Some questions on what an Opus can do..

Banderon · 12-07-2003, 04:49 PM

So let me get all this straight. You can set an Opus to power down a PC 5 seconds, or 20 mins after the car's turned off. Is there any way to get a 5 min or 10 min time?

Also, the Opus starts/stops the PC with the car's ignition. Is there a manual override? What if I want to turn the comp on while the car's off, is there a manual power switch? Or can one be added somehow?

Ricky327 · 12-07-2003, 05:58 PM

You should be able to use your existing PC power button to turn on/off at your own will.

Banderon · 12-07-2003, 06:05 PM

Isn't there a cable going from the Opus to the power button on the mobo? How else does the Opus start/stop the PC?

And.. when the Opus powers down the PC, is the power still active? Meaning, if I splice a power button into the wires leading to the Opus to manually start the PC, will the PC have power? Ummm.. ok, simpler words. Does the Opus just send a pulse to the mobo to go into shutdown mode, without actually cutting off any sort of power?

Ricky327 · 12-07-2003, 06:07 PM

And.. when the Opus powers down the PC, is the power still active?

Good thinking, I dont know as I dont have one.

OPUS users will know

Banderon · 12-07-2003, 06:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Ricky327

And.. when the Opus powers down the PC, is the power still active?

Good thinking, I dont know as I dont have one.

OPUS users will know

Ok, yah... that sounded stupid. lol.. What I meant was, when the Opus shuts down the PC, is it still providing power to it in case the PC decides that it wants to start up?

Ricky327 · 12-07-2003, 06:19 PM

Ok, yah... that sounded stupid. lol.. What I meant was, when the Opus shuts down the PC, is it still providing power to it in case the PC decides that it wants to start up?

Nono...it made sense what you said. I though I was being duhh. But it should keep the 5VSB alive...this is the power that keep supplying to your motherboard even if it has shutdown, ready to be switced on again by either power button, WOL, WOM.

Banderon · 12-07-2003, 06:24 PM

Ok, good. So I can just get a Y-splitter for the 2-pronged power button and have one going to the Opus, and one to a manual power switch.

Now then... about the shutdown timer. Is there any way to get anything between the 5 seconds and the 20 mins?

Also, if I shut down the PC manually after 10 mins, and then after another 10, the Opus trys to do the same... will the mobo start up again instead, or just do nothing and stay off?

Banderon · 12-07-2003, 06:29 PM

Hmmm.. so the Opus doesn't power down or anything. All it's shutdown circuits do is send a pulse to the mobo to go into shutdown mode?

So that means the computer can itself control when it shuts down. A simple VB program can let the person set a timer, at the end of which, the mobo goes into shutdown. The Opus's shutdown timer can just be disabled then.. Is all this right?

Ricky327 · 12-07-2003, 06:36 PM

Ok, good. So I can just get a Y-splitter for the 2-pronged power button and have one going to the Opus, and one to a manual power switch.

Ill say yes that should be true for a well designed device...keeping the original function intact.

Now then... about the shutdown timer. Is there any way to get anything between the 5 seconds and the 20 mins?

No idea.

Also, if I shut down the PC manually after 10 mins, and then after another 10, the Opus trys to do the same... will the mobo start up again instead, or just do nothing and stay off?

It should know since its the one who supply the power to the motherboard at first place...so it should know that the PC is on or off. But again without verifying this with OPUS users I cant be sure.

telekineticfool · 12-07-2003, 07:14 PM

Alright, let me see if i can answer some of these:

You've got four choices for times...I think they're 5 seconds, ten minutes, 20 minutes, and 40 minutes...but i'm not absolutely sure.

When you power down, it does actually cut power...I believe it gives the computer a 60 second grace period to shut itself down before power is cut...this prevents a computer from hanging and not shutting down and staying on after you're out of the car and draining your battery. If I want to turn my computer on while the car is off, i switch the car to ACC. If I want to turn my computer off while the car is on, I hit the switch i installed that interruptes the 12V to the accessory lead, tricking the opus into thinking the car is off...it turns off after 5 seconds. i just reset the switch to its original position when i shut the car off.

It is not a good idea to run a switch on a "y" as you say...it will be getting confusing signals when you turn the car on and off, and there is some circuitry in the Opus more than just turning the switch on and off, because the Opus can sense if it is hooked up properly to the motherboard (I had it on the wrong pins and it complained in a blinky manner).

Other questions, I'd be happy to field. I just couldn't sort through all the guesses to find out which were questions.

And ricky, if you don't know about something, you shouldn't answer...spreading disinformation isn't helpful to anybody.

Ricky327 · 12-07-2003, 07:19 PM

When you power down, it does actually cut power

So you are saying it cut everything...even the 5VSB?

Hmm it that case you cant wake up the PC with WOL?

Ricky327 · 12-07-2003, 07:41 PM

And ricky, if you don't know about something, you shouldn't answer...spreading disinformation isn't helpful to anybody.

Im sure you read my post properly. I did admit Im not sure and strongly advised him to ask someone who knew better. Im sure you are the one who knew better - the reason why you posted. I hope what you said are all correct.

Atleast I didnt pretend did I?

telekineticfool · 12-07-2003, 07:49 PM

agreed....in re-reading, i may have been out of line. Apologies.

So tell me, which would be +5 and -5 on the ATX cable...my opus is sitting in my car shut down right now and I've got multimeter in hand...i'd happily go check this for ya'll.

Ricky327 · 12-07-2003, 07:56 PM

No problemo

Try this :

http://www.hardwarebook.net/connecto.../atxpower.html

telekineticfool · 12-07-2003, 07:57 PM

quote from Opus Manual:

Idle State (ignition off)
In an idle (ignition off) condition...the PC is powered down. Only standby power is supplied to the motherboard. The power consumption should be at very minimum.

Also, regarding the delay...you can get 10 second, 20 minute, 40 minute, or 60 minute turn off delay.

EDIT: It also states that it supports standby and hibernate...so it has to at least have the 5v.