wireless remote to turn on computer

evf4720

evf4720

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i am trying to rig up a wireless remote to turn on my computer. so far i have torn apart the front power button and now know that the button is not quite a "toggle". if i touch the 2 wires together once the computer turns on. they do not need to stay in contact for more than a fraction of a second. when i touch them together again, it turns off. i would like to be able to do this with a wireless transmitter like i key fob style remote. i would also like to be able to turn on my tv (monitor)with the same device if possible. i would need to be able to control them separately with a single remote so a simple 2 button remote would be preferred.

i would be satisfied just controlling the computer though. the tv would just be a nice feature for convenience sake. what is your advice? i have been looking at alot of products products but i am not exactly sure what to look for. any help will be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
logan
 
Didn't your TV come with a remote?

But in all seriousness, I think you may be going about the problem from the wrong way.
Rather than mechanically rigging something up to turn on the PC you should try to do it through the programming (operating system). Depending on your operating system of choice you may be able to set something up with a media center remote. I do not think media center remote will turn on the PC from a dead "off" state. But if it is set up to hibernate or sleep then I'm pretty sure you can get it done with a media center remote.
 
You can get IR receivers to operate a momentary relay to turn your computer on and off with an IR remote control. You could get radio receivers that would do the same thing. If you wanted to control your TV using that radio receiver device, you can get radio receivers that will emit an infrared signal just like the one from your remote, and can be programmed just like your remote. That would be the simplest solution for you.
 
you will also have to adjust the bios settings for the off mode. If you keep the wires together for more than 4 seconds it shuts off. You would need a servo bumping the wires together then reseting back in the open postion.

You could use a remote control car type servo, that could be made to work very easily. push up the wires touch, let go they seperate. That could be rigged up in less then 5 minutes. You would also need the reciever to plug the servo into.

Down side is that it runs on batteries, probably would not last to long so you will need to canibalize a dc wall plug. Something along the lines of a 6v if the reciever takes 4 AA's 1.5v each. Then hard wire it and plug it in the wall. I do that :q:q:q:q all the time :)

TV could be rigged the same way, but it will look stupid with a servo taped on the front, I'd stick with the remote as suggested.

Computers now adays are meant to be left on all the time, thats what sleep and hibernate are for. Any remote like the logitec mini nuvo will work. Hit a button it goes to sleep, hit another it wakes up. Plus it puts all the music and movie controls in your hand.

Personaly I'd get the logitec like I have.
 
Try X10.com for all your household remote needs. I'm sure they have something that will turn on your computer with a push of a button before you ever walk in the front door. Put it in standby, turn remote off and then back on and it should wake it up and turn it on for you with the remote.

Hell, watch what's going on in your home while you're gone.

http://www.x10.com/promotions/va12a_hires_si.html
 
ground_zero298 said:
you will also have to adjust the bios settings for the off mode. If you keep the wires together for more than 4 seconds it shuts off. You would need a servo bumping the wires together then reseting back in the open postion.
Click to expand...

Why use a servo and mechanically manipulate the wires? A relay would effectively do the same thing, then everything would be hard wired.

A relay is a switch that is operated electronically. He could use an IR or Radio receiver to operate it. Very simple. Push a button, it would close the circuit between the wires momentarily.

Just like pressing the unlock button on a remote for a car.

Heck, he could even use a car remote, just wire the unlock signal into a relay, when the relay is energized, it would close the circuit on the relay. Though it would be a less than elegant solution. Plus he could get an RF receiver, remote, and a relay for less money at a hobby shop anyways.
 
ok i went with this one. i figured for the money even if it doesn't work oh well. i could use it for something else.

i went with a 2 channel because i think the tv should be the same scenario as the computer. so if it works at all it will work for the tv and computer. i think?
 
MU2A.jpg


going off this picture it looks like i just hook up the constant the 12v power from "god knows where" in the computer.

and a ground.

and from the live side of the original power button to terminal C

and the other wire from the computer button to terminal B



and hopefully the same for the tv on the other channel


this all sound right to you guys?
 
sounds about right. Your TV power button should work the same way as your computers, idk if you want to go digging into it, but yeah.

To get constant 12 volt power and a ground, just go to a PC store, and get a fan harness to plug into any of the normal molex connectors inside your PC. Then remove the end of the pigtail and put the wires directly into your unit.
 
but a fan wouldnt be constant power would it?

i checked all the wires going to one of the connectors and none had power when the computer was shut down.

i'm thinking about getting a Universal AC to DC Car Cigarette Lighter Socket Adapter and running it to a 12v accessory plug with bare wire output. because i cant seam to find any power source from the computer that has juice when the computer is turned off. or in hibernate in my case. this setup will only cost about 6 bucks
 
evf4720 said:
but a fan wouldnt be constant power would it?

i checked all the wires going to one of the connectors and none had power when the computer was shut down.

i'm thinking about getting a Universal AC to DC Car Cigarette Lighter Socket Adapter and running it to a 12v accessory plug with bare wire output. because i cant seam to find any power source from the computer that has juice when the computer is turned off. or in hibernate in my case. this setup will only cost about 6 bucks
Click to expand...

lol oh yeah....

brain fart. Yeah... gonna have to go with an AC adapter.
 
haha ok. thanks for all the help. i'll post pics of the conversion and finished product when i get it done.
 
ok heres what i have done so far. i got the 12v accessory plug wired up to the receiver. and wires running from the receiver to the computer. when i push the button on the remote i can here the receiver click once then again when i let go of the button. the computer however does not turn on. i dont get it. it turns on when i touch the 2 wires together. is it too low of a power level to travel through the wire?

0602100855.jpg


0602101003.jpg


0602101007.jpg
 
evf4720 said:
ok heres what i have done so far. i got the 12v accessory plug wired up to the receiver. and wires running from the receiver to the computer. when i push the button on the remote i can here the receiver click once then again when i let go of the button. the computer however does not turn on. i dont get it. it turns on when i touch the 2 wires together. is it too low of a power level to travel through the wire?
Click to expand...

does it turn on if you touch the ends of the white wire you're using to connect the switch wires to the module? you could try just connecting the red and blue wires to the module to see where the problem is (the wire or the module).

Ron
 
well i decided to test the transmiter today. i hooked it up to my sisters car stereo ground and constant 12v power (checked those and they were both working). it did not transfer the power to the other wire. so its either my wire or the module. not insignificant power from the computer. though that may still be a problem. i"ll find out when i get that far.
 
i'm a dumb a-ss. i had the wrong terminal wired. it was set for normally closed. dont understand why it didn't turn on as soon as the wires were touched in the first place but it is currently working. now i have to get a ac/dc wall plug that allows for a cigarette lighter style output and install it on my computer. i was using a older spare as a test dummy so i wouldnt screw mine up.
 
What is the end result you are looking for here? Why all this trouble when other options, like a media center remote, end up cheaper and easier? Or better yet, just leave the computer on. My HTPC is also my server, and it stays on and running 24/7. It costs about 10 cents a day, and that is not utilizing sleep or hibernate.
 
i want to mount my computer on the wall above my tv (monitor) and put an outlet behind the tv so there are no wires. nice and clean looking. this would make my computer hard to reach and a pain to get to the way my room is set up. my computer is right beside my bed. this will run me 25 dollars max all said and done. i havent looked into media center remotes because i figured they took special software or programming. i am running windows xp and refuse to switch over to windows vista or windows 7.
 
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