Use a Solid State Relay with the proper rating at the AC switching side, and operating on low-voltage DC at the input side. Nice to have is a SSR which switches the load at AC voltage zero-crossing. If you install the SSR at the rear side, you can keep the AC power leads very short between the inlet, SSR, and the power transformer. Now, you need a DC source, which is switched to the SSR input from the console front side. Most SSRs operate at the input range of 3 - 32V, so either install 3 NiCaDs, or install a small transformer with a bridge rectifier and an electrolytic capacitor to smooth the DC. If you go for the second choice, get a good quality transformer as it might be powered always. If you go for the NiCaDs, you might consider a simple loader that recharges the NiCaDs when the AC power is on the main transformer (unit switched ON). - Henk, PA8PDP. ________________________________ Van: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org namens Richard A. Cini Verzonden: za 14-01-2006 05:23 Aan: CCTalk Onderwerp: AC power on front panels I'm playing around with my relatively new IMSAI and I was pondering the following. The unit is constructed with the front panel power switch unconnected and the corresponding terminals on the power supply board jumpered together. There is a mains switch on the rear panel which takes the place of the front panel switch. While for safety reasons I cannot disagree with the approach - it's plain stupid to put uninsulated mains voltage in a low-voltage area (and unpassable by UL evaluators I'm sure) - it detracts a bit from its use because you have to reach behind the unit to turn it on. Has anyone come up with an elegant solution to being able to use the front panel power switch while keeping it safe? I was toying with some sort of low-voltage circuit (small LV transformer and relay, with the front panel switch in the loop on the coil side). Another idea I had was to hot glue a dielectric insulator board (that gray cardboard kind of stuff) over the parts of the front panel that would be exposed. Ideas? Too much time on my hands? Rich Rich Cini Collector of classic computers Build Master for the Altair32 Emulation Project Web site: <http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/> http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ /************************************************************/ This message and attachment(s) are intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient or agent thereof responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone and with a "reply" message. Thank you for your cooperation.