Adding an external power button for PC

I found this external computer power switch on AliExpress. It is designed to connect to the power button headers and power LED headers on a PC motherboard allowing the computer to be turned on from a more convenient location that having to reach down under a desk. I thought I would give it a go. I use a laptop, so I got one for my wife’s PC.

This is what came in the package

This is a close up of the switch. Its size is about the same as a keyboard button found on a gaming keyboard.

It comes with a splitter cable so that both the PC case button and the external one can be connected in parallel allowing both to continue to work. The LED does replace the LED in the case so only the one in the external button works.

This is how it looks set up. It didn’t want to stay in place, so I added a small blob of blu tack under it which works well.

It looks better than I expected, and my wife really likes it. Ideally, I would have liked a plug and socket for it that could have been mounted on the PC case rather than have the cable permanently attached through the case, but that is just a minor thing. The LED is a colour changing LED and it does look quite good.

I paid AU4.52, but you may find a better deal than that. There are a lot of sellers selling them so you may find a better deal. Just beware that others that I found didn’t include the splitter cable.

Since buying it I have seen other versions on AliExpress. Some have two buttons, the extra one for the reset switch. I don’t see much value in that, but others may.

This one has a single large button.

This one has two buttons.

This one also has two buttons.

I’ve thought about how one could be used in another project but haven’t come up with anything yet.