Can I add an external power button to an external monitor?

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I am converting an upright piano into a computer desk and would like to rig the piano foot pedals to power on/off an external monitor to be plugged into my laptop. I don’t know a ton about electrical engineering so I have no idea if this is possible/a good idea.

 

The monitor I intend on buying is this one: https://a.co/d/1IYH6p3

 

The external switch I would like to wire to it is this (or something similar): https://a.co/d/cy2eDPU

The idea was inspired by external power buttons like this: https://a.co/d/1lsootd but I know something made of plastic and intended for a gentle press of a finger will not hold up well when being mashed by a solid metal foot pedal in an 80-year old piano. Hence, the idea to use a metal stomp switch designed for wiring up to electric guitars.

I am also thinking of getting some USB-powered LED COB tape light to stick to the back of the monitor and plug into the monitor, so that when the monitor is turned on, the LED tape light also turns on.

NOTE: The laptop will not necessarily ways “live” in the piano desk. I may occasionally have to unplug it from the monitor to use it elsewhere, without external accessories.

NOTE 2: I do NOT intend to turn the laptop on/off with the stomp switch. I know the computer needs to go through its proper shutdown sequence when powering off.

Can a stomp switch like the one linked above be wired to an external monitor like the one linked above to turn it on/off with the piano’s foot pedals?

Thanks!

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I would stay well away from building a mains power switch unless you have experience in the area – I have but would not use that switch.
This ready made one would be better. https://www.amazon.com/Coolneon-Switch-Extension-Christmas-Appliance/dp/B0BQFN4BLD

You actually don’t need a power switch for the monitor as it draws less than 0.3w when not being used (sleep).

cheers, Paul

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What you’re proposing won’t work because computer monitors use a soft ON/OFF power switch. If electrical power is removed, the monitor will be OFF when it’s reconnected and need to be “manually” switched back on using its power switch.

So, even if you could rig up such a switch to the piano’s foot petals to control the power to the monitor, you’d still have to press the power button on the monitor itself to turn it ON each time you use it.

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This is NOT TRUE for all monitors.

My ACER monitor is powered off every night with an external switch and starts just fine every morning without touching the switch on the monitor.

The same is true for an ASUS monitor on another PC.

 

1 user thanked author for this post.

wavy

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Did some more research on switches and found this one that seems to have a wide range of applications. Thoughts?

Gardner Bender GSW-21 Electrical Motor Rated Push-Button Switch, SPST, Push ON-Push OFF, 10 A/125V AC, 6 inch Wire Terminal , Black https://a.co/d/5V5887J

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Do not build it yourself, especially when you can buy something that works for a few dollars more.

cheers, Paul

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I would not trust myself to have the foot pedals controlling things.  There’s a very good likelihood of stepping on one of them unintentionally while in the middle of working on something important.  Just my 2 cents.

Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's

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Paul T has the right idea: use the switch on the monitor. The 3 switches mentioned are all unsuitable for electrical and/or safety and/or mechanical reasons.
[Details given if anyone wants.}
0.3W standby, even at Calif rates, is ~80 cents a year.

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