Controlling startup/shutdown sequences on a laptop

Magician · 07-23-2005, 07:37 PM

Hi everyone,

I've read about power supply alternatives, but most of the guidance on these forums focus on non-laptop form factor PCs. For my purposes, laptop will serve just fine and I have a spare one to use as Car PC.

My question is, how exactly would I control start-up/shutdown sequence on a laptop? Appreciate your specific answers. Here are the scenarios that I'd like to be able to achieve:

1. Turn ignition on -> Laptop resumes from stand-by, or, powers on if currently in shut-down state.
2. Turn ignition off -> Laptop should wait 1 minute and then go to standby.

Additional scenarios (these are nice-to-have but not a must for my v1 project)
3. Have some measure on preventing excessive discharge on car's battery.
4. Delay the stand-by by 2hrs if certain host is pingable. This is so that media library is robocopy-sync'd over the Wifi cloud when I park the car in the garage.

The car is 2000 model E46, Harman-Kardon amplifier and head-unit currently in place. As part of carPC project, I'm planning on removing the HU and feed the HK amp straight from the laptop. I'm open to alternatives such as replacing HK amp with something else, or using a USB Audigy component.

Many thanks in advance for any guidance,

Magician.

NeckPayne · 07-23-2005, 08:47 PM

This is probably going to require you wiring/soldering the power button PCB in your laptop. Other people have talked about doing the wiring job with a docking station so you don't have to much around the laptop itself. Either way, a lot of people have done this. A search on "laptop shutdown controller" will bring up a ton of results. Here's a start...

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/newbie/52489-laptop-carpc.html

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/laptops-tablets-upmcs-etc/49334-my-laptop-power-solution-56k-modem-port-telephone-cable.html

And this new thread recently started in the "Power supply" forum...
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/general-hardware-discussion/55500-how-turn-laptop-if-you-cant-reach-button-any-input-device-can-turn.html

DarquePervert · 07-23-2005, 09:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Magician

Hi everyone,

I've read about power supply alternatives, but most of the guidance on these forums focus on non-laptop form factor PCs. For my purposes, laptop will serve just fine and I have a spare one to use as Car PC.

My question is, how exactly would I control start-up/shutdown sequence on a laptop? Appreciate your specific answers. Here are the scenarios that I'd like to be able to achieve:

1. Turn ignition on -> Laptop resumes from stand-by, or, powers on if currently in shut-down state.
2. Turn ignition off -> Laptop should wait 1 minute and then go to standby.

Additional scenarios (these are nice-to-have but not a must for my v1 project)
3. Have some measure on preventing excessive discharge on car's battery.
4. Delay the stand-by by 2hrs if certain host is pingable. This is so that media library is robocopy-sync'd over the Wifi cloud when I park the car in the garage.

The car is 2000 model E46, Harman-Kardon amplifier and head-unit currently in place. As part of carPC project, I'm planning on removing the HU and feed the HK amp straight from the laptop. I'm open to alternatives such as replacing HK amp with something else, or using a USB Audigy component.

Many thanks in advance for any guidance,

Magician.

Wake on Ring. Search for it.

Magician · 07-24-2005, 10:37 AM

Thanks for all responses.

Wake on ring doesn't look like something I can extend and add additional capabilities to it. I'd like a more integrated solution.

Yes I do have a docking station already, and yes I can do soldering etc on that one.

I did search supposedly with right keywords, and read as much threads as I could. Still can't find the answer to these questions:

1. My Toshiba AC-DC power adapter shows output of 15V - 5amps. Not wanting to use an inverter, how should I provide this kind of power? Note that I've looked at DC-DC power supplies and they make great sense, the piece I'm missing is that how can I connect them to my docking station? The ones I looked at seems to be designed to plugged right into the motherboard. Appreciate your thoughts on this one.

2. And of course the start-up / shut-down controller. I've read that some power supplies can also initiate power-on on the computer. Depending on your answer to #1, do I need a separate controller? If so, which model and how does it fit into the picture?

Remember that space for the installation is limited (and even more so with the docking station) and heat may be a concern. I'm looking for most efficient power solution that I can get.

Thank you,

Baris.

NeckPayne · 07-25-2005, 11:15 PM

Not sure I can get you any further (my own knowledge, not unwillingness to help).

Might be easier, since there is a power mismatch, to just solder to the laptop itself. If its truly a spare, this shouldn't be an issue?

This thread talks about doing it...sorry can't help more...
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...t=power+laptop

Wiredwrx · 07-25-2005, 11:30 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Magician

Thanks for all responses.

Wake on ring doesn't look like something I can extend and add additional capabilities to it. I'd like a more integrated solution.

Yes I do have a docking station already, and yes I can do soldering etc on that one.

I did search supposedly with right keywords, and read as much threads as I could. Still can't find the answer to these questions:

1. My Toshiba AC-DC power adapter shows output of 15V - 5amps. Not wanting to use an inverter, how should I provide this kind of power? Note that I've looked at DC-DC power supplies and they make great sense, the piece I'm missing is that how can I connect them to my docking station? The ones I looked at seems to be designed to plugged right into the motherboard. Appreciate your thoughts on this one.

