Windows 7: one/off switch Parkard Bell

hiarobert · 21 Dec 2010

I have a IMEDIA 9300 desktop PC. The One/off Switch is broken and the parts are not available anymore for this model.
I think newer model use the same One/Off switch however. For example iMedia (PT.U03-PV.U03) looks to me is similar. In order to identify this I need to know the Serialnumber of one of those desktop PC. With this I can go to EetNordic and ask them to check. I would be very happy if somebody can help me

, thanks Robert

TVeblen · 21 Dec 2010

I can't help you with the serial number search. I think that is going to take a phone call and the help of an actual human and the physical machine. I don't recall ever seeing serial numbers in any spec I have looked at online.

However, the On/Off switch on a computer is a very simple and dumb part. Any switch will work electrically. In fact, you could cut off the switch with some snips, pull the 2 wires through the switch hole, and just touch them together to start the computer! (Not recommended though).

So any switch you can find that will fit in the case will work. If you are handy you could mix and match the parts to get it to work.

alphanumeric · 21 Dec 2010

The power switch on most PC cases is a momentary, normally off, switch. The contacts are only made when you press the button and open again when you take your finger off. The reset button, if your case has one, should be the same. So you could just swap the connectors on the motherboard and use the reset button to turn it on. Either temporarily or permanently.

pebbly · 21 Dec 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by alphanumeric

The power switch on most PC cases is a momentary, normally off, switch. The contacts are only made when you press the button and open again when you take your finger off. The reset button, if your case has one, should be the same. So you could just swap the connectors on the motherboard and use the reset button to turn it on. Either temporarily or permanently.

Surely the on/off must be latched ?

DocBrown · 21 Dec 2010

I have bought generic ON/OFF switches from eBay. They have worked ok, but may not fit your case exactly.

alphanumeric · 21 Dec 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by pebbly

Quote: Originally Posted by alphanumeric

The power switch on most PC cases is a momentary, normally off, switch. The contacts are only made when you press the button and open again when you take your finger off. The reset button, if your case has one, should be the same. So you could just swap the connectors on the motherboard and use the reset button to turn it on. Either temporarily or permanently.

Surely the on/off must be latched ?

The power switch on the actual power supply is, that switches the AC mains off.
The power switch on the case isn't though. The way it works is the Auxiliary +5v supply in the power supply, that is always on, sends 5 volts to the motherboard to power the circuit that turns every thing on. When you press the front panel power button on the case, that signals the motherboard to power on the power supply fully. Depending on how the BIOS is set, pressing it again for 4 seconds turns it off again. It can be 4 seconds or an instantaneous power off. Its just a pulse while the button is held pressed. If you used a latched switch your PC would just cycle on and off over and over again.

pebbly · 21 Dec 2010

Thanks for the info alpha

alphanumeric · 21 Dec 2010

No problem, I'm an electronic technician so this kind of stuff is right down my alley. The other cool thing this functionality lets you do is go into windows power options and set it to shut down windows when you press the button. It does the same thing as going though the start menu and selecting Shut Down, a gracefull shutdown. My spare PC is in my bedroom. I often listen to music with the monitor turned off. When I'm done I just press the power button on the case and turn off the speakers. Its a lot easier than turning on the monitor, grabbing the mouse, etc, etc.

Windows 7: one/off switch Parkard Bell

one/off switch Parkard Bell problems?