Tips and tricks for using PowerKey

Working with sleeping computers

    PowerKey includes several features that add flexibility to your computer's "sleep" mode.

    The "Power Saver" panel lets you turn outlets off automatically when the computer goes to sleep. This lets you turn off unneeded devices such as monitors and speakers, saving even more energy. When the computer wakes up, these outlets turn back on automatically.

    While sleeping, the lights for these outlets "pulse" slowly along with the main status light. This indicates that the outlet is currently turned off, but will turn on when the computer wakes up.

    The front panel switches for sleeping outlets work slightly differently than when the computer is on or off. When you press the front panel switch for a sleeping outlet, it toggles between three states:
    • The first press turns the outlet on.
     
    • The second press turns the outlet off. The pulsing stops, and the outlet will remain off when the computer wakes up.
     
    • The third press puts the outlet back in sleep mode. It remains off, but the light starts to pulse again, and the outlet will turn on when the computer wakes up.

    Note: Because you can't always see the outlet lights when using telephone control or scheduled events, these events do not use the "sleeping" outlet state. For these, the outlet will only toggle between "on" and "off".

When the computer is off

    When you shut down your computer, PowerKey keeps on working. PowerKey keeps track of time to run scheduled events, and can respond to telephone tone sequences.

    Tip: You can use this ability to control devices such as lights on a regular schedule.

    Telephone tone sequences and scheduled events can be used when the computer is off. (Hot keys cannot, since the computer must be running to use the keyboard). These events can use the "switch outlets" actions when the computer is off. For scheduled events, the "start up" action can also be used. (The "restart", "sleep" and "wake up" actions do not apply when the computer is not running.)

    Note: If your computer model can be started up with the keyboard "power" button, you can also use the "start up" action with telephone tone sequences. See system requirements for more information.

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