MAME Cab TV / PC combined switch

[ShinraArcade]

I currently have an arcade button that powers off the PC I'd like to also wire this to the TVs stand by button so both TV and PC come on at the press of a button. Unfortunately there is no option for this TV to auto power on. I'd really like to avoid using the TV remote to turn on my arcade screen.

I have no doubt this will work but not sure if they'll be an sort of feedback which may cause a problem later down the line.

Will I need some sort of resistor or is wiring them both to one switch completely safe and risk free?

 

[ZedEx48K]

I've found quite a lot of tv's if the power is pulled when turned on, they will turn back on when repowered rather than standby, that way you set the PC bios to reboot on power loss and then just make the switch inline on the main power to the cab.

 

[ZedEx48K]

The other option is to wire the switch to both the PC power and the power on button on the remote control (obviously you would have to extend the TVs remote reciever to infront of the remote, a bit messier but it too works, and also bypasses any need to go messing on the TVs chassis.

 

[ShinraArcade]

Thanks ZedEx, I think I remember a few years back some sort of green initiative where that auto power on feature was removed from consumer sets. Not sure if this ever happened or if it was just an idea..

Obviously all modern screens will come back on if they have a powered CEC device attached. in fact CEC would have been an ideal solution but both the Graphics Card and TV are non-CEC compatible.

Very interesting idea re the remote hacking never thought of that it could even be wired to the PC PSU so that it didn't need batteries replacing or be plagued with leaking issues. Saying that I'm quite comfortable hacking up the chassis and think this is a better option if it's not going to cause me issues. Any idea if I'll need a resistor on this?

 

[ZedEx48K]

A few years back probably isn't going to affact archaic CRT TVs

Since powering a PC and a remote button are just the connection of 2 wires and no voltage direct on them so I can't see an issue. The remote won't work if the PC isn't on though, plus you still have to drop that down to 1.5/3 volts, just use a good brand battery and forget about it.
ZedEx48K2020-05-29 09:16:13

 

[ShinraArcade]

Yeah CRTs should be fine but it's an LCD

Yes see what you mean there about the remote needing power to power the PC but the PC needing to be on to power it! What a div

. Could always wire up PSU this come on instantly but kind of defeats the point

. I was hoping that the 3.3 from the PSU wouldn't fry the remote but all a bit of a moot point now!

I dremeled a chunk out the back/ side of the TV and yanked the control board out which was a much larger operation than I first thought! Unfortunately it's got those horrible touch controls but I think I can see points where I could solder to. I'll have a go at this in a bit.

 

[ShinraArcade]

Okay all seemed to be going alright until I actually wired it all up and tried it.

When the PC get switched on at the mains the PSU powers up for about a second and then goes off, I know a lot of PCs do this but don't know why or if it can be switched off. this triggered the TV to come on which meant that when I actually turned the machine on by the designated button the TV went off..

Thought no problem there just out of sync i can just turn on TV manually and then they are in sync but no when I went to shutdown the PC the volume control was triggered instead!

.

I really don't know how these capacitive controls work it's like witchcraft to me because the part with the switches just looks like an empty circuit board with no components!

Are there any electronics people that could Please give some advice on this? or if there is some sort of generic hack that will turn on an LCD (from mains) I'd like to hear it. should i just chop off the "Buttons" part of the board and just probe around until the screen comes on (or off)

Front and back images are below:

 

[ZedEx48K]

Well why not just do the power connector mod to the PC? You jumper 2 pins/wires (if I remember rightly) on the connector to the motherboard, that way it powers up as soon as the mains is turned on, then if the TV is turning on as you say, problems solved!

 

[ShinraArcade]

Thanks that sounds like a workable solution so long as the results are consistent and I think I'll use this if I can't get it done any another way.

The cab has a button right in the middle of the CP for powering on/of with a power logo on the CPO directly beneath it.

The cab is connected to an extension lead which is in turn connected to other stuff I need powered but I don't necessarily want the arcade machine on when I power this up. I do have a switch on the IEC socket but I've put it on the wrong side and it's not accessible.. the main reason I want the power button on the CP is that 1. it's already there and labelled and two it makes it easy for the kids to switch on and off.

Been playing around with the touch panel and soldered a wire directly on to it, it's really sensitive and activates an inch away from actually touching it. so just wondering if the erroneous input I was getting yesterday was down to some "captative energy" (?) around it maybe from my had touching the whilst the panel rested on it...

Maybe I could create a coil and place it inside the arcade button where there is space for an insert.

Think I'll continue fiddling for now there's always the remote hack.

Does anyone know if hardwiring the IR sensors from a Remote to a TV is possible? maybe removing the sensors and just wiring the points directly?

ShinraArcade2020-05-30 19:56:39