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- M O V E T H A T S W I T C H !
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- ---oOo---
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- by Bob Morrow
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- Did you ever stop to think that the only other place that could be worse than
- the back of the machine for the power switch would be on the bottom?
-
- My ST is under a shelf that allows for about 3 inches of clearance, not quite
- enough to fit my hand under it to turn it on. (disk access is still easy) I got
- sick of reaching around the back to turn on the machine, so I developed a remote
- switch for it. This remote switch can be placed anywhere you like, limited only
- by the length of the wire you install. Mine is just to the left of the ST, like
- another mouse on the other side. The existing switch stays in place but is
- overridden. It should cost about $5-10 to do, and takes about 1 hour.
-
- All the parts are available at Radio Shack. A small plastic box (RS 270-230)
- holds the switch (RS 275-690). (Rubber feet may be necessary if it's to be
- mounted on a surface that shouldn't be scratched.) A length of 2 conductor 18-
- gauge wire runs from that box to inside the ST. I ran it through the hole where
- the RF modulator would be since my 1040STf doesn't have one. If you do that, the
- wire needs to be 18" long for locating it on the left side. It is also possible
- to run it through the case over the cartridge port if you don't use that; in
- that case, a 12" wire will do. Heck, if you want the switch 25' away, then
- that's possible too!
-
- Turn off the computer and unplug everything leading into it. Remove the top half
- of the case and the RFI shielding over the power supply. Solder one end of the
- wire to the two switch posts on the power supply. Don't worry about polarity; it
- doesn't matter. If you find it easier, remove the power supply. Snake the wire
- under the RFI shielding and outside the case as described above. Install the RFI
- shielding and put the case back together.
-
- Drill a small hole in the side of the box for the wire to go through. A 7/32"
- bit should do it. Drill another hole, this time on the top (plastic side) of the
- box for the switch. You'll need a 5/8" bit for the switch mentioned; if you're
- like me and don't have one that big, draw a 5/8" circle and using a 1/8" bit,
- make a bunch of holes along the edge and knock out the center and make the edge
- smooth. Put the switch in the hole and pull the wire through it's hole. Solder
- the wire to the switch; again, it doesn't matter what wire goes to what post.
- Put the box back together and install the feet, if used.
-
- Try it! Your remote switch is now the master power switch!
-
- I suppose it would be just as easy to run an extension of the Reset switch.
- Though I haven't done that, the procedure is the same except that removal of the
- motherboard is probably required to solder the wire on to the reset switch. But
- it's easier to get to in it's existing location, so I didn't bother.
-
- *note* The Radio Shack switch mentioned is rated at 6 amps, one more than what
- the power supply takes in. If I remember correctly, my power supply said: AC in
- 117V, 5A.
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- Bob Morrow
- (Delphi-RMORROW)
- (GEnie-R.MORROW10)
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- ~~~ eof ~~~
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