Power off Monitor in dual head setup???

[arkania]

Guys...

Is there any way to have an event in Xlobby that will turn off the signal to a monitor (the same way controlled in Windows power management) in a dual head setup without affecting BOTH screens?

Here's my scenario:

I have a dual head ATI card with the primary display feeding a touch screen and the secondary going to a projector. I would like the ability to turn off the touch screen via a keypress in Xlobby. My theatre is completely dark when movie viewing and it's distracting to have the glare from the Touch screen hitting my eyes.

Any suggestions or work arounds?

Thanks.

[lar282]

I think a small program called gizmo or something can do that
http://grc.com/wizmo/wizmo.htm

quote:
As you can also see in the image above, the Wizmo command "monoff", which immediately turns off all of the system's monitors, has been added to the command line after "wizmo.exe". Multiple commands can be added in sequence combinations to create simple script-like programs. For example, the following Wizmo command line will raise the system's speaker volume only while the user is away from the computer, activate Wizmo's built-in "graviton" screen blanker, then lower the volume to its typical setting once the user has returned:


//Lasse

[arkania]

Thanks for the feedback, tried that little program but it doesn't do quite what I want.

What I need is individual power managment control over a specific display device. I don't know if this is possible.

I've tried using an X10 appliance module to turn off the monitor, but for some reason it keeps switching back on after a few seconds by itself.

[lar282]

there's hundreds of small programs like that out therre. Just find one that works for u.
http://caracolix.com/lightsout/index.html


//Lasse

[badubo]

What I need is individual power managment control over a specific display device. I don't know if this is possible. Sad

I don't think it is possible.

[arkania]

Yeah, I can't find anywhere anything that will do this. Doesn't look like it's possible in hardware to have this kinda of control over individual monitors (at least not power management wise) in a dual monitor config.

Oh well, was a nice try.

[briands]

Kinda outside the box... a hardware solution might work you could turn it off by cutting the power with x10. Or get a vga switch box or KVM and leave one port open. The monitor should go into standby when the sync signal is lost.

[rbziggy]

I've tried using an X10 appliance module to turn off the monitor, but for some reason it keeps switching back on after a few seconds by itself.

I think you may find (presuming you are using a plugin 'AM' type X10 module) that a feature of that device that allows 'local control'; I believe this feature was really put in place to allow you to switch on a lamp using the local on-lamp switch as well as the remote X10. I SUSPECT that the monitor switches itself back on because the smart power saving in the monitor itself actuates this feature somehow.

The Din rail mounted AD X10 units do not have this local control feature as they are intended for permanent wire in. You could mount one of these units in a (suitable) box local to the monitor. This would definately power it off and give you the X10 control you mention.

Hope this helps.

[arkania]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Rbziggy: I wonder if plugging in a surge protector bar to the monitor, and then the x10 device would stop it from powering back on? (ie. Isolate any feedback from the monitor?)

[rbziggy]

I don't know but it's probably worth a try as it's probably easy to do if you have a surge protector that can be 'borrowed' for the test.

[PiDD]

I wanted the same thing and gave up looking.

Instead what I do is add a event in the play movie event that brought up a blank dark screen. Since that I have added dark buttons that control the movie and such. I like this result much better. Give it a try.