Remote switches

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phil Weldon
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Phil Weldon

'Season BubbleGirl' wrote:
| 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?
_____

With Windows XP it is possible to turn the computer on and off from the
keyboard (perhaps not a wireless keyboard.) The settings are in the Control
Panel under 'Power Options' and in the BIOS of the computer.

The ON/OFF switch on modern IBM compatible computers is just a momentary
contact, normally open pushbutton switch that only handles a few volts DC at
VERY low current. It would also be very simple to wire an extension with a
remote pushbutton switch. The AC mains power is always on, but in the
computer's off mode only a Standby + 5 volts is supplied; that is what
allows a low voltage switch or the keyboard to turn other voltages on and
off.

Try to get the keyboard (or mouse) set up for ON/OFF control or better yet,
the ON/HIBERNATE control too (there is a SLEEP button on some Microsoft
keyboards that control ON/HIBERNATE.)

The built-in facility is the first choice as it just requires the correct
settings. Your suggestion also be easy to do, but will likely be expensive
as it will not be a standard mass-market part. (By the way, if you happen
to do a google search, the word should be infrared or infra-red.)

Phil Weldon

message 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
 
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
 
Can the on/off via keyboard be done on generic keyboards? I have a Diamond
keyboards as Logitech, Microsoft and other top brands use plastics that
badly affect my allergies. Twenty minutes near one of them and I'm Intensive
Care status. Scary stuff!

If it can be done, I will definitely try it. It won't stuff up and stop my
computer turning on at all, will it?

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
 
Sorry, fragmenting threads?


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 checked the BIOS. Only power options I found were to suspend the on/off
button, not to alter the event. Intel Celeron's mustn't be valid for this.

Hibernating the computer - can I do that on generic keyboards. Microsoft
keyboards use plastics that make me very ill. I had to get a generic
keyboard, and from sight, I'm only seeing a button with a moon button that
doesn't do anything when pressed.

An extension switch seems the best idea. How hard would they be to wire up?
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 BubbleGirl' wrote, in part:
| I checked the BIOS. Only power options I found were to suspend the on/off
| button, not to alter the event. Intel Celeron's mustn't be valid for this.
_____

In the BIOS choose the ON/OFF option, not the suspend option.
The type of CPU has nothing to do with it.
Selecting the ON/OFF option in the BIOS should be all you need to do.

Wiring up an extension switch only requires a light two conductor cable and
a push button switch that is [normally open, momentary contact, single pole
single throw (SPST)]. It can be wired in parallel with the button on the
front of the computer so that the original ON/OFF button and the extension
ON/OFF button switch both work. Just solder the cable between the contacts
of the new switch and the contacts of the old one.

The keyboard on off should work if you set the ON/OFF button to ON/OFF and
not to Suspend.

Phil Weldon

message |I checked the BIOS. Only power options I found were to suspend the on/off
| button, not to alter the event. Intel Celeron's mustn't be valid for this.
|
| Hibernating the computer - can I do that on generic keyboards. Microsoft
| keyboards use plastics that make me very ill. I had to get a generic
| keyboard, and from sight, I'm only seeing a button with a moon button that
| doesn't do anything when pressed.
|
| An extension switch seems the best idea. How hard would they be to wire
up?
| 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 BubbleGirl' wrote:
| > | 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?
| > _____
| >
| > With Windows XP it is possible to turn the computer on and off from the
| > keyboard (perhaps not a wireless keyboard.) The settings are in the
| > Control
| > Panel under 'Power Options' and in the BIOS of the computer.
| >
| > The ON/OFF switch on modern IBM compatible computers is just a momentary
| > contact, normally open pushbutton switch that only handles a few volts
DC
| > at
| > VERY low current. It would also be very simple to wire an extension
with
| > a
| > remote pushbutton switch. The AC mains power is always on, but in the
| > computer's off mode only a Standby + 5 volts is supplied; that is what
| > allows a low voltage switch or the keyboard to turn other voltages on
and
| > off.
| >
| > Try to get the keyboard (or mouse) set up for ON/OFF control or better
| > yet,
| > the ON/HIBERNATE control too (there is a SLEEP button on some Microsoft
| > keyboards that control ON/HIBERNATE.)
| >
| > The built-in facility is the first choice as it just requires the
correct
| > settings. Your suggestion also be easy to do, but will likely be
| > expensive
| > as it will not be a standard mass-market part. (By the way, if you
happen
| > to do a google search, the word should be infrared or infra-red.)
| >
| > Phil Weldon
| >
in
| > message | > 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
| >
| >
|
|
 
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