Laptop Users - Shutdown Control

**ukchris** · 04-10-2005, 10:03 PM

I was wondering what people who use laptops do for shutdown control. The old laptop I was using has very little APM control so it may well be useless anyway. I was however thinking of starting on a little utility which waits for the computer to switch to battery power then start counting down. After x minutes on battery it would shutdown or suspend.

Do you laptops users think this is worthwhile or are the newer laptops adept enough to do it for you?

I think a "Don't shutdown I'm just stopping for has" option and so on would be natural extensions to this.

The attached file just monitors for power / battery, nothing too exciting, just using it to test if the app can tell on a given laptop.

Chris.

**CdRsKuLL** · 04-11-2005, 04:31 PM

you already have this option in the power settings, you can just set it to turn off / standby / hibernate after a set time when running on batterys. The main problem is pressing the power button to turn the unit on when you turn your key

CdR

**Gobby** · 04-11-2005, 04:34 PM

Surely if you rewire the power button to a relay its possible to do direct from the ignition wiring.

**ukchris** · 04-11-2005, 04:34 PM

It seems most laptops rely on the battery running low to shutdown though, I want to shutdown after x minutes on battery as a way of getting by cranking etc. I don't think this would be a regular power setting as it isn't really how laptops are intended to be used. It can shutdown after being idel too, but if you use an idel timer then you may want to override it.

I guess it all depends on just how much a particular laptop offers, and trying it for real to see how well it works out. Thanks for the comments.

**CdRsKuLL** · 04-11-2005, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by UK_MP3Car

Surely if you rewire the power button to a relay its possible to do direct from the ignition wiring.

Yeah this would work to power it on no probs.. the problem would be if that the laptop was already on, say when u stop for fuel and its still running on batterys, then when you start the car.. button presses, but its not a pulse, its a constant press > 4 sec's just turns the laptop off.

**Gobby** · 04-11-2005, 04:45 PM

Ahh right, yeah .... never thought of that!!!

**CdRsKuLL** · 04-11-2005, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by ukchris

It seems most laptops rely on the battery running low to shutdown though, I want to shutdown after x minutes on battery as a way of getting by cranking etc. I don't think this would be a regular power setting as it isn't really how laptops are intended to be used. It can shutdown after being idel too, but if you use an idel timer then you may want to override it.

I guess it all depends on just how much a particular laptop offers, and trying it for real to see how well it works out. Thanks for the comments.

Well on the dell laptops, if you goto display properties, then screen saver you have a extra box.. monitor power here you can set your laptop to turn off / standby / hibernate after a set number of minutes once its running on batterys, this is of course if no keypress / screen tap is recieved, which if your outside your car it wont :-) I used it on my first carputer, and intend to use it on the next one

Cheers

CdR

**ukchris** · 04-11-2005, 04:50 PM

Thanks, good call, I think that would do it in most cases. The only exception might be a manual overide but you're right, that handles probably 95% of situations. We have some Dells with roken screens somewhere, will look in to it.

**Hark** · 04-11-2005, 04:52 PM

Here's how I'll be solving this problem: http://www.mpegbox.net/microsdc/

**CdRsKuLL** · 04-11-2005, 05:00 PM

yeah all you would need is a simple circuit to send a press for 0.5 sec. If the laptop is turned off , then this would turn it on. You need to set xp up to ignore any button press, this is in power option in control panel. So if its turned on, a 0.5s button press wouldnt do anything. If someone could draw up a quick circuit that could send a 0.5 sec closed circuit then this would be great. I have already soldered wires to my power on button of my laptop, ready for a relay to close the circuit, I just aint bright enough to do the 0.5 press. maybe a cap will be needed and a couple of diodes, but thats about as far as my knowledge goes. Of course the power unit would be connected to power that turns off when you take the keys out. anyone draw up a quick diagram ?

CdR