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(Okay so I've been informed that you're supposed to edit your existing post and not make a new one even if you want to change the question, so just FYI for anyone reading the comments, this is slightly different than what was originally here.)

This is a new version of the old question that should be more specific/answerable. I think I gradually figured most of this out, and the schematic has more notes in it now to explain.

P-Detect and P-Hold go to the Arduino. First, the PWR button is pressed, turning on the active-low enable line to the regulator. Then after a specified hold-time to turn the device on, P-Hold holds the power to the regulator on, and finally, P-Detect detects if the button is pressed again once the Arduino is on.

However, the problems come in with that pull-up R24, which I can't really skip. It pulls the line up to the battery voltage, which could vary from 18V up to 50V depending on number of batteries (24V/36V/48V).

Unfortunately even the lowest of those voltages is way too high for the Arduino (the enable line of the regulator can tolerate Vin fine.)

I managed to protect P-Hold with a small N-MOSFET, but as for P-Detect, well I can only find MOSFETs that can handle a Vgs of +/-20V, which is a problem for connecting gate to 50V.

So instead I'm thinking of using a Zener diode voltage regulator. If I use a 5V Zener backwards from P-Detect to GND, that would pull the voltage down to 5V at P-Detect, correct? But it will also basically short 5V-EN to GND unless I use a very large value resistor between the Zener and D5/R22.

From what I calculated, 3M ohm should work (I'm using a 3M ohm resistor elsewhere in the circuit so it'd be convenient.) Would reading the state of the button through that large a resistor have disadvantages?

Arduino Power Switch

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    \$\begingroup\$ @pecacheu unless you design for survivability, NEVER read the "absolute maxima"! That section shows the values that will not instantly kill, which is different from what will work. \$\endgroup\$ Oct 19, 2020 at 15:27
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    \$\begingroup\$ The 30V would feed power power into Arduino via the IO pin. There is only 0.3mA available current, but it might rise the voltage enough so MCU starts running and then it can't because voltage drops due to current consumption. Basically, you should put a FET or transistor between unpowered IO pin and 30V. Or at least a voltage divider. \$\endgroup\$
    – Justme
    Oct 19, 2020 at 15:31
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Chris Stratton Already updated with a new schematic \$\endgroup\$
    – Pecacheu
    Oct 19, 2020 at 18:06
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    \$\begingroup\$ I just added D4, though it might protect the other Arduino pin, P-Detect, which is supposed to detect additional button presses after the Arduino is turned on. Though I guess the way it's facing it wouldn't... I dunno, I added it just then. \$\endgroup\$
    – Pecacheu
    Oct 19, 2020 at 18:23
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    \$\begingroup\$ It would at least prevent P-Hold from holding P-Detect though. \$\endgroup\$
    – Pecacheu
    Oct 19, 2020 at 18:30

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So I'm not sure if this is a final solution/answer, but it seems pretty solid.

Based off @Bruce Abbott's comment that the regulators possibly can't take over 7V at the EN pin, I realized I could move my Zener diode regulator over to the pullup side. Then I can connect the Arduino pin (P-Detect) directly to the button like this:

Arduino Power Switch

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