supergeek wrote on 2025-07-31, 05:15:

You can either have the push button type, or rocker switch style, right?

Just wondering if one switch type is "better" than the other as far as reliability, safety, etc. goes.

As long as it is a toggle switch rather than a momentary switch and it has the required voltage rating (since an AT PSU switches mains voltage) I imagine either should be fine since both types were used.

If you're using a modern ATX PSU with an AT adapter then you probably need a momentary switch since they turn on by briefly shorting the green wire on the ATX connector. Or, you can just flip a toggle switch on and back off... otherwise, if you leave it on it'll shut off after 3 seconds as if you held the power button on a ATX system. (sorry, I was thinking of something else there), those are also toggle switches. Also, voltage requirements are extremely low for those switches versus an original AT switch.

Ozzuneoj wrote on 2025-07-31, 05:48:

As long as it is a toggle switch rather than a momentary switch and it has the required voltage rating (since an AT PSU switches mains voltage) I imagine either should be fine since both types were used.

If you're using a modern ATX PSU with an AT adapter then you probably need a momentary switch since they turn on by briefly shorting the green wire on the ATX connector. Or, you can just flip a toggle switch on and back off... otherwise, if you leave it on it'll shut off after 3 seconds as if you held the power button on a ATX system. Also, voltage requirements are extremely low for those switches versus an original AT switch.

I was remembering the push button (momentary?) style of ATX applying to AT as well.

So you're saying that AT is always a toggle style (pushed or not pushed state), and never momentary. Got it. Thank you.

supergeek wrote on 2025-07-31, 13:09:

Ozzuneoj wrote on 2025-07-31, 05:48:

As long as it is a toggle switch rather than a momentary switch and it has the required voltage rating (since an AT PSU switches mains voltage) I imagine either should be fine since both types were used.

If you're using a modern ATX PSU with an AT adapter then you probably need a momentary switch since they turn on by briefly shorting the green wire on the ATX connector. Or, you can just flip a toggle switch on and back off... otherwise, if you leave it on it'll shut off after 3 seconds as if you held the power button on a ATX system. Also, voltage requirements are extremely low for those switches versus an original AT switch.

I was remembering the push button (momentary?) style of ATX applying to AT as well.

So you're saying that AT is always a toggle style (pushed or not pushed state), and never momentary. Got it. Thank you.

In the 90s I think there were a few pre-ATX systems that had a sort of "soft" power button ATX-like setup (I'm sure someone else can chime in about these), but any time the mains power is being switched it will have to be a toggle. 🙂

Ozzuneoj wrote on 2025-07-31, 05:48:

If you're using a modern ATX PSU with an AT adapter then you probably need a momentary switch since they turn on by briefly shorting the green wire on the ATX connector. Or, you can just flip a toggle switch on and back off... otherwise, if you leave it on it'll shut off after 3 seconds as if you held the power button on a ATX system. Also, voltage requirements are extremely low for those switches versus an original AT switch.

On those ATX-AT adapters that wire PS_ON# directly to the power switch, it needs to be latching. As soon as the switch is opened, it will shut off. ATX motherboards expect a momentary switch, but when they are out of the picture and an ATX-AT is used, it needs to be latching.

jakethompson1 wrote on 2025-08-01, 01:26:

Ozzuneoj wrote on 2025-07-31, 05:48:

If you're using a modern ATX PSU with an AT adapter then you probably need a momentary switch since they turn on by briefly shorting the green wire on the ATX connector. Or, you can just flip a toggle switch on and back off... otherwise, if you leave it on it'll shut off after 3 seconds as if you held the power button on a ATX system. Also, voltage requirements are extremely low for those switches versus an original AT switch.

On those ATX-AT adapters that wire PS_ON# directly to the power switch, it needs to be latching. As soon as the switch is opened, it will shut off. ATX motherboards expect a momentary switch, but when they are out of the picture and an ATX-AT is used, it needs to be latching.

Oh duh, you're right! I was thinking of when I used the power switch from one of those ATX-AT adapters to toggle the Power switch pins on an ATX board for testing. You have to click it on and back off for it to work.

I will edit my post to correct that. Thank you!

You make a good point though, I have a test bench where I just keep the adapter's switch headers shorted together. If the power supply thinks there is a short circuit, you do have to physically open the "switch" and reclose it before it will power back up.

Fwiw, the reason I was asking is I got my hands on a temporary system for the AT case alone, for purposes of testing my components/motherboard (planning on getting another AT case for the parts later, once I find the one I want).

Anyway, the temporary case has a very obvious toggle-style "rocker" switch which just gives off jank vibes; I just don't want to be doing any damage to anything while I test things.

Here is the power switch in question:

supergeek wrote on 2025-07-31, 05:15:

You can either have the push button type, or rocker switch style, right?

Just wondering if one switch type is "better" than the other as far as reliability, safety, etc. goes.

I don't know that either is "better" but I've always liked the noise the rocker style switches make when operated.

supergeek wrote on 2025-08-01, 20:00:

Fwiw, the reason I was asking is I got my hands on a temporary system for the AT case alone, for purposes of testing my componen […]
Show full quote

Fwiw, the reason I was asking is I got my hands on a temporary system for the AT case alone, for purposes of testing my components/motherboard (planning on getting another AT case for the parts later, once I find the one I want).

Anyway, the temporary case has a very obvious toggle-style "rocker" switch which just gives off jank vibes; I just don't want to be doing any damage to anything while I test things.

Here is the power switch in question:

Your case is the same case of my first desktop computer 😀

sangokushi wrote on 2025-08-02, 18:56:

supergeek wrote on 2025-08-01, 20:00:

Fwiw, the reason I was asking is I got my hands on a temporary system for the AT case alone, for purposes of testing my componen […]
Show full quote

Fwiw, the reason I was asking is I got my hands on a temporary system for the AT case alone, for purposes of testing my components/motherboard (planning on getting another AT case for the parts later, once I find the one I want).

Anyway, the temporary case has a very obvious toggle-style "rocker" switch which just gives off jank vibes; I just don't want to be doing any damage to anything while I test things.

Here is the power switch in question:

Your case is the same case of my first desktop computer 😀

Did you want it once I'm done using it? Again, I'm only using it for now, to test components, until I get the case I actually want. You can DM me if you're interested I suppose (I don't know how hard this case is to find, so thought I'd help you out).

Thanks, I will think about it. It probably costs a lot to ship a computer case from Canada to US.

IMO the rocker is "better" because it doesn't have a latch to wear out