Has anyone tried to put a TRS jack inline with the power button on a computer I want to make a r...

[G+_Jason Perry]

Has anyone tried to put a TRS jack inline with the power button on a computer. I want to make a remote switch.

[G+_Darren La Groe]

Are you thinking of replacing the power button with a TRS jack then plugging in some kind of switch or something on the other end? I would be cautious using an audio cable for high voltage power. Mostly because audio cables aren’t intended for anything above 48v (phantom power) and neither are the devices at the other end (headphones, musical instruments, etc.). What you want to do is totally possible but I would suggest using a connector intended for 110-220v. Maybe use a “SpeakOn” (twist lock) connector and make a custom cable.

[G+_Jason Perry]

Well, now that you mention it, I have never tested the voltage on pin 16. I have always assumed it was 5v 12v at most.

 

I was going with a TRS because I could keep the existing switch there and when I plugged in an external switch it would remove it from the circuit.

[G+_Paul Hutchinson]

On very old PCs the front mounted power switch is a remotely mounted high voltage AC switch. However I haven't seen a system that uses that method sold during this century.

 

Modern PCs have the power on switch connect to the motherboard and the power on signal is 5V low current so almost any momentary switch will work safely.

Ref. http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=31105&seqNum=4

 

So your plan should work with one caveat. Many TRS style connectors can temporarily short the connections as the plug is being inserted. This is why you rarely see them used for power connections.

 

There are many other types of connectors with built in switches and guaranteed non-shorting behavior while making the connection. The most common ones are the dozens of sizes of coaxial power connectors.

[G+_Jason Perry]

Paul Hutchinson?, I am going to have to look into those connectors. They would rarely be unplugged, but I don't want to rip a button out of its mounting hole to take a computer home to fix.

 

One thing stood out in your comment. You mentioned a momentary button, I didn't think that would work. I was planning on using a SPST switch.

[G+_Jason Perry]

Paul Hutchinson?, I was just looking at coaxial power connectors. Will they remove the switch from the computer when I plug it my remote button?

 

This is what I had in mind.

[G+_Paul Hutchinson]

Jason Perry It's been ages since I've played around with PC case switches. I thought they are all momentary switches on modern PCs. However they could be the much more expensive push on/push off type switches.

 

You can easily test this by disconnecting the switch from the motherboard and using an ohm meter to see which type it is.

[G+_Paul Hutchinson]

Jason Perry Coaxial power connectors with built in switches are almost exactly like the phone plug with switch connector you've drawn. One of the circuits is broken when the plug is inserted.

Here's the data sheet for a typical switching configuration.

jameco.com - www.jameco.com/Jameco/Products/ProdDS/101178.pdf

[G+_Jason Perry]

Thanks Paul Hutchinson?.

[G+_Darren La Groe]

Good point about the switch. I was thinking of this in place of the switch on the PSU, not on the motherboard. That makes a lot more sense. Still I personally think audio when I see a TRS jack.

[G+_Ben Reese]

You'd probably only need TS, not TRS. But a TRS jack would work for TS. If the jack is on the PC side, I wouldn't expect it to cause any problems from shorting when the plug is inserted. The shorting usually happens between the R/S or T/S on the plug - though it's still not a bad idea to get a plug with a switch just to be sure. Other than that, I don't see any reason it shouldn't work!

 

Have you tried Wake On LAN? Seems like it would be easier to implement and less invasive. My second thought is to put an Arduino inside the case and use it to send the signal to the motherboard PS_ON pins. Or perhaps a Raspberry Pi Zero-W connected to a relay?

 

Sounds like a great project regardless!