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PC Controller Interface (Maybe USB)?

zunebuggy

Jun 9, 2010
17
Joined
Jun 9, 2010
Messages
17
I have 4 PCs (each have there own functions i.e. one is VMWare server,
one is running appache, etc..) that I plan to rack mount in a closet.
I bought USB extender cables for the mice and keyboards. I bought
extender cables for audio line out and mic and have a switchbox for
them. I also have KVM switches (3 monitors) and I bought RGB and DVI
cables (2 have DVI video cards). The only items that will be on my
desk are the mouse, keyboard and monitors. I may add another USB
extender cable and run it to an external DVD burner that will be on my
desk. I was thinking of mounting the power switches at my desk also.
But then I was thinking it might be possible to use 12 volt car lock
solendoids and 12 volt power adapters to remotely push the power
buttons to on (of course this probably will not work for powering down
or resetting but I can do that from the keyboard). Then I was thinking
that I have 5th PC that is on practically 24/7 (it's a 5 year old
laptop with a dead screen that I use as a Plex media and file server).
It would be awesome if I could find some USB controlled switches to
switch the 12 volt solenoids and then I could use LogMeIn and I could
turn on my PCs even from my phone. The problem is, when I search the
Internet for computer controlled switches, USB controlled switches,
etc... I don't find anything like what I want. I am a pretty good C#
and VB.Net developer and I'll bet I could write a driver for such a
device if I could find a company that sold them. Years ago I made an
8 switch paralell port controller with optoisolators that could switch
8 different items on and off and I wrote the program for it in QBasic.
My laptop does not have a paralell port (I'm sure they are quite
obsolete) and I'd like to buy something that is fairly read-made.
Does anyone know of a PC controller circuit/interface that could
handle switching 4 12 volt DC circuits on and off?
 

(*steve*)

¡sǝpodᴉʇuɐ ǝɥʇ ɹɐǝɥd
Moderator
Jan 21, 2010
25,510
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Jan 21, 2010
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Something like this for instance?
 
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