Thread: Laptop Auto Power-On / Turn-On Module

Originally Posted by RyanB95

Webmaster if you could, please check your email for me.

I wired in my controller but I don't know if I did it right. The computer's "idiot" lights come on when plugged in and all that jazz. When I press the power button, some other lights come on as they should. But the laptop doesnt actually power up. Is this becuase I don't have the rest of the module hooked up? I was testing to see if the laptop worked with the mono jack hanging out the side of the laptop with nothing else plugged in. Should it still start up like normal? No fans are spinning, and there is no display. I hope I didn't fry anything !

If you wired it up correctly, the laptop should power up as normal, whether or not the module is connected. You should also be able to use the external/emergency power button to turn the laptop on if the module is connected to the laptop. If it doesn't work in either scenario then something might be wired wrong. Just check the laptop power button, ensure you're connected to the correct leads on the switch. Let me know whatcha find out.

Webmaster - I see that you are online right now. Is it possible for you to sign onto AIM?

Ok, I have drawn a diagram of my current situation. Apparently the power switch that gets pressed to turn the laptop on normally has no effect on this switch, which is connected to it by a ribbon cable. This button has a black pin sticking out of it. I used a multimeter on the "beep" setting as instructed to test it.

This is how I have it wired now:



This is what I figured out after testing it:



This button gets mounted to the plastic casing of the laptop, but never actually gets pressed down. This leads me to believe that I need to solder my jack to 1+2 because the button will never actually get pressed. I guess that just serves as a "base" for when the ribbon-connected button gets pressed. I suppose my laptop already has a "remote" power button setup.

Ok I got it wired up and now the laptop turns on. I soldered the leads to pins 2+3 in my diagram. I plugged the connector into the jack, but when I press the emergency power button... the display turns off - not the computer . This makes no sense to me as I didnt change anything that has to do with the display. Also - the emergency button is supposed to power up the computer if needed - correct? It doesn't do that either...

I'm confused!

Sorry I hadn't responded yet, these 12-14 hour days are kicking my butt. And night shift just makes it all that much more crazy. Anywho... I'm gonna try to catch you on AIM so we can work this out.
Cheers.

Ok, has anyone ever needed to solder this module to a membrane switch? The only other person I saw that had to do it was tiomka. I PM'ed him about how he did it a few weeks ago and never got a response. He has a Toshiba laptop just like me:

Toshiba (a15-s157) 2.2Ghz 512Mb DVD + Built In W3bMa5t3r Laptop Power On Module

I was soldering to the wrong thing before so I need to figure out what needs to be soldered to now. Here is my setup:



The power button is all the way to the left. Here's a closer shot:



I don't know how I should go about this .

I wouldn't solder on the button itself. I would look at where the ribbon cable connects to the board. The long dark line that crosses the three buttons in your picture is more than likely the ground. You would need to connect to that ground and the other side of the button. To find it use a continuity tester or ohm meter. Connect one lead to the ground leave the other lead free and move it down the line of connectors as you test. When you press the button the continuity tester should beep and the ohm meter should go from infinity(no connection) to zero.
Just test each wire till you get it.

Should look something like this. (Not a toshiba laptop or even a computer for that matter).


By the calculas homework I can tell you are familiar with the concept of infinity or will be soon

Yeah, but the connector that's soldered to my motherboard has way more pins than the ribbon cable has wires. Sorry about the size but I wanted you to be able to see the details.

I count 5 which is the exact number it should be. 1 ground, 1 for each of the 3 buttons and 1 for the screen close detection switch(which is what you where soldering on). I count 6 conductors on the ribbon cable. But I can't see the ribbon cable close enough to tell where they all go.

Before I go further, I have to ask. Do you have a multimeter?

Find the ground first. My guess is that it is the 2nd one from the right is the ground. Although The second one from the left has a big white arrow pointing to it SO thats a good candidate too.