Power cord socket solution?

[fantoboy]

I want to put something like this on the outside of my cabinet:
http://www.amazon.com/IEC-Power-Jack-Chassis-Mount/dp/B0008IW78W/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_3
On the inside, everything will be plugged into a smart strip.  I was hoping to find a female to female adapter to connect the two, but I can't.  Any suggestions on the best way to go about this?  All I can think of is either just wire it together or to splice two female power cord ends together.

[RandyT]

I'd just cut the male plug off the smart strip, and solder the wires to the terminals of the part you linked to.  Just make sure that you get the wires hooked up to the correct terminals, and heat-shrink the connections to insulate them.

RandyT

[PL1]

You might want a model with an illuminated switch and fuse like this:



If you don't want to cut up the smart strip cord, mount a deep electrical box (pref. a cross between these two types) on the inside with a dual outlet.  Ensure that the outlet box mounts so that the feedthru is covered.

   

Wiring connections for illuminated switch attached.  (2 is ground.)

Scott

[Unstupid]

what Randy said....  Only thing I'd add is you may want to look at the one that includes the switch... that way you have a single external point that you can turn on the whole machine.

http://www.amazon.com/Amico-IEC320-Module-Switch-Socket/dp/B0050HH70E/ref=pd_cp_e_1

[fantoboy]

I was thinking that I would want a push-button instead of a switch though, to wire to the PC power button.  You guys are controlling the smart strip with the power switch?

[mgb]

The power switch wired to the pc would be seperate. Its best to have a main power switch like the others above have said and then you would have a seperate pc power button.
the power switch on the cord socket would control power to the whole cab, so when its off, there is no power to the smart strip.

[TopJimmyCooks]

Y'all are over-complicating this.  I say if you have a momentary switch up front controlling the PC and smart strip for day to day on/off, removing the cord from the IEC socket is a better means of disconnect and a main switch is redundant extra complication extra redundant.  Get your free IEC socket off an old tv, power supply, printer, etc. and go to town.  Don't send money to the Amazons that you don't have to.

[jpS14]

I agree with TJC. I got a IEC off a dead power supply and just wired the smartstip to it. Works just fine and I spent no money doing it.

[SavannahLion]

Y'all are over-complicating this.  I say if you have a momentary switch up front controlling the PC and smart strip for day to day on/off, removing the cord from the IEC socket is a better means of disconnect and a main switch is redundant extra complication extra redundant.

Clearly you've never had a reach around. 

[DaOld Man]

I agree with jpS14, who agrees with TJC.

I agree with TJC. ...

[wcndave]

If you want to, I think you can get power strips where turning your PC on/off turns the strip on/off, so you only need one button.

[TopJimmyCooks]

Clearly you've never had a reach around. 

Hmm - not really sure where that comes from or goes, but I will say that you are correct.

[SavannahLion]

Clearly you've never had a reach around. 

Hmm - not really sure where that comes from or goes, but I will say that you are correct.

It's when you don't have easy access behind a piece of equipment and it's not always feasible to pull it out. A master switch there is easier to reach around and feel for. If you pull the power cable from there (not from the wall) it's much harder to plug it in, especially if there's an orientation to the cable or other recepters there.

[TopJimmyCooks]

Oh, ok.  The term reacharound could be construed to mean something entirely different than what you meant.  If you want a switch on the back, do it.  I bet you're going to have to pull it out from the wall to service it anyway.  I wouldn't spend extra to do it.  Hell, what if you leave it off by accident, you've got a reacharound to get it back hot.  Now, if the cab line cord was hard connected, I would say it was basically required to have the switch. 

[mgb]

I don't see whats over complicated about having a main cabinet shut off.

[ahofle]

what Randy said....  Only thing I'd add is you may want to look at the one that includes the switch... that way you have a single external point that you can turn on the whole machine.

http://www.amazon.com/Amico-IEC320-Module-Switch-Socket/dp/B0050HH70E/ref=pd_cp_e_1

Anyone have a link for a similar switch that includes the fuse?

[CoryBee]

Or get a $2 power strip, crack open the power strip and short the wires closed, then pop out the switch and move it to the back of the cabinet.   

haha jim, i did exactly that a few days ago

[SavannahLion]

Oh, ok.  The term reacharound could be construed to mean something entirely different than what you meant.  If you want a switch on the back, do it.  I bet you're going to have to pull it out from the wall to service it anyway.  I wouldn't spend extra to do it.  Hell, what if you leave it off by accident, you've got a reacharound to get it back hot.  Now, if the cab line cord was hard connected, I would say it was basically required to have the switch.

Hey, nothing wrong with keeping your mind in that gutter.

When it comes to the portions that deal with mains, one shouldnt be too stingy. If the cord is cracked, replace it. Pay the small price to pickup a multimeter to double check your wiring. Spend a little extra for known good PSU's to avoid the questionable Chinese knockoffs. In the greater scheme of things, spending a negligable amount of money and a bit of timefor the convenience of a well designed circuit is well worth it.

I'm not saying one should shell out $200 for a power strip when a $5 power strip is just as effective though.

In any case, every cab is different.

[fantoboy]

If you want to, I think you can get power strips where turning your PC on/off turns the strip on/off, so you only need one button.

That's the smart strip I was referring to in my original post.  I want to wire that to the inside of the jack mounted on the case.

[Hockeyboy]

I'd just cut the male plug off the smart strip, and solder the wires to the terminals of the part you linked to.  Just make sure that you get the wires hooked up to the correct terminals, and heat-shrink the connections to insulate them.

RandyT

This is exactly what I'm planning on doing. I got the socket from an old computer power supply - just unscrewed it from the box and snipped the wires that were soldered to the posts. I'm going to de-solder the wires that are still connected, then re-solder the cut wires from the smart strip. Easy as pie to do, and it's not going to cost me anything. Besides, if you look at that part you mention, Amazon sells it, but it actually ships from Hong Kong and a couple reviews said they never received their part after weeks of waiting.

[gtxjoe]

I want to put something like this on the outside of my cabinet:
http://www.amazon.com/IEC-Power-Jack-Chassis-Mount/dp/B0008IW78W/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_3
On the inside, everything will be plugged into a smart strip.  I was hoping to find a female to female adapter to connect the two, but I can't.  Any suggestions on the best way to go about this?  All I can think of is either just wire it together or to splice two female power cord ends together.

Here are some other options
http://www.amazon.com/SF-Cable-prong-Adapter-60320-C14/dp/B004OC579E/ref=pd_sbs_lg_1

or

Take a second PC cord, cut the male 3 prong plug off of it and replace it with w 3 prong receptacle.  Now you can plug you smart strip into this
http://www.icreatables.com/electrical/plug-cord-replace.html