Power Button loose and not pressing

[mcroger]

Yesterday I opened up my pc and in order to install a fan I had to remove the top part of my Zalman Z11+ case and I did that and installed my fans and after I was done I was putting everything back together and when I went to turn on my pc I realised the power button doesn't press. The button is loose and doesn't actuate. I've since opened up my pc and dismounted the whole power button and I've managed to make it click again and actuate but as I proceed to close up my case the button falls in and becomes loose again. I was trying to figure out how the button actuates and maybe it's because of worn down plastic or something. But I don't quite understand the mechanism to make it click, because if I knew how it worked I could do a little mod on the button to make it work.

Thanks in advance
I can show pictures if needed

 

[Zerk2012]

I would just use the reset switch if you cant make it work.
Put the wires at the motherboard for the reset switch where the power switch wires go. Then just use the reset switch to cut the PC on.

 

[Paperdoc]

The power button is a very simple momentary-contact switch. Its contacts close when you push it, and open again as soon as you release. That short-term contact closure is enough of a signal to the mobo for it to recognize and take action to turn on the system. It is VERY much like a plain doorbell pushbutton. The Reset button is exactly the same type of momentary-contact switch.

If some part of the outer chassis of your on / off button is broken so that it fails to lock into its proper position in the case front panel, you might be able to use a bit of epoxy glue around its outer edge to glue it into position. Before doing that, look it over closely, and its proper mounting hole. Maybe you have to turn it a particular way to get it to snap in. Or, you might be able to rig a new switch of the same type to do the job. Or, as Zerk2012 suggests, you can re-position the wires from the Reset switch to the pins for the Power switch at the mobo's Front Panel header and use that button. It's just that, doing it that way, you will not have a Reset switch on the front.

 

[mcroger]

Thank you all for the replies! Very much appreciated 😀
After not being successful with the power button I have just decided to go with using the Reset Button as my Power Button. It was a quick fix, just removed the power button wires from the motherboard pins and put the reset button wires in those pins.

 

[Paperdoc]

Great to hear you got it to work for you.