What to do when the appliance does not have an on/off switch

I have had a warming mattress pad that has a mechanical on/off switch. In other words it stays on when power is removed from the pad, so an on/off module works perfectly. Well the pad finally gave out. I can only find heating pads that have, what I call, an electronic switch. When power is removed from the pad the unit defaults to off, so the on/off module will not work.

I believe I know the answer to this, but is there an alternative way to get around this issue. Seems more and more items are going this route. I am sure I am not the first to have this issue. Please send help or my SO will be on me about it, and not in a good way.

Thanks

Why not just replace the electronic switch with a mechanical one?

When power is removed from the pad the unit defaults to off, so the on/off module will not work.

Am I missing something here. If power is removed, the pad is off, so if power is on, the pad is on ? Why would an on off switch not work so ?

I took it to mean that when power is returned, the pad stays off.

"Am I missing something here. If power is removed, the pad is off, so if power is on, the pad is on ? Why would an on off switch not work so ?"

Presumably a single push to make microswitch that toggles power on and off.

Two options:

1. find one where the control is on a cord and look at removing it and replacing (though it depends whether there is any voltage conversion going on in the switch unit).

2. pull it apart and use a relay as a bypass on the microswitch rather than a bypass on the power (the feasibility of which rather depends on where the switch is and how easily you can get power to the relay).

What happens when you hold down the 'On' button on the control module and apply the power?

Vangelis

Thank you all for you replays
Yes when power is restored to the pad it remains in the off mode.
The pad that my SO wants looks daunting to open and poke around.
Not a electric/electronics type guy for rewiring and such. Guess I could find someone.

Guess I will live with non-automation or find one that I can "work on" that she will approve.