laptop on/off swtch?

**kalito** · 01-20-2004, 07:38 PM

any one know how a laptop switch work... i don't want to break anything... if you can post and diagram... would be great

**robiewp** · 01-20-2004, 07:52 PM

uhh, when you push down the button completes a circuit...

My HP and IBM laptop both have power buttons with the same design as a keyboard key, if that gives you any information.

**kalito** · 01-20-2004, 08:00 PM

not really i need a diagram ... anyone please!

**robiewp** · 01-20-2004, 10:33 PM

I don't get it. What on earth do you need a diagram for? Are you going to magically install somethign that doesn't require you to take the switch apart?

How bout a description:

Do you know what a trident is? that red thing the devil carries arround? Imagine you have two of those, with the forks meshed but not quite touching. One trident is one lead on the switch, the other trident is the other lead. There's something that conducts electricity that is on the bottom of the ruber nipple on the switch, so that when it's depresed it connects the two leads via the mess of tridents...

haha, that was a horrible description.

**kalito** · 01-20-2004, 10:54 PM

well i have no idea how it look and i don't want to start messing with it w/o knowing if i can or not... i must know the basics b/4 i go in to operate...

**mercydevoid** · 01-20-2004, 11:09 PM

Kalito, most laptops will use a momentary switch. As such, there isn't much to see in a diagram. All power logic is actually handled wthin the bios and OS. This allows the laptop to respond to the power button differently based on whatever the power settings are (i.e. hibernate vs standby vs shutdown).

I have a laptop install, and I've soldered some wires to the switch to extend the power outside of the laptop so I can start it form a push-button in my dash.

**kalito** · 01-22-2004, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by mercydevoid

Kalito, most laptops will use a momentary switch. As such, there isn't much to see in a diagram. All power logic is actually handled wthin the bios and OS. This allows the laptop to respond to the power button differently based on whatever the power settings are (i.e. hibernate vs standby vs shutdown).

I have a laptop install, and I've soldered some wires to the switch to extend the power outside of the laptop so I can start it form a push-button in my dash.

so is just two wires...

**robiewp** · 01-22-2004, 06:19 PM

I haven't seen a laptop with a switch connected via wires since a monochrome TI 486 I had back in the day. Did you understand my trident description? the switch is usually on a board, with many other things attached.