2. And of course the start-up / shut-down controller. I've read that some power supplies can also initiate power-on on the computer. Depending on your answer to #1, do I need a separate controller? If so, which model and how does it fit into the picture?

Remember that space for the installation is limited (and even more so with the docking station) and heat may be a concern. I'm looking for most efficient power solution that I can get.

Thank you,

Baris.

Lets start from the begining.

You have to solder to the Docking station. It is the easiest, and smartest way to go.

For a power supply, unless you are gonna "roll your own" Power supply, just use the AC-DC route, with an inverter. It is the easiest, and cheapest way to go. Additionally, the laptop battery and charging circuit will add resistance to noise, so don't worry about that.

You will start the computer with startup/shutdown controller. The controller will control the turn on and off of the inverter, and with the "Motherboard" wires you refer to in your post, that will close the wires you have soldered to the docking station.

Michael

michael_16j · 07-27-2005, 02:36 PM

I had an old sony vaio p3 well I took it apart and found the botton that turns it on i got a piece of wire and touched 2 of points by the botton to find which would shut down the computer. then i solider the wires to them ran them out of the case i had to drill a hole then ran them in my dash to a switch. so when i start my car i flip the switch on the off so the computer starts up and before i get out of the car i flip it on for 3 secs then back off so the computer shuts down.

I am running mine off a inverter

Jono · 07-28-2005, 10:04 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by michael_16j

i flip it on for 3 secs then back off

Wouldn't it be easier to use a momentary switch? Then you wouldn't have to worry about leaving the switch 'flipped'.

rmjjensen · 07-28-2005, 10:20 AM

I used the same sort of controller I used for my ITX machine with my laptop. It uses all mini relays on a PCB so it's fairly small ....in total uses only 3 relays - one 5V, and two 12V.

How it works - When the ignition goes to the "START" position if the laptop is not already on (sensed from the 5V output of the PS2 port) the laptop will start up via one of the 12V relays. To shutdown, the ignition and accessory wire of the car are tied together via diodes. When they are at +12V a capacitor is charged up to full potential. When the ign/acc line goes low (car shuts off) if the computer is on (again via the relays) the capacitor discharges into the switch relay hence pressing the power button putting the laptop in suspend.

Real simple and cheap however you have to get at your ignition harness and somehow tap into a power switch on the laptop (I found it easy on mine - just took it apart and soldered two wires).

Required:
+12V starter wire (starts computer automatically)
+12V ignition/acc wire (keeps computer running and tells when to shutdown)
+5V computer sense wire (knows when computer is running)
2 12V micro relays
1 5V micro relay
2 capacitors
2 resistors
5 diodes
PCB and project enclosure

Let me know if your interested in the schematic.

b8bboi · 07-28-2005, 10:33 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by rmjjensen

I used the same sort of controller I used for my ITX machine with my laptop. It uses all mini relays on a PCB so it's fairly small ....in total uses only 3 relays - one 5V, and two 12V.

How it works - When the ignition goes to the "START" position if the laptop is not already on (sensed from the 5V output of the PS2 port) the laptop will start up via one of the 12V relays. To shutdown, the ignition and accessory wire of the car are tied together via diodes. When they are at +12V a capacitor is charged up to full potential. When the ign/acc line goes low (car shuts off) if the computer is on (again via the relays) the capacitor discharges into the switch relay hence pressing the power button putting the laptop in suspend.

Real simple and cheap however you have to get at your ignition harness and somehow tap into a power switch on the laptop (I found it easy on mine - just took it apart and soldered two wires).

Required:
+12V starter wire (starts computer automatically)
+12V ignition/acc wire (keeps computer running and tells when to shutdown)
+5V computer sense wire (knows when computer is running)
2 12V micro relays
1 5V micro relay
2 capacitors
2 resistors
5 diodes
PCB and project enclosure

Let me know if your interested in the schematic.

That's very nicely done. Please post your schematic, please. Could you be specific as to the values of the capacitors, diodes and resistors?

rmjjensen · 07-28-2005, 01:00 PM

Check it over ...i might have made a mistake but i don't think so. Cost is like $10-20, you can go build it now from radio shack, and would work with all puters ...not just laptops. Keep in mind micro relays are cheap ...don't use diesel automotive relays when it's not necessary.

There is a problem though - it's the 5V on sense. When your computer is in standby this wire still has 5V so when you go to start the car the computer will not resume from standby because the circuit thinks it's already on. There are work arounds but for the simple hibernate person this circuit is fine and can be adapted to switch on during standby but that would depend on the 5V sense.

lagunatl2k · 07-28-2005, 02:10 PM

Nice rmjjensen what part of nj are you from if you build one for me I would gladly pay you for it

rmjjensen · 07-28-2005, 02:46 PM

lagunatl2k -> you came into my job right asking to power up the laptop via remote start? You have an explorer? I'm Mike from Auto Toys w/ the SVX ...finally got around to installing a laptop instead of the ITX. - I'd probably wind up installing something very similiar in your car. But you do realize you can make it yourself and that's the point of this right here.

blackflux · 07-29-2005, 06:37 AM

Linky

lagunatl2k · 07-29-2005, 12:33 PM

Da thats right I lost your screen name to send you the links I'm going swing by your job sometime this week to pick your brain on some stuff thanks