Solved Turning on your PC with Amazon Echo Dot

badrobot · Jul 12, 2022

jvickers said:
You have an awesome setup. I fear your skills are far above mine. I'm not even sure how I'd even start. Plus, that would mean opening up my computer, wouldn't it? I try to avoid that because, well, I'm lazy.

I put my computer together from scratch, so opening it up and tapping wires into the mobo does not really count as a skill.

I learned buiding a PC by transfering an existing PC to a new case. It is the best way to learn where each components go and which cable goes where. You should start that way, too.

jvickers · Jul 12, 2022

badrobot said:
I put my computer together from scratch, so opening it up and tapping wires into the mobo does not really count as a skill.
I learned buiding a PC by transfering an existing PC to a new case. It is the best way to learn where each components go and which cable goes where. You should start that way, too.

Oh, I've been building systems since probably around 1996 or so, including the system I now an using. That's just a new part I've not seen before. Not sure where it would go. Any real electrical work is beyond my skillset nowadays. Plus, I don't have the tools. Just the tools to take apart my rig and remove/insert things. Are there how-to pages for how to do this on the Internet, or is this a solution you came up with on your own?

badrobot · Jul 12, 2022

jvickers said:
Oh, I've been building systems since probably around 1996 or so, including the system I now an using. That's just a new part I've not seen before. Not sure where it would go. Any real electrical work is beyond my skillset nowadays. Plus, I don't have the tools. Just the tools to take apart my rig and remove/insert things. Are there how-to pages for how to do this on the Internet, or is this a solution you came up with on your own?

It is just something that I came up with on my own.
The idea is like creating an extension of the power button on the PC case (parallel connection to existing power button). But instead of an actual button, I used a relay switch which is actuated by a USB power source. The USB power (just a regular 5v phone charger) is plugged into a smart/wifi plug. And that is where the magic happens with Alexa/Google Asst.

jvickers · Jul 12, 2022

badrobot said:
It is just something that I came up with on my own.
The idea is like creating an extension of the power button on the PC case. But instead of an actual button, I used a relay switch which is actuated by a USB power source. The USB power (just a regular 5v phone charger) is plugged into a smart/wifi plug. And that is where the magic happens with Alexa/Google Asst.

Like I said, your skill level is well above mine. I'm not very electronically inclined. I can see the Alexa/smart wifi plug portion but not the hooking the relay switch into my system.

badrobot · Jul 12, 2022

jvickers said:
Like I said, your skill level is well above mine. I'm not very electronically inclined. I can see the Alexa/smart wifi plug portion but not the hooking the relay switch into my system.

Here is a graphical diagram...

jvickers · Jul 12, 2022

badrobot said:
Here is a graphical diagram...

View attachment 33759

Would you have a link to the switch you bought? I searched on Amazon but didn't find one like pictured above.

badrobot · Jul 12, 2022

jvickers said:
Would you have a link to the switch you bought? I searched on Amazon but didn't find one like pictured above.

Amazon.com: DZS Elec 5V-30V 1 Channel Wilde Voltage 0-24s Adjustable Delay Internal/External Trigger Relay Board with Timer Delay Conduction Delay Circuit Switch with USB to Micro USB Power Line : Electronics

Buy DZS Elec 5V-30V 1 Channel Wilde Voltage 0-24s Adjustable Delay Internal/External Trigger Relay Board with Timer Delay Conduction Delay Circuit Switch with USB to Micro USB Power Line: Power Converters - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-Trigger-Adjustable-Control-Conduction/dp/B0832MW9L4/ref=sr_1_43?crid=1V9G0L7735LN3&keywords=usb+relay+switch&qid=1657660783&sprefix=relay+switch+USB%2Caps%2C68&sr=8-43

jvickers · Jul 12, 2022

badrobot said:
Amazon.com: DZS Elec 5V-30V 1 Channel Wilde Voltage 0-24s Adjustable Delay Internal/External Trigger Relay Board with Timer Delay Conduction Delay Circuit Switch with USB to Micro USB Power Line : Electronics

Buy DZS Elec 5V-30V 1 Channel Wilde Voltage 0-24s Adjustable Delay Internal/External Trigger Relay Board with Timer Delay Conduction Delay Circuit Switch with USB to Micro USB Power Line: Power Converters - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-Trigger-Adjustable-Control-Conduction/dp/B0832MW9L4/ref=sr_1_43?crid=1V9G0L7735LN3&keywords=usb+relay+switch&qid=1657660783&sprefix=relay+switch+USB%2Caps%2C68&sr=8-43

Thanks! I'll have to ponder this and see if I can set it up.

badrobot · Jul 12, 2022

jvickers said:
Thanks! I'll have to ponder this and see if I can set it up.

You will need to use "common" (COM) and "Normally Open" (NO) terminals. It doesn't matter which of the 2 wires from "PowerSw" header you tapped. You just need to "short" it anyway like what most switches do.

badrobot · Jul 12, 2022

jvickers said:
Thanks! I'll have to ponder this and see if I can set it up.

