Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Guys,

The PC "ON" button (which can also be an off button if held down long enough) - Does the wiring for that switch have to pass through the ferite ring that is usually located in the front panel of a PC case?

I think the ferite ring is there to reduce EMI.

I have made a remote switch so that I can turn on the PC from far away and I am running the wiring from the mother board out the back of the computer so it is not passing through the ferite ring. Would it be okay to do this?

Also is the ferite ring really needed?

it will work

no u dont need it but with out it u can pick up EM and if that happens the pc may think u have pushed the button
so if u can not get on for it just keep the wires away form electric divises any thing that makes a EM fild like transformers boxs motors and such

Yep, plenty of computers don't even have the ferrite choke. If not already done twist the wires together to reduce the common mode susceptibility.

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Thank you for your help guys.

Just curious about your remote switch project.

Could you discuss it a little more?

Like how far away, how it's going to get turned on eventually, and what is your final project, or role for the PC?

Neat idea.

Hi Bob H,

Well the project is not so much directly related to Aquaponics however since I have made the switch for my Dad's computer it is indirectly related because he loves to read about Aquaponics online.

Having a remote switch allows for the main computer box to be stored away beneath the desk thus creating more desk space. The new switch is on the desk for easy access. Also I prefer all the PC connections to be easily accessible in which case the "ON" switch is located right at the back - but now the "ON" button is on the desk right near the keyboard and mouse. My intention in the future is to have a central computer hub that can be turned on by remote.

The switch I have used is a momentary contact switch which is needed for a PC "ON" switch. It is wired up to the motherboard with a 3 m cable. In the future the switch could be made wireless with the application of some more electronics.

An easier (but way less fun) way is to buy a remote power switch -- you can get these from Bunnings. They are a 27MHz remote transmitter, that controls a 240 V power socket.

Although the box doesn't say it, the standby power of this device is under half a watt, they're great for pressing a button and powering up your mission control

You can also use them to power up your entertainment system (TV, stereo, DVD etc).

Hi Nebbian,

The device you mention might work but I'm not sure (I have never used one) if a PC is powered down, turning the mains switch on will not power up a PC. You would still need to press the "ON" button on the PC to power it up. That is why I have wired this switch up to the mother board. In my case the mains switch stays on and the new switch is a substitute for the power up button on the PC.

There should be a setting in the BIOS that can set the computer to power up on "Power Resume"

Oh okay thanks SuperVeg I was not aware of that. In that case the device Nebbian mentioned could be used.

You typically don't want to unplug a PC, you'll drain the BIOS battery over time and have to buy a new one.

Here is a picture of the switch that I made. As stated above it is a momentary switch, it is wired directly to the motherboard and the mains power remains on.

Thank you everyone for your input

So that's what that means.

Thanks