View Full Version : My roommate thought this one up.
Crazy Jayhawk
08-22-01, 11:39 AM
How's this for an interesting way to turn on the computer? Use the ignition switch out of an old car. When you turn the key all the way to start to turn on the car, it springs back when you let go. That's exactly what you'd want to do with the power switch on a computer. Dunno what could be done with the reset switch. It'd probably have to be a separate component.
Plus, no one else would be able to turn on your computer. :cool:
fuzzba11
08-22-01, 03:43 PM
There would be a simpler way to construct this...and not lose the ability to start the victim car!! All you would have to do is position the power button at a 90 degree angle from where it usually is, then install a key/lock that just turns a hook when locking...then you position it so when you turn the key, the hook goes onto the power button and starts the computer...then you would have to turn it back the other way so you're not holding down the button, but it would be much simpler than trying to figuire out the electronics of a car ignition.
I've thought of that before, just never implemented it. You could probably go to an auto parts store and pick up a new ignition and it should come with wiring diagrams. Auto parts are usually pretty good about that.
I have a fan sitting on top of my monitor at work, and sometimes it gets turned off by someone when I'm not here. I don't like that. So I was thinking of replacing my switch with a key switch from Radio Shack. But you'd have to see the fan to fully appreciate it. I'll try and get some pictures of it.
I swung by Checker Autoparts on my way home from work, and picked up a Universal Starter Switch for about $10, and a 12v "Accessory Plug" (cigarette lighter), also for about $10. I going to try to wire them up and get them working. That'll be some slick stuff! I have pics of the switch and plug. Once I get them developed (no digital camera for me!) I'll scan them in. I'm going to mount them both on a 5.25" drive blank so they'll be removeable if need be. And modular.
joey_rjm5
08-22-01, 10:03 PM
Sounds like a cool idea. Can't wait to see some picks.
klosters64a
08-22-01, 11:20 PM
Ack. Car cigarette lighters draw humongous current. Is this gonna be a working one? Or just for show? I advise against wiring the lighter into the PS!
Originally posted by klosters64a
Ack. Car cigarette lighters draw humongous current. Is this gonna be a working one? Or just for show? I advise against wiring the lighter into the PS!
Really? I was just gonna wire it to a molex. Is it really that bad? I've seen it done before, and just thought it would work with the car ignition. Not to say I'd plug anthing into it, but it'd be fun to have.
Billvill
08-23-01, 10:25 AM
Take the ladys advice and DO NOT use the lighter. It will be fine for show.
Billy
klosters64a
08-23-01, 10:45 AM
Originally posted by Billvill
Take the ladys advice and DO NOT use the lighter. It will be fine for show.
Billy
I agree with the statement to NOT wire in the cigarette lighter. Perhaps I have to change my avatar. While Kim Komando is certainly a lady, Klosters is a member of the male half of humankind.
Billvill
08-23-01, 11:07 AM
Opps ! Sorry about that .
Billy
Crazy Jayhawk
08-23-01, 11:51 AM
The only way you might be able to have a working cigarette lighter in the front of the computer is to get one of those 12VDC power supplies from Radio Shack. The ones that have the banana plugs and cigarette lighter in the front and can supposedly output 10 Amps.
You could hook up the lighter to that thing.
May just skip it. The one I got is for mounting UNDER a dash board, not in one. So it'll be tougher to mount in a 5.24" drive bay knockout. And I really didn't have any functional purpose for it, just to say I did it. But if it'll cause problems, hell with it. I'll just do the switch.
Now I gotta figure out how to wire it. Any offers? I can tell you more about the switch if'n you need it.
hmmm... a lighter does'nt pull more than 5-10 amps if that...
how would this cause a problem?
not like you'd use it very often.
i'm thinking of modding a dual case now :) instead of a tower...
having dual PSU's would allow for less troubles w/lighter im sure.
Crazy Jayhawk
08-23-01, 02:23 PM
Originally posted by Wa11y
May just skip it. The one I got is for mounting UNDER a dash board, not in one. So it'll be tougher to mount in a 5.24" drive bay knockout. And I really didn't have any functional purpose for it, just to say I did it. But if it'll cause problems, hell with it. I'll just do the switch.You could also go to an auto parts store and pick up one that mounts in the dash. I got one for about 3 bucks. All it needs are two things: A properly sized hole in the dash (or bezel) and leads for +12V and ground.
If you run a dual PSU setup you could probably get enough current to run a working lighter. But what you have to realize is that the lighter housing gets hot when it's heating up the lighter and it might melt the bezel of the computer.
Well, I'd probably never use it for anything, much less for a lighter. My CPU does a good enough job of that. I'd just have it there so I could brag about wiring it up. But I think I'll skip it. Now I gotta get the ignition switch figure out. PC power switches aren't toggle, right? I'm fairly sure that when the mobo gets the connected circuit on the power switch, it powers up, so I won't need the switch to stay in the position to turn it on, right? I just wanna verify all this so I'm not working on any faulty conclusions.