I made my own splitter but you can also get one from Amazon. You need to have both the existing power button and the relay switch connected to the motherboard so you can use either of the two to power on your PC.

Amazon.com: E-outstanding 4PCS 2 Pins Single Female to Dual Male Jumper Splitter for PC Motherboard Power Light-Emitting Diode Switch Reset HDD Hard Drive : Electronics

www.amazon.com

Necrosaro · Jul 12, 2022

jvickers said:
You have an awesome setup. I fear your skills are far above mine. I'm not even sure how I'd even start. Plus, that would mean opening up my computer, wouldn't it? I try to avoid that because, well, I'm lazy.

Got two phones as well for that extra just in case moments

jvickers · Jul 12, 2022

badrobot said:
I made my own splitter but you can also get one from Amazon. You need to have both the existing power button and the relay switch connected to the motherboard so you can use either of the two to power on your PC.

Amazon.com: E-outstanding 4PCS 2 Pins Single Female to Dual Male Jumper Splitter for PC Motherboard Power Light-Emitting Diode Switch Reset HDD Hard Drive : Electronics

Amazon.com: E-outstanding 4PCS 2 Pins Single Female to Dual Male Jumper Splitter for PC Motherboard Power Light-Emitting Diode Switch Reset HDD Hard Drive : Electronics

www.amazon.com

This is all incredibly helpful. Thanks so much!

jvickers · Jul 12, 2022

badrobot said:
I made my own splitter but you can also get one from Amazon. You need to have both the existing power button and the relay switch connected to the motherboard so you can use either of the two to power on your PC.

Amazon.com: E-outstanding 4PCS 2 Pins Single Female to Dual Male Jumper Splitter for PC Motherboard Power Light-Emitting Diode Switch Reset HDD Hard Drive : Electronics

Amazon.com: E-outstanding 4PCS 2 Pins Single Female to Dual Male Jumper Splitter for PC Motherboard Power Light-Emitting Diode Switch Reset HDD Hard Drive : Electronics

www.amazon.com

Quick question - and this should be the last - how did you get the USB cable out of the case? Did you drill a hole in the chassis or something? Or did you already have an exit point?

Thanks!

badrobot · Jul 12, 2022

jvickers said:
Quick question - and this should be the last - how did you get the USB cable out of the case? Did you drill a hole in the chassis or something? Or did you already have an exit point?

Thanks!

There are lots of opening and slots at the back of the case. Just make sure to use a USB cable that is long enough to go around the back of the case.

badrobot · Jul 12, 2022

Necrosaro said:
Got two phones as well for that extra just in case moments

Are you talking about my landline phones?

Necrosaro · Jul 12, 2022

badrobot said:
Are you talking about my landline phones?

Yeah

badrobot · Jul 13, 2022

Necrosaro said:
Yeah

The other one came free with my 1Gbps fiber internet. Told the ISP I don't need another phone but they said it won't cost me anything to keep it nor will I save anything if I refuse it. Okay. No problem.

cereberus · Jul 13, 2022

badrobot said:
So you actually have not built a PC yet? It is so much fun and very rewarding. I usually use my laptop when I am just away. That's why I only bought a 14" one so it won't be too heavy to lug around.

Nowhere to put one. The one place I could haved one has my company pc and monitor. At a stretch I could put one underneath it but in the end, I am not a gamer so have no need for a desktop.

z3r010 · Jul 13, 2022

badrobot said:
Tried it before using the LAN method but I find it hit or miss most of the time.
So, to accomplish this, I hooked up a relay switch to the motherboards power switch headers in parallel with the PC case' power button (so I can still power it on manually by pressing the power button). The relay switch is then powered by a 5v charger plugged into a smart outlet. I am controlling the smart outlet via voice command to switch on to activate the relay switch (close position) and switch off automatically (open position) after about 3 seconds. This serves like a momentary switch. The rest is just a routine setup on Alexa. It sounds complicated but it is really very simple.

This is not about laziness. It's more of just a fun project. Putting pieces together and make it work without lifting a finger.
I also find it very convenient when I am already lying in bed at night and my daughter comes in to tell me "Dad, your PC is still on". Alexa usually saves my back from getting up to go back to the computer room.

Here is a spare USB powered relay switch I bought off Amazon (micro-SD card is for size comparison):

View attachment 33672

I used a similar relay to have Alexa control my electric gates, I wired the outputs to the button on a spare gate remote - now when I say "Alexa Open Sesame" the gates open

badrobot · Jul 13, 2022

By the way, there's a bit of configuration that needs to ne done with the relay switch if it is to be used as a momentary switch for PC. There is a little knob on the relay that you can turn clockwise or cclockwise to set the length of time to keep the relay in closed position like when pressing the PC power button. You just need to use a small screw driver for this task. The instruction can be found on the relay's manual.
As for the smart plug, you have to create an Alexa routine to turn the smart plug on, then create a any random command in between and then a command to turn off the smart plug. The random command in between is just to keep the smart plug on for 1 to 2 seconds before turning it off.