Hey guys, I’ve been trying to figure out a way that I can wire a switch to my power supply so that I can turn the power supply on and off without having to reach way into my cabinet and flick the switch that is on the back of the power supply.

So I simply put a SPST switch between the 2 wires that you use to hotwire the power supply to begin with.  (the green and black wires that you connect to turn it on without a computer)

Then I just flick the switch to the on position on the back of the powersupply and leave it on.  That way I can use the SPST switch to turn it on and off.

There is a problem:  Although it works, if I turn everything off and leave the switch on the back of the power supply in the on position...it gets hot.  Everthing is turned off, but it still gets hot.

I know I’m doing something wrong, is there a way to achieve my original plan in a safe way?  maybe with a SPDT or something?

Now without knowing your specific power supply (or seeing your wiring), I can only speculate as to what the exact problem is. I suspect that you may have put the power supply into suspend mode instead of turning it off by using those particular wires.  That will cause the power supply to still produce power, but since it’s not connected to a suspended computer (as a load) it’s expending the energy as heat. (remember a suspended computer still drains energy to the ram and what not.

I suggest investing in two 3 way switches (rated to match the main power supply switch). then replace the main switch with one of the new three way switches. Wire up the other switch to match a traditional 2 switch operated circuit. Here is an example: http://www.electrical-online.com/3waydiagram.htm.

That will make sure to cut the main power whenever you want. There are other more advanced ways of doing it, but the theory is the same and that should point you in the right direction. Good luck and let us know how this turns out!

Thanks for the reply!

Here’s the power supply I am using:  http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=26450
Here’s the method I used to hotwire the psu: http://www.overclock.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/2691/cat/501
(except that instead of using a jumper wire I put a spst switch in between the green and one of the black wires)

So you are suggesting that I replace the original switch that is on the back of the power supply?
If I did that, wouldn’t I be able to just use that one switch (by running extended wires to my desired location (top of the table)?
Judging from the above PSU specs, what kind of specs should I look for when buying my switches?
Anyway to do this with one switch?

I’m still learning

If you are happy with just one switch then that’s MUCH simpler! (you are right, just extending it out will be fine.)

If you want to buy a new switch you will want to get your trusty volt/amp meter out and measure (with the power on) how much current and volts are going across the switch. give your self a little wiggle room and buy a switch with a rating bigger than that.  Of course if you are just extending the switch then you can reuse the original one, and just buy extra cabling at the desired length. Not only is that a simple mod, but a fun one! I’d also leave the switch on that you have over the atx power wires.

Boring Info Alert!
All switches are rated by the maximum volts and amps it can handle. A good primer for switch ratings can be found here:
http://www.tpub.com/neets/book3/9f.htm