Thread: add manual power on/off to PS

Just wire in a momentary pushbutton to the power switch terminals on your motherboard. You can probably steal one from a old computer case you are not using. If you want to be able to turn the computer on without your key in the ignition, you would also need to set up your power supply to be always on, which should just involve wiring the ignition +12V input to a constant on +12V source.

i need something to be able to apply power to my power supply. i have the p1900

I was editing while you replied, see my first post again...

the p1900 will be drawing too much power to leave on all the time. it will have the cooling fan on and it will be powering my lilliput, nx2, and usb hub. too much to always leave powered on, on a vehicale i depend on to get to work.

How are you running the ignition/Vacc wire to your power supply? (the wire that is 12V when the car is on)

Mine is running from my center console to my trunk carputer. I intercepted that wire with a flip switch hidden under my dash, so I can turn the computer off permenantly.

It sounds like you dont' want your computer to turn off when you turn your car off - then wire your 12V to a constant 12V source, but put a switch in between.

i have it all through the stereo wiring harness. ive been runing it like that for a few months now with no problems. i read something that when going from the acc or power (or whatever that 1 turn towards you is) to start, it switches off that switched power line(switched acc). i want to be able to bypass that so im not having to restart my computer when i start my truck.

and also to turn my power supply on/off manually. i think i may know how to do that.

run a switch from the constant to the switched acc. that will act like the car was switched on, and turn my amp on as well. so i can have sound and watch movies when im parked with some random girl ;D

sound like that will work?

How are you powering your carputer? I'm using an Opus 320W, and I have it set up so the computer will stay on for 10 seconds after losing the accessory power line. If you have any carputer DC-DC power supply, I think you should be able to configure it to do that too..

I think you should have it connecte dto your accessory line like you do, and just set the delay on when the computer will actually lose power.

I don't know how much power you're running, but my computer is 300W and my audio stuff is about 2000 watts, which translates to a dead battery in about 5-10 minutes of use. So I never use the carputer with the engine off... maybe if you have a more efficient carputer and run your sound quietly with no bass, you might be able to watch movies with the engine off...