Remote switches

  • Thread starter Thread starter Season BubbleGirl - BubbleGirl.net
  • Start date Start date
S

Season BubbleGirl - BubbleGirl.net

Hi,

I have severe allergies and so use my desktop computer through a glass panel. At the moment I need someone to turn it on for me. However, I'd like to buy a part for my PC so I can turn it on with a remote or something similar instead. Can this be done? Our regular TV remotes work through the glass panel so something INFA-RED could work also.

What technologies are there?

What prices do they start at? Where can I get them?

Thanks,

S.




Season BubbleGirl
International author and motivational icon hailing from Australia.

Writer of A Doggy Diary (Ingram/Baker & Taylor, 0-9766-2213-0), Music Mash and autobiography, Absolute Individual: Life In a Bubble (Zeus Publications, 1-922-1837-7; Ingram/Baker & Taylor, 1-5968-2040-3)

www.bubblegirl.net - where individuality truly shines
 
Season ,
Set the bios to turn on when power is applied.
Then place a wall switch in your room that controls
the socket the computer is connected to. Use the
keyboard for shutdown ,and toggle the wall switch
for power on. If this is too complicated ,you can put
a 'clapper' on the computers' power cord ,and slap
the glass to turn it on. There are 100 easy ways
to do this.
Hope this helps ,
Mark Whitlock.
 
A clapper? Wow, please share.

Does alternating between on and off by turning the power point on and off
damage the PC itself?

S.


Season BubbleGirl

International author and motivational icon hailing from Australia.


Writer of A Doggy Diary (Ingram/Baker & Taylor, 0-9766-2213-0), Music Mash
and autobiography, Absolute Individual: Life In a Bubble (Zeus Publications,
1-922-1837-7; Ingram/Baker & Taylor, 1-5968-2040-3)

www.bubblegirl.net - where individuality truly shines
 
I have severe allergies and so use my desktop computer through a glass =
panel. At the moment I need someone to turn it on for me. However, I'd =
like to buy a part for my PC so I can turn it on with a remote or =
something similar instead. Can this be done? Our regular TV remotes work =
through the glass panel so something INFA-RED could work also.=20

The easiest and cheapest method right now, if your motherboard BIOS
supports it, will be to set your PC's BIOS to power up on a certain
key. Shutdown as per normal using Windows but leave the wall socket
switched on, it won't hurt your PC :)
 
I looked up the BIOS and it doesn't have that function :(

I've found some remote power plug things that may work. But how do I know
which work and which don't? Any ideas?

A clapper computer - now that'd be cool! LOL

S.
Season BubbleGirl

International author and motivational icon hailing from Australia.

Writer of A Doggy Diary (Ingram/Baker & Taylor, 0-9766-2213-0), Music Mash
and autobiography, Absolute Individual: Life In a Bubble (Zeus Publications,
1-922-1837-7; Ingram/Baker & Taylor, 1-5968-2040-3)

www.bubblegirl.net - where individuality truly shines
 
I looked up the BIOS and it doesn't have that function :(
:(

I've found some remote power plug things that may work. But how do I know
which work and which don't? Any ideas?

Could you use an extension strip and just place it in such a way that
you can turn the power on/off to the PC? As long as the strip is
wrapped up and disinfected and all, it shouldn't trigger your allergy
right?
 
Season BubbleGirl - BubbleGirl.net said:
A clapper? Wow, please share.

A sound-activated AC power relay. Sold to turn lights on and off
by a clap sound in the room. Very convenient when switches aren't.
Does alternating between on and off by turning the power
point on and off damage the PC itself?

Yes, both hardware and software. Simple relay opening tends
to produce surges. Normal poweroff logic should open a relay with
appropriate anti-surge measures. It might even be cycle-timed.

The software side is worse. Modern OSes (including MS-Windows)
expect to have a chance to shutdown and save info to disk.
Sudden power-off can scramble the filesystem, almost always requiring
a disk check, and sometimes producing an unbootable machine.

You should seriously consider just leaving the machine on 24/7.
Yes, that does consume some power, but probably < 60W.

