Changing the Power Button

[Kippersoft]

I'm currently working on my first small mod and I need to replace the power button from the front of the case.

After stripping all the extra casing off, the current power button looks like this:
http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt323/Kippersoft/oldpower.jpg

I want to replace it with this:
http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt323/Kippersoft/newpower.jpg
(from left to right: 1-line, 2-load, 3-neutral)

What are the four wires (2 yellow, 2 black) on the original button? How would I set this up to work with the three-pronged switch? (If it matters, the original power button is from an micro ATX IBM NetVista machine.)

 

[Kippersoft]

Anyone have any suggestions? Or an idea where I could go to find out?

 

[mnewxcv]

sorry but I dont think it will work, at least not well. computers power buttons arent on/off switches anymore. it doesnt stay depressed when you press it, it comes back to the original position. do you get what im saying?

 

[Kippersoft]

Thanks for the reply. I know exactly what you're saying. I kinda figured that.

If anyone out there has a hack or a suggestion to try, please let me know.

 

[oldbrave]

Power buttons are simple momentary switches, that original one looks like it feeds two different devices. If both can be activated by a simple shorting then you can just run two sets of wires to a new momentary switch.

 

[Kippersoft]

Power buttons are simple momentary switches, that original one looks like it feeds two different devices. If both can be activated by a simple shorting then you can just run two sets of wires to a new momentary switch.

Yeah, I'm wasn't sure why there are four wires. My guess is that the single button could be used to both start/turn off the system (a single push) and restart (push and hold) with the single button; each task taking use of one pair of wires. That's just a guess though.

Would it damage any hardware to try shorting a pair of the wires? I'm afraid it might fry the mobo if it receives a continuous flow of power when it's expecting only a short burst.