Crazy Jayhawk
08-23-01, 02:39 PM
Originally posted by Wa11y
Well, I'd probably never use it for anything, much less for a lighter. My CPU does a good enough job of that. I'd just have it there so I could brag about wiring it up. But I think I'll skip it. Now I gotta get the ignition switch figure out. PC power switches aren't toggle, right? I'm fairly sure that when the mobo gets the connected circuit on the power switch, it powers up, so I won't need the switch to stay in the position to turn it on, right? I just wanna verify all this so I'm not working on any faulty conclusions. Figure out what wires are connected by the ignition switch when you turn the key all the way to Start. That would be good for a power switch. When you let go of the key, it springs back. Holding down the power button would keep your system from turning on, so using the Start position to turn it on would probably be best.
What I figgered, just wanted to double check.
It's a "Universal Ignition Switch," about $10 at Checker. It has four contact studs on the back: one in the very middle, unlabed, and three around the sides marked "IGN" (ignition), "BAT" (battery), and "ACC" (accessories). I'm thinking I only need be concerned with "IGN" and the center post. I'll test that theory when I get home though. And I'll post some pics when I get them developed and get it all working.
BrianCapps
08-24-01, 01:46 AM
I just picked up an ignition switch for about $6 at Baxter. I hooked it up today, and it works awesome! This is so cool; you have to get this. Just connect either one of the wires to the center post and the other to the post marked "start". the other posts aren't used for this (but what could I do with them? hmm...). Then just plug it in and give her a whirl!
Akareyon
08-24-01, 06:42 AM
Just a few ideas...
That Universal Ignition Switch you just mentioned: turning it only halfway until the "ACC" contact is made (like, in a car, start your Radio and air conditioning or whatever) could emulate the "on" signal to your mobo normally given by the power switch. Turning it all the way to "IGN" could give an "reset" signal to your mobo, then most ignition switches should spring back to "ACC" mode.
On the other hand, exactly this springing back could cause another "on" signal, hence an "off" signal... why, just try it.
I don't know exactly wether ATX requires a constantly closed circuit for "Power on", but I guess a short trigger should be sufficient.
Hm. One post left :)
Rob Cork
08-24-01, 07:01 AM
An ATX power switch is a momentary switch - it is only closed for the briefest of moments before opening again. This momentary signal causes the mobo to complete the circuit from the green PWR-ON lead on the ATX power supply to ground, and the ATX supply switches on (note that this circuit stays made even when the ATX switch opens again). So a momentary switch is needed :)
Which is why an ignition switch would work.
I was thinking of hooking up a light panel to the "ACC" or "BAT" post, so when you put the switch in that position, it lights up. Maybe to use up the rest of the space on the knockout. Just for gits and shiggles.
Crazy Jayhawk
08-24-01, 11:41 AM
Here's a good way to wire it -
ACC - Reset
On - Unconnected
Start - Power
Start is a momentary contact switch due to the fact that it springs back. And to reset you'd just have to turn the switch to ACC and then back again quickly.
The key would sit squarely in the On position when the computer was running, just like if you were driving. Since On would be unconnected, you wouldn't have to worry about anything getting messed up by the switch always being in that position.
Maybe you could wire a tape player to it that would play the sound of a car engine. :cool:
Don't know if I'd want the reset switch like that. I'd end up playing with it or something. I'll probably just wire it as a power switch and leave it at that.
Crazy Jayhawk
08-26-01, 05:26 PM
Here's the strange problem I've run into with the switch I installed. There are four leads on the switch: Acc, Bat, Ign, and a single center pole. I have the center pole wired as a ground. The reset wire goes to Acc and the power wire goes to Ign.
When the computer's off and I turn the switch to Ign the computer turns on. When the computer's on and I turn the switch to Ign it resets. I can't figure out how the signal's getting to both places.
Try changing reset from ACC to BAT. BAT is the battery, which SHOULD be the one that you get to by turning in the opposite direction of the ignition. But I could be wrong.
Originally posted by BrianCapps
I just picked up an ignition switch for about $6 at Baxter. I hooked it up today, and it works awesome! This is so cool; you have to get this. Just connect either one of the wires to the center post and the other to the post marked "start". the other posts aren't used for this (but what could I do with them? hmm...). Then just plug it in and give her a whirl!
Just to note, if you wanna do something really cool with the other contacts on the ignition switch, you should wire up the first stage contact to you speaker system, and run an old AT power supply for fans, peltiers, pumps etc and wire this up to the second stage contact so its like a real car i.e. Stage one, the radio works, stage two the fans and stuff start (at least on my ancient beast), and stage 3 its running!
The only problem i can see with this is you have to 'start' the ignition again if u wanna manually switch the machine off when windows inevitably hangs on shutdown :)
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