PC Restarter v1.0
Remote power control for desktop PCs and IT operations
PC Restarter delivers remote power control for desktop PCs in IT operations: it sits between your case button and motherboard headers to provide remote power on, power off, and reset.
- Installed in around 5 minutes
- Works with existing desktop PCs
- REST + MQTT automation ready
Release notification
No spam. Just one short update when sales go live.
- Early release updates
- Runs locally without cloud lock-in
- Built for IT support and homelabs
Why PC Restarter
Store-style value highlights
- Remote power on, power off and reset in seconds when systems are frozen or unreachable.
- Local-first operation with no cloud dependency for full network control.
- Fast installation in about 5 minutes between case wiring and motherboard headers.
- Built for IT support, home office setups, homelabs and small business environments.
Benefits
- 5V USB powered (4.5V-5.5V), typical 80 mA, max 150 mA
- ESP32-C3 with 2.4 GHz WiFi (802.11 b/g/n), WPA/WPA2/WPA3
- Local-first operation with no cloud dependency + mDNS
- Web UI, REST API, WebSocket status and MQTT automation support
Device integrations
Integrates directly into existing automation, monitoring and logging workflows.
- REST API: /api/status, /api/power/on, /api/power/off, /api/power/reset, /api/info
- MQTT topics: pc-restarter/status, pc-restarter/power/command, pc-restarter/power/state
- Home Assistant integration via MQTT
- Prometheus metrics at /metrics (for uptime, power state, RSSI, temperature)
- Optional Loki logging with configurable log levels
- Works with custom scripts, Node-RED and ioBroker via REST/MQTT
Technical specs
| Operating voltage | 4.5V to 5.5V DC (typical 5.0V) |
|---|---|
| Operating current | typical 80 mA, max 150 mA |
| WiFi | 2.4 GHz, IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, channels 1-13 |
| Microcontroller | ESP32-C3, 160 MHz, 4 MB flash |
| Interfaces | USB 5V, Power SW/LED headers (motherboard + case) |
| Operating temperature | 0 C to 40 C (10-80% RH non-condensing) |
Typical use cases
- IT support teams
- Home office and creator setups
- Homelab and small office fleets
FAQ
Is setup complicated?
Typical install time is about 5 minutes: connect Power SW/LED headers, provide 5V USB power, then close the case.
How does initial setup work?
On first boot the device creates PC-Restarter-XXXXXX access point. Open http://192.168.4.1, configure WiFi, then use pc-restarter.local.
Does it support Home Assistant?
Yes. MQTT topics include restarter/status, restarter/command, and restarter/available.