done that before, all you have to splice the power switch wire, but with that you'd have to switch it on then off immediately to trun it on easier to use a push button

[switz]

So,
I would need to cut the current powerline and resolder it to this, but I cant make it so when I push it up, it turns it on, and when I push it down, it turns it off?

What if Pushing it up, made it move slightly and let the contacts touch, and turning it down, made it move apart.

[switz]

What about something like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/WWII-Inert-Military-Surplus-Pineapple-Grenade_W0QQitemZ180095658174QQcategoryZ585QQrdZ1Q QcmdZViewItem
Pull pin out, go on, or is that too fancy?

[switz]

What about this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PUSH-START-IGNITION-W-MISSILE-LAUNCHER-SWITCH-RACING_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50459QQitemZ1300 89658915QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
Would that work?

[moojoe]

yea, you could use that switch easily. though I have no idea what azminisk8r meant by his comment. I've used these switches before, and they're just standard action switches, so it would be really easy to install. you just splice you're power cable, strip the hot (either red or black, most likely black), and solder the ends to the switch. put heat shrink on it to protect the contacts. keep in mind this is the power cable to you're compy, so if you mess it up, or if the contacts touch something else (thus the heat shrink), you could seriously fry you're compy.

[switz]

Ok,

Thanks, This means that my old power button wont work anymore right? Also, can I get this lock to work? So it only works when I switch it up?

[moojoe]

you're old power button will work, you would just leave it in the on position whenever you use it.
in my experiances with these covered switches. its not really a lock, just a little piece of plastic so you dont hit it. you just flip up the plastic and flip up the switch under it.

its really just a switch under this:
http://www.alliedelec.com/Search/ProductDetail.asp?SKU=826-8187&SEARCH=&MPN=8497K1&DESC=8497K1&R=826%2D8187&sid=45FDD2801E65617F

[Canadian Eh?]

That flip cover can be much cheaper from other places, I Think.

[moojoe]

Possibly, I havent really looked. I just linked to give an idea.
also, with Allied Electronics, there's a min $25 purchase.

[Guardian]

I had a great idea, you know those clap things, that you like clap twice and a light turns on or somthing? What if you converted one of those clap things to you're power botton?

[moojoe]

haha. that could be really cool. though...say you're watching a movie on you're compy, and they clap in it...there goes you're computer. that would be quite an amusing prank to pull on someone though. quite easy too if you lived in a dorm or such.

[Spacehonkey]

If you're looking for a toggle switch here is one I found with a LED built into the switch for $18.

http://www.crazypc.com/products/82392R.html

This sells the cover and switch individually.

http://www.wiringproducts.com/?target=dept_11.html&gclid=CKzhta3ugYsCFQu2bgodDmrxJw

[switz]

Its not about getting the toggle switch, it is about getting it to work so I can make it so when it flips up, it is on, and when it flips down, it is off. How do I do that because I dont want to have to flip on, flip off as quickly as possible, I want flip on flip off. Also, I want to try and find one that locks up or locks down so I dont hit it on/off by accident.

[moojoe]

then why not just have a toggle switch? why do you need the whole red thing?
you're not going to find one that flips the switch when you flip the cover up, the cover is to protect, nothing else. most though will flip the switch off when you flip it down anyway though. many switches have a way to lock the switch in the down position, but not the up position. remember these switches are for safety of mechanical devices. they are made so that its really hard to turn the machine on, but really easy to turn it off. they are not made so that you can easily turn them on, since that would be a safety hazard.

[Luke122]

Well, since power switches on PC's are momentary switches (push to make is what they are called), why not do a search for those specifically? You might still be able to find one that you like.

I always liked the idea of the start button on a Honda S2000. Big red push button that says "ignition" or something.. that would AWESOME on a case.
Like this one! (http://www.crxchaos.co.uk/starter-button.html)

One suggestion though.. make sure you set your BIOS to "4 sec delay" for power off, other wise if you bump the button, it powers down instantly. Ooops.

[Spacehonkey]

then why not just have a toggle switch? why do you need the whole red thing?
you're not going to find one that flips the switch when you flip the cover up, the cover is to protect, nothing else. most though will flip the switch off when you flip it down anyway though. many switches have a way to lock the switch in the down position, but not the up position. remember these switches are for safety of mechanical devices. they are made so that its really hard to turn the machine on, but really easy to turn it off. they are not made so that you can easily turn them on, since that would be a safety hazard.


I totally agree with this. I work on helicopters and we use tons of these toggle switches. We do have on/off toggle switches that operate just like a normal house light switch. We only put the red safety cover on the switches we don't want the pilots to accidentally turn on, for instances the jettison or weapons fire and yes when you flip the red safety cover down it forces the toggle switch to go to down/off position.

If I'm understanding what you want you could just build a small flip lid and place it over the entire switch. Kind of like the button they use on Deal or No Deal. Whenever you want to turn it on you raise the lid then the flip the switch to the up/on position then close the lid so your safe from turning off your computer by accident.