How can I control a switch with my pc?

[jonajohnson3]

I have a Light in my pc, like most people, But this one has a switch on back of the pc.
Is there a arduino code or a circuit that I can make and some how hook up to my mb and control it?

 

[drtweak]

umm im assuming you are talking about RGB lighting on your motherboard?

 

[Eximo]

Plenty of ways, however, you will need to provide a lot more detail.

What voltage is this light? How much wattage?

How exactly do you want to control it? Via software? Or physically?

Arduino code executes on separate hardware, so that will complicate things, but again, very doable with the right circuit. Basically would need to write a tiny amount of software, then build a driver circuit to switch on a higher current/voltage to power the light.

You could also just go for some home automation equipment these days. (Or even back in the day, certainly recall there were kits for running household lights off a PC in MS-DOS, I believe it was serial)

 

[jonajohnson3]

There tube lights, 12v control it any way thats not from the back of the pc, but would like software,
ill look into the ms-dos thing

 

[Eximo]

Modern computers don't really run MS-DOS any more... I was more referring to things like Google Home, or Amazon Echo, but it doesn't sound like that is what you are trying to do.

You still haven't provided enough information. I have no idea what a tube light is.

12V is good, that is a voltage available in a PC. But you still need to know the current in order to build a circuit that can handle it.

 

[Eximo]

Hmm, learn something new everyday. These are surprisingly common:

https://www.amazon.com/SainSmart-Eight-Channel-Relay-Automation/dp/B0093Y89DE

USB control of 12V relays, which means you could tap off the 12V coming from the power supply to control most things. 10A relays, so 120W roughly capable, which is more then most 12V DC lighting solutions.

And it looks like they even provide the source code.

 

[jonajohnson3]

Sorry but the package has been tossed and the light box does not say anything on it but they look like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Revoltec-Lights-Modding-Gaming-Computer/dp/B00XAH1TXM

Lastly if I were to use a relay how would I control it from the motherboard because theres really no header or connecter that I can think of.
Thanks!

 

[Eximo]

Says right there in the description 50W, so you can assume that is roughly correct across various models. Haven't seen one of those since the early 2000s. Pretty much everyone has switched to LED light strips, and these days, RGB ones directly controlled by motherboards. That would certainly be the more user friendly approach. I think you can buy NZXT Hue modules separately.

You certainly do have USB headers, and you can get pigtails to hook things up internally to the device I linked. Or just run a cable out the back of the motherboard and back into the case.

Building something from scratch would also be possible using the USB headers. You would just need to write a custom driver and application and follow all the guidelines for USB connections. Long as it is low power 5V data input to a relay and the switching part can handle 12V at 50W, ~4A then it would work as well.

If you aren't that familiar with electronics or wiring then this might be a little beyond what you want to do and spending the money on an RGB lighting kit is the better option. If you want to take this as a learning opportunity, I actually would suggest picking up an Arduino project board. That way it can have more than one use.