Laptop won't startup at ignition with carnetix

hypnotiq · 04-08-2007, 02:18 AM

I have a dell 600m hooked up to a carnetix, but the laptop won't turn on when i turn on my car. I can turn on the laptop by pressing the power button though after the carnetix is loaded even without the battery in.

I know the ignition isn't the problem since i am just using a 12v source as the ignition.

Any idea what's going on?

Thanks

v8 scimitar · 04-08-2007, 05:26 AM

have you connected the laptop power button to the power supply propery?

hypnotiq · 04-08-2007, 05:31 AM

Sorry for my ignorance, but how do i do that?

The primary output for the carnetix is connected to the barrel connector for the laptop (ie. the ground and power for that connector). The secondary output is connected to the screen.

v8 scimitar · 04-08-2007, 05:40 AM

Ah, well in short you need to open the laptop solder wires onto the switch and bring them outside the case. There wires get connected to the startup-shutdown controller.
For more detailed you best get searching as there are loads of posts on this subject.

hypnotiq · 04-08-2007, 05:53 AM

I can search on that, but it was to my understand that this wasn't needed for carnetix p1900?

DarquePervert · 04-08-2007, 07:54 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by hypnotiq

I can search on that, but it was to my understand that this wasn't needed for carnetix p1900?

That's what the green/whie wire is for.

I don't know where you got that little piece of information, but it is incorrect. The Carnetix has to simulate a press of the power button in order to initiate bootup.

hypnotiq · 04-08-2007, 03:14 PM

Hey,

Can anyone confirm is the following post is true?

Quote: Originally Posted by Curiosity

The common tactile pushbuttons have 4 pins. The 2 on each side are connected together, so you need to solder a wire to either pin on each side.

Thanks

shotgunefx · 04-08-2007, 03:28 PM

If you don't feel like cracking open the laptop, I'd get a port replicator and hack that (or maybe the monitor stand to boot)

I have an inspiron 8600, which IIRC, uses the same dock/port stuff (double check). I paid I think around $45 for the port replicator (D/Port APR) and a monitor stand on ebay.

They are cheap and tons of them on ebay. I got the monitor stand for two reasons. One, two protect the laptop from crap rolling around my trunk, and two, it was so easy to remove the little power button board and short it out (on the inspiron 8600, this makes it boot when power is applied, you'd want to use the wires provided to pulse it, I used power management to shut it down when it loses "AC").

Here's a pic of the monitor stand and dock.

hypnotiq · 04-08-2007, 04:07 PM

I don't mind opening up the laptop, i actually already have just have. I just don't know what to solder since my button has 4 pins.

Nerd2 · 04-08-2007, 04:36 PM

Just keep poking at it with a screwdriver until it turns on, then you've found the correct 2 pins to wire to.

DarquePervert · 04-08-2007, 06:48 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Nerd2

Just keep poking at it with a screwdriver until it turns on,

That's what they told Steve Irwin, too!

Seriously...
To be more clear, connect two pins on the switch. If that does nothing, then try a different combination of two pins. Repeat until you find the correct two-pin combination. Solder those two pins.

shotgunefx · 04-08-2007, 07:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by hypnotiq

I don't mind opening up the laptop, i actually already have just have. I just don't know what to solder since my button has 4 pins.

I think mine did too. Not 100% but I thought whichever two it was, were diagnol from each other. Might be remembering wrong too though :\

Thefdog · 04-09-2007, 12:58 PM

Place a multimeter across two of the four leads coming to the power switch. Press the switch and note which two leads are registered by the multimeter. Those are the two you need to solder leads to to turn on the lappie.

I used a docking station for an IBM R51 laptop with a power switch, so I didn't have to drill into my laptop. I drilled a hole in the docking station and put a female plug into the hole after soldering the leads. A male plug on the outside completes the circuit and allows you to easily remove the laptop if you need to. I also placed a momentary switch in parallel with the power switch and mounted in the dash so I can have control and also so I can hold it in for 5 seconds and force power of (windows you know

).

Use a small soldering iron on the switch if it is surface mounted. Tin your wires and touch only briefly to avoid frying your system...

Good luck