-- Robert
 
I have severe allergies and so use my desktop computer through a glass =
panel. At the moment I need someone to turn it on for me. However, I'd =
like to buy a part for my PC so I can turn it on with a remote or =
something similar instead. Can this be done? Our regular TV remotes work =
through the glass panel so something INFA-RED could work also.=20

What technologies are there?=20

How do you currently operate the mouse and keyboard? Is there an option in
the BIOS setup to wake the system using the keyboard?
 
A clapper? Wow, please share.

You could also use an X10 appliance module to switch the power.
There are *many* X10 controllers to choose from.
Does alternating between on and off by turning the power point on and off
damage the PC itself?

As long as you shut Windows down properly, no problem. I wouldn't
cycle the power too quickly though. Give it at least a few
seconds.
 
I have severe allergies and so use my desktop computer through a glass panel. At the moment I need someone to turn it on for me. However, I'd like to buy a part for my PC so I can turn it on with a remote or something similar instead. Can this be done? Our regular TV remotes work through the glass panel so something INFA-RED could work also.

What technologies are there?

What prices do they start at? Where can I get them?

For AUD$31/$39 you can buy a 3-channel/7-channel IR remote control
kit:
http://oatleyelectronics.com/kits/k224.html

This allows you to have control over the reset button as well as the
power button. Of course someone will need to assemble and install the
kit for you. If this is a problem, and you wish to try this approach,
feel free to contact me via email.

BTW, Oatley Electronics is an Australian company.

- Franc Zabkar
 
Hi,

I have severe allergies and so use my desktop computer through a glass panel. At the moment I need someone to turn it on for me. However, I'd like to buy a part for my PC so I can turn it on with a remote or something similar instead. Can this be done? Our regular TV remotes work through the glass panel so something INFA-RED could work also.

What technologies are there?

What prices do they start at? Where can I get them?

Thanks,

S.




Season BubbleGirl
International author and motivational icon hailing from Australia.

Writer of A Doggy Diary (Ingram/Baker & Taylor, 0-9766-2213-0), Music Mash and autobiography, Absolute Individual: Life In a Bubble (Zeus Publications, 1-922-1837-7; Ingram/Baker & Taylor, 1-5968-2040-3)

www.bubblegirl.net - where individuality truly shines

A few years ago I've bought an el cheapo keyboard that has, in
addition to regular keys, a few extra buttons, power switch among
them. Works with any ATX-compliant motherboard (so far tested with
3). Sorry can't give the make/model - no markings on the keyboard
itself except for "made in Thailand", and the packaging is long gone.
But if you search your local supplier's web sites, you'll surely find
something similar. As a starting point, look for a keyboard with
hotkeys.
Good luck,
NNN
 
Robert ,
A sound-activated AC power relay. Sold to turn lights on and off
by a clap sound in the room. Very convenient when switches aren't.

Good description. This is the cheapest alternative at about
$25 us. Can't believe they have been spared the stupid
TV commercials.
Yes, both hardware and software. Simple relay opening tends
to produce surges. Normal poweroff logic should open a relay with
appropriate anti-surge measures. It might even be cycle-timed.

I think you are missing 2 points, both are modernizations like
the one that causes this problem.
1- I haven't seen a rig without a power strip containing surge
supressors in over 20 years.Don't cycle nore than twice
within 5 seconds and all should be ok.
The software side is worse. Modern OSes (including MS-Windows)
expect to have a chance to shutdown and save info to disk.
Sudden power-off can scramble the filesystem, almost always requiring
a disk check, and sometimes producing an unbootable machine.
2- She is shutting down appropriately ,the cause of this problem
is the system she uses has 'soft power'
You should seriously consider just leaving the machine on 24/7.
Yes, that does consume some power, but probably < 60W.

The solution was offered as it is more reliable (and cheaper) than
tapping the remote power switch. I am still useing 'AT' systems
that are turned on and off daily for the past 10 years ,and have yet
to loose one of them . I do admit loseing the power supply in a 12
year old monitor a month or so back ,but think this was it's time
any way. Hope this comes off pleasant sounding.
In a rush ,
Mark Whitlock.
 
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