Thread: PC Power Switch...HELP!!!!!

Sounds like a Double Pole, Double Throw (DP-DT) switch.

Basically it works like this:

| | Top
| | Middle
| | Bottom

The left and right sides of the pins are seperate, and are not connected together.

The switch flips between the middle pins and the top or bottom pins.

Sometimes you can have a Triple throw switch, where the switch stays in the middle, making it effectively an Off, not connecting to either set of poles.


The front panel switches on computers these days are single pole (1 pair), single throw, normally open, with momentary action.

Momentary switches are spring loaded, and you close the contacts by pressing the switch. When you release the switch, the contacts pop back open... hence, they're momentarily closed when used.


And holding a power switch for more than 3-5 seconds will force a hard power off, which is normal. Every system does this.

If you press it once for 1-2 seconds, the OS treats this as an ACPI Power Button press, and safely shuts down, suspends, or hibernates, depending on your power management settings.

Originally Posted by Giuliano

Sounds like a Double Pole, Double Throw (DP-DT) switch.

Basically it works like this:

| | Top
| | Middle
| | Bottom

The left and right sides of the pins are seperate, and are not connected together.

The switch flips between the middle pins and the top or bottom pins.

Sometimes you can have a Triple throw switch, where the switch stays in the middle, making it effectively an Off, not connecting to either set of poles.


The front panel switches on computers these days are single pole (1 pair), single throw, normally open, with momentary action.

Momentary switches are spring loaded, and you close the contacts by pressing the switch. When you release the switch, the contacts pop back open... hence, they're momentarily closed when used.


And holding a power switch for more than 3-5 seconds will force a hard power off, which is normal. Every system does this.

If you press it once for 1-2 seconds, the OS treats this as an ACPI Power Button press, and safely shuts down, suspends, or hibernates, depending on your power management settings.

Thanks for the input. Is there a reason why 4 wires are connected to the switch? Wouldn't a regular 2 terminal switch be adequate. Do you think there would be any adverse effects if I just used a 2 terminal push button monetary?

Thanks in advance for any further assistance.

Originally Posted by lexdiamond20

Thanks for the input. Is there a reason why 4 wires are connected to the switch? Wouldn't a regular 2 terminal switch be adequate. Do you think there would be any adverse effects if I just used a 2 terminal push button monetary?

Thanks in advance for any further assistance.

I don't know why 4 wires are connected, it depends on how it was wired...


But I could see a possibility: a dual function power and reset switch.

You could use a DPDT momentary switch, with the center position being the default, wired like this:

Code:

Power	| x
Power	| |	Reset
	x |	Reset

Basically you take the two wires for the power button, and connect it to the two pins on the upper left (the |), and you connect the two wires for the reset button to the two pins on the lower right.

The upper right and lower left pins (the x) are not connected.


With a center-operating momentary DPDT switch, the switch stays in the middle during normal operation - eg, normally open.

Flick the switch up, and you toggle the power button.

Flick it down, and you toggle the reset button.


A DPDT Center Off Momentary switch like this would do it:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062530


However, it may be a bit large, being that it's designed to carry 20 amps worth of current.

One of the mini DPDT switches would do fine, if you can find a center off momentary version.

Originally Posted by Giuliano

I don't know why 4 wires are connected, it depends on how it was wired...


But I could see a possibility: a dual function power and reset switch.

You could use a DPDT momentary switch, with the center position being the default, wired like this:

Code:

Power	| x
Power	| |	Reset
	x |	Reset

Basically you take the two wires for the power button, and connect it to the two pins on the upper left (the |), and you connect the two wires for the reset button to the two pins on the lower right.

The upper right and lower left pins (the x) are not connected.


With a center-operating momentary DPDT switch, the switch stays in the middle during normal operation - eg, normally open.

Flick the switch up, and you toggle the power button.

Flick it down, and you toggle the reset button.


A DPDT Center Off Momentary switch like this would do it:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062530


However, it may be a bit large, being that it's designed to carry 20 amps worth of current.

One of the mini DPDT switches would do fine, if you can find a center off momentary version.

See I understand what your saying but the weird thing is its just a push button switch with 6 terminals. I could understand if the switch had three different positions. Any suggestions on just having it as a regular switch as in, when the pc is off, the switch is hit and it powers on and when the pc is on, the switch is hit and it goes into hibernate and then shuts down, and finally, when the switch is held for more than a few seconds it does a hard shut down.

Once again I apologize for all the questions. I tried searching this site and Google with no answers.

Originally Posted by lexdiamond20

See I understand what your saying but the weird thing is its just a push button switch with 6 terminals. I could understand if the switch had three different positions. Any suggestions on just having it as a regular switch as in, when the pc is off, the switch is hit and it powers on and when the pc is on, the switch is hit and it goes into hibernate and then shuts down, and finally, when the switch is held for more than a few seconds it does a hard shut down.

Once again I apologize for all the questions. I tried searching this site and Google with no answers.

It's hard to say..

Since you got it at Radio Shack, do you have the part number?

Or a picture?

Originally Posted by Giuliano

It's hard to say..

Since you got it at Radio Shack, do you have the part number?

Or a picture?

No pics or serial sorry. Ill mess around with a combo of configs and see what I can come up with. Thanks for the help though.