Remotely turning on a toughbook CF-18

I have a CF-18 that I am interested in putting in the trunk of my car and having a small touchscreen up front. I can turn off (or put to sleep) the computer using the OS but I'm curious if there is any way to turn it back on without pushing the physical power button on the computer. I've read that some of the full size toughbooks can be turned on using the serial port as the PDRC display has a power button. Does the CF-18 have anything similar, and if so how does it work?

If that isn't an option, is there any other way to make this work? I've heard of wake on lan but I think that would require at least another computer in the car.

 

small relay hooked to the power switch? should be a simple circuit to build.

 

Some Toughbooks have an option in the BIOS to "wake on AC power" Check for that in your BIOS.

 

You could try to install an SSD and just leave it on all the time. The power draw would be negligible as long as the screen wasn't illuminated on the laptop.

 

You will also have problems connecting monitor+touchscreen. Too long cables etc.
What is your project? Looks like utopia
Maybe it's possible to put toughbook under one of front seats - cables will be short enough and you will have power button under your... legs ))
Or just use second small autonomous tablet.
Or install wi-fi router in your trunk, connect toughbook to it by cable (so you will have WoL function) and connect your tablet (front tablet) to wi-fi router by wi-fi. After that you will have WoL and remote desktop to your toughbook ))
Hope it will help ))

P.S. Wi-Fi router can be connected to your car through button on the front panel. So all devices are completely off until you need them )))
Patented idea )

 

The Panasonic PDRC set Up I have for my CF-07 brick/dock set up and it has some pretty long cables, but not sure about in the trunk long.

Panasonic Toughbook Permanent Display Removable Computer (PDRC)

That will give you a idea of what I am talking about, but it's just not a screen. It's a touchscreen with keyboard. It does have a remote power on option. This doesn't plug directly into the PC, it plugs into a dock. Two basic screens 10" and 12", the 10" uses the old CF-28 style plug and is a max resolution of 800 x 600. The 12" takes the same plug as the 18 and has resolution.

Another option would be a CF-07 remote screen, or CF-08 that can be used as a remote screen. That would put the screen where you want connected by wifi, but I don't think you would have a remote turn on though the screen.

Yet another option would be a set up I have on one of my desktops. It would look like a radio in the dash but when you press the button a screen pops out and is a touch screen. I was going to use this in my 52 ford at one time with a CF-19 in a dock for just music. I took it out of my old server when I upgraded it.

Thermaltake - Global - 7-Inch Touch Screen LCD Monitor - A2413-03

I have seen various small touch screens on ebay. Not sure if they are usb/serial or ???? may be worth looking.

 

An easy solution if you can splice or solderwires is open the bottom of the Toughbook and run small wires to the dash with a tiny push button switch.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/566698-remote-power-cf-29-trunk-monkey.html

http://toughbooktalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=867

http://toughbooktalk.com/public_downloads/index.php?dir=CF-30%20Stuff/CF-30%20Power%20Switch%20MOD/

 

Panasonic cares of us
Look what utility they have

P.S. Power on AC is enabled (and can be disabled) in BIOS only, that's why it's grayed.