USB Power Button?

Gundog48

Gundog48

Gundog48

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Joined
13 Sep 2009
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Maidstone, Kent
I'm designing a chair based on the 'Captains Chair' from Star Trek TOS. I'm tailor fitting it to fit my work area and my own comfortable setup and I plan to have the 'control' panels on the arm. No flashy lights, just audio jacks, a USB hub and maybe a couple of random rocker switches. But I thought it would be really cool if I could switch the PC on from the chair. I don't really want to run a cable from my switch header to the chair, but it would be good if I could somehow use a USB device with a momentary toggle switch attached.

My motherboard allows you to start the PC by double clicking the mouse, so why not like this? Any ideas how I could... make it so? :P
 
So you are running cables already for USB. I suppose you could buy a USB foot switch, use its interface and switch to make your PC switch on somehow. I've got a USB footswitch but have no idea if it can wake my pc from sleep, let alone soft off.


You can buy infra red remote control switches that might do the job. These can come as standalone devices or electronics kits, or even ones you can make yourself with the right components and a soldering iron.
 
I can wake my HTPC with my remote, which is just a wireless (not IR) USB receiver. I'm sure there must be a way of doing it :)
 
What I'm trying to work with is how, when the PC is completely turned off, it can be turned on by double clicking the mouse. If it comes to it I could butcher a mouse, run wires from the left click switch to a momentary toggle, and turn it on by clicking twice, but I would have thought there must be an easier way!
 
hehe you could have it turn on when you sit down with a pad in the seat, would be funny
tho maybe a cat could jump up and turn your pc on^^
 
You can use a wireless rf remote to turn on/off your pc wirelessly (link below).
The receiver needs a seperate 12 volts supply to operate, you can also tap the psu 5volts standby rail and use a 5volts to 12 volts dc to dc converter if you dont want to use a seperate psu for it.
This involves some soldering and a bit of experience working with electronics.


remote included

no remote included

DC-DC Buck Converter

Also most internal TV tuners have a cable for the pc power switch so you can also use it to turn on/off your pc using its remote.
 
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