When I have the power adapter plugged in and close my macbook lid a quick touch on my usb keyboard wakes the computer up to output to the secondary display.

When I'm just running off the battery and close my lid I cannot wake the computer up to output to the secondary display (sharp 32in LCD)

Any way to defeat this in settings?

Kind of annoying if I need to do a presentation on battery mode with the lid closed.

Thanks in advance for any input.

This isn't a solution, persay, and I've experienced the same issues, but you can just lift the lid a little. As long as you have already set the TV to be the main display in that configuration, you should have no problem.

You have to have it plugged in for clamshell mode to work with external display:

Apple Portables: How to use your computer in closed clamshell (display closed) mode with an external display

I find if you use the remote to start Frontrow, then just back out of it you will get the desired result.

Thanks for the input.

I also found a free program (InsomniaX) that has some work around capability.

Probably wouldn't want to use the program all the time but in a jam it works.