Need a Lian-Li PC75 power switch

[RealBeast]

After 6 years of service, the power switch on my Lian-Li PC75 case broke. It was completely nonfunctional so I cut it off and have the bare wires to attach a new switch.

I doubt that I'll find an exact match, so may have to mod it to attach.

Anyone have a recommendation for a (preferably online) store that carries small ATX type switches? I tried my Radio Shack and they were not helpful.

Thanks!

[Learux]

Email Lian they might be able to help you out?

[RealBeast]

I sent a message through their somewhat cryptic email system, and looks like a copy came back to me when they forwarded to their warranty agent in Washington.

Hopefully, they will come through -- cost is really not a consideration, since I like the case still after all that time.

[Learux]

So what happened?

[RealBeast]

Nothing yet. I'm still traveling for work. When I get home Saturday I have to send Lian-Li a picture of the case with the bad switch and they promised to send a replacement.

edit: photos sent this morning, will advise on receipt of replacement switch. I will be quite impressed if they do send it free like they said as I bought that case in 2003.

[MrDigital]

An ATX switch is just a soft switch anyways, or whatever that term is (I'm not an electrician lol). I would've guessed you could have just touched those two cable together to start the machine, no different than when you short the jumper with a screwdriver to test a motherboard.

I remember having to change AT power switches a couple of times, those were a nightmare since they were hard switches and wired directly into the PSU.

Nice that Lian Li is taking care of it though.

[RealBeast]

Originally Posted by MrDigital

A . . . I would've guessed you could have just touched those two cable together to start the machine, no different than when you short the jumper with a screwdriver to test a motherboard. . . .

I did that for a while when I was using it, but I want to use the case to build my Mom a new machine, and she would probably be afraid of electrocution.

[RealBeast]

Okay -- final report gives Lian Li two thumbs up, way up. Five days after I sent them pics of the case and missing switch I got a new switch and wires to reach the motherboard in the mail at NO CHARGE, despite the case being 7 years old. That's what I call great customer service.

[Vindir]

They're a pretty smart company to recognize something that cheap to them can mean alot to their customers. I kinda doubt even something as simple as that would have been handled easily from most manufacturers.

[Learux]

I am happy with mine, you get what you pay for.

[MrDigital]

How did the switch end up breaking anyways? I don't think I even know how an ATX power switch works.

[RealBeast]

Originally Posted by MrDigital

How did the switch end up breaking anyways? I don't think I even know how an ATX power switch works.

The wings on the sides that held it in place behind the front panel button broke off and I couldn't get it to stay in position (glue, tape, etc) behind the power button. I don't turn my machines off much so it didn't get that much wear.

The switch simply briefly makes brief contact between two wires that attach to two pins on the board header. You can start an ATX board by just tapping the two pins with a conducting object like a small screwdriver. The old AT switches were more like a light switch, keeping a constant circuit connection.