Hello from Maine
Hey I figured out how to make a "smart strip" for a mere $4.50 USD
(If you don't know what a smart strip is, it's a power strip that is nice as it (potentially) "turns everything on" when you turn on your computer. So when you press your computer's power button, the computer, monitor, speakers, and accessories all power on at once.)
I discussed this in a long thread in the "everything else" forum, but I thought some might find it useful here.
Here it is :
OK, I figured out how to make a "smart strip" for like $4.50
Ultra-cheap.
This one is 5v so it can connect to 5v molex (from the computer's power supply).
You'd think it could connect to USB (which is also 5v), but I found that USB is "always hot" (at least in the computers I checked). In other words, the USB is constantly outputting 5 volts when the computer is plugged in, regardless if the computer is on or off.
This relay "SRD-5VDC-SL-C" can be had $3.99 for 5 (79 cents each)
(if you don't know what a relay is, a relay is an "on off" switch. In this case when the 5 volts is present it's "on", when it is not present it's "off")
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=%22SRD-5VDC-SL-C%22+%225+pcs%22&_sacat=0&_odkw=SRD-5VDC-SL-C&LH_BIN=1&_sop=15&_osacat=0&_from=R40And this power strip from Walmart "pps1060r/17". It cost only $3.27 and has a 15 amp breaker, so it doesn't seem to be missing anything.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Philips-Power-Sentry-6-Outlet-Cord-Strip-2.5/21109368Here is a pic of the price from my local walmart (Auburn Maine) :
So, $3.27, 20 cents tax, 79 cents for the relay = $4.26 ultra cheap "smart strip"
Pretty funny huh ? I consider a sub-five-dollar "smart strip" to be a milestone in thrifty-hacking
Here are pics of the hack, it's pretty tight and I don't lose the use of any outlets :
(In case you don't understand the process of hacking a power strip, the following pic really explains it all - you simply need to interrupt the "black wire's metal strip". Just a small gap in this "strip" is all it takes. This allows you to have a wire going "out to the switch" on one side, and "in from the switch" on the other side. Now the switch controls whether that "black wire's metal strip" is a connected or interrupted)
(See the 2nd to last photo for more explanation)
Here are pics of a less precise hack where I lose one of the outlets. This one uses a 12v relay called "hjr-3ff-s-z". It's 12v and cost $1.10 each. This hack uses a different power strip and cost like $7.00 total, but that's still sub-ten-dollars.
Here is how it's wired =
1-3 = black
2-5 = PC (12v)
4 = N/A
(In case you still aren't clear on how a hacked power strip works, the next photo really illustrates it - we simply interrupt the "back wire's metal strip" and connect either side to a switch, it's that simple. The additional wires go out to the computer's power supply. Now when the computer is "on" the power strip is "on", when the computer is "off" the power strip is "off".)
This is a nice savings, because the first relays I used cost nearly $10 each. It was this one from Radio Shack :
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2049722OK, have fun
Craig
p.s. Disclaimer - Electricity can kill you, make sure your power strip is unplugged when you work on it. Also, solder and flux fumes are unhealthy to inhale. Be sure to have good ventilation and / or a respirator when soldering.