skreemer7

I know this is my first post, and I know this issue has been covered several times in the forum, but I have an interesting twist (I think) to a remote laptop power button.

First off, I am not concerned about syncing the powering with the ignition, I'll be just happy with a button I can press that I can wire from the laptop. The problem is that my laptop is a Toshiba Satellite 1955-s803. If you look this laptop up, you'll see that it has a wireless keyboard built into the laptop. This wireless keyboard has the power button on it. So there is no actual power button on the laptop itself, its on the wireless keyboard. How would I go about building a remote switch in this instance? The wireless keyboard works to power the laptop when its completely shut off when its not in the laptop (The laptop charges the keyboard and fits into its 'body') This means that there's some power going to some IR receiver waiting to receive the power signal. Is there any way I could take advantage of this and just have a wireless IR power button somehow? ..atleast I think its IR. The keyboard doesnt need a clear sight of view for it to work, would that be radio then?

Would I be able to find a momentary power switch anywhere on the motherboard of the laptop for me to wire a switch at all? I wasnt sure of this.

Thanks in advance!

2k1Toaster

It is not IR, it is RF.

And from what it looks like, it is just a regular windows power button hotkey. There are keyboards with power/sleep buttons on them that work the same way.

I think your best bet would be to buy a cheap wired keyboard with a power button on it. Since your laptop is setup already to power on via hotkey, it should be simple.

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skreemer7

I dont think its just a windows hotkey. Here's a picture:
Its the best one I could find online. The power button is actually the little silver button on top of the keyboard.

Are there any programmable RF remotes where I could maybe get it to learn the power button of the keyboard? Im open to any options.

FusionFanatic

maybe... if the laptop shares it's motherboard with multiple models (including fixed keyboard models) then you may be in luck. look at other similar [fixed keyboard] models to see the normal location of the power button, that should give you an idea of where to look. (there may not be an actual switch, but you may see the unused solder pads where a switch would have gone (it should be labeled "PWR" or something similar).


you said the power button works even when the keyboard is not mounted to the laptop. if that's the case then as toaster said, it's probably a hotkey. (it's obviously not a hardwired switch). you can find cheap keyboards with power buttons for $5. it's certainly worth a try, if it doesn't work then just return the keyboard.


most programmable remotes are IR only (some have both IR and RF, but the RF is only for use with proprietary accessories that convert back to IR signals). there probably are some universal/programmable/learning remotes that can learn and transmit RF signals but I can almost guarantee you they would be very expensive. it would likely cost more than your carputer did

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wired48

It.'s a HOTKEY. go into power management and I'm sure you can use your silver power button to standby or hibernate.

DodgeCummins

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