Keypad Custom Computer Startup?

[Lionkilla44]

I have a spare matrix membrane keypad lying around that came off of a garage door opener. I currently have my custom built computer under my desk and I want a creative way to mount the keypad to the side of my desk and be able to punch in a code to turn on the system. It uses a Seasonic 620 Watt power supply. I was hoping I could do this in a way to not have to buy anything special. I have a pretty large collection of electronic crap, cords, old computers, old tablets, dvd players and what not. All help is appreciated  Thanks.

[Shd0w2]

Great idea! Sadly, I don't think it can easily be done as you might have originally envisioned 

[Wtalk2]

I am no expert on electronics but I would guess you would need to hook it up so that the keypad sends a electrical signal when the code is correct and it would be attached to your PC's main power button wire.

[prolemur]

You would have to find out how the keypad itself works to be able to use it here, but to turn on a computer only 2 pins need to be bridged.

 

What do you want from me, I'm no engineer!

[Lionkilla44]

Thanks guys I was thinking about testing on an old psu I have, I think If I can use the keypad as a switch somehow I can enter in the correct code and it would maybe connect the bridge? I'm pretty sure I would have to use a microcontroller of some sort

[Scheer]

Thanks guys I was thinking about testing on an old psu I have, I think If I can use the keypad as a switch somehow I can enter in the correct code and it would maybe connect the bridge? I'm pretty sure I would have to use a microcontroller of some sort

 

The matrix keypad has one wire per key, correct? If not, you should be able to convert it with a teensy board and then go into an arduino. If it is one wire per key then go strait into an arduino, and have one of the output pins and a ground go to your MB header.

 

Then just write the code where if, for example, 3-6-2-1 are pressed in the correct order, momentarily send voltage out on the output pin.

[EthanMcL]

@Scheer The Matrix keypad goes by rows/columns, so there isn't one wire per key!

 

Here is a  picture to show the layout. (Just search them on google images for more)

 

Edit: If it is the 12 key version, rather than 16 key, the layout should be similar, just without one of the wires.

[Scheer]

@Scheer The Matrix keypad goes by rows/columns, so there isn't one wire per key!

 

Here is a  picture to show the layout. (Just search them on google images for more)

 

Edit: If it is the 12 key version, rather than 16 key, the layout should be similar, just without one of the wires.

 

Ah ic, well even so I think you could still do this with just an Arduino, the Teensy board was in case it was a serial connection or something weird, I never realized matrix keyboards literally meant they were wired in a matrix. Makes a lot of sense looking at it now... lol

[paulstung]

You can buy a wireless pc turner oner, from Frozen cpu, I think Linksys make them.