Thread: FAQ: How do I power my DC-DC PSU on my workbench?

Originally Posted by salvi

Hmm, I'll check that setting. I thought that the PSU was the one that controlled the on/off via the ignition cable?

Yes. It controls on and off from the ignition line status. This option is in the BIOS for computers in a house/business. If the power goes out, and then comes back on, do you want the computer to come on, stay off, or return to the last known state.

In the car, if you didnt have a smart DC-DC, and had it set to ON after power failure, and the power relay tripped by the accessory wire, it will start but from a cold boot every time, and it would pull the plug when the engine dies. Not shut down the PC, but yank out the cord.

So every time the key goes from off to on, the computer must cold boot because there is not power for Standby, and both hibernate and standby would require you to press a button to bring it out of that state. The BIOS settings only work for when it is a cold boot.

Via uses the Pheonix Award BIOS, so it looks like this:

You see the "Power Managment Setup"? Try there...

Originally Posted by salvi

I was in the PowerManagement setup but didn't find the option.

"Restore on AC Power Loss". Change that. It really isnt that hard. Unless you bought a really old board, your BIOS should look like that. I have had the M10k which is older than the MII and mine had this option. This is a basic option that has been around forever. The only BIOS's I know of that dont have this option are either really really old (and then it was usually a user settable jumper on the mobo itself), or laptops (they have batteries, so they dont care).

Nice and simple - great tip thanks!- will use this method as opposed to a spare car battery for bench testing.

PEACE
Kosti

Hmmm............

I just either use a 12v battery or plug my atx power supply into the standard connectors on the MB.

Simple and works fine for me!