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BYO Auto-Switching Power Strip

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rchadd:

believe there are "opto-isolating" electronics components that are designed to prevent such harm.  but not sure how they would be used in your case.

crashwg:

Anyone know where I could get a female ?B? end connector?  What I'm thinking is to not actually cut a usb cord for this project but put a socket in the powerstrip!!!  In case I'm wrong about the B part I'm looking for the end that's shaped like:

This
 __
 /   \
|__|

not This
_____
|____|

and again, a female connection (hole) so I can just insert a regular USB cable into the powestrip!

CIA_Guy:

My concern would be that the relay coil might pull too much power.  Check the ratings on the relay and the specs for USB ports and make sure the port can handle the pull.  An cheap *powered* USB hub would probably prevent the destruction of the port if the relay pulls too much power.

If you really wanted to get fancy, look up a transistor trigger circuit -- an "all electronic" version of the relay.  (Someone here with an electronics background could probably draw out the circuit in a couple of minutes.)

Also, make sure you cut the "hot" side of the 110V circuit -- it should be the one running through the built-in switch on the strip.

BTW, cool idea......If I had a relay laying around I'd try it with one of the old PCs I've got.

krick:


--- Quote from: crashwg on June 23, 2004, 11:17:26 pm ---Anyone know where I could get a female ?B? end connector?  What I'm thinking is to not actually cut a usb cord for this project but put a socket in the powerstrip!!!  In case I'm wrong about the B part I'm looking for the end that's shaped like:

This
 __
 /   \
|__|

not This
_____
|____|

and again, a female connection (hole) so I can just insert a regular USB cable into the powestrip!

--- End quote ---

That's brilliant.

I'm not sure where to get a USB socket.  I'm sure one of the electronics places like "Mouser" will probably have them.

Or, you could always cannibalize the cheapest USB device with a detachable cord that you can find.  Like maybe a used USB printer from Goodwill or something.

That's what I'd probably do.


crashwg:

Ok, so I've got this thing, it's got two of the sqare usb sockets but I'm not quite sure if I want to hack it up or sell it...

It's call "USB Direct Connect".  Manufactured by Belkin, it is used to connect two PCs together as an alternative to a hub/router/crossover cable.  It runs on USB (not 2) therefore it isn't exactly the fastest option when it comes to networking, but it sure is easy and even a child could do it with XP.

Here's a link to more info at Belkin's site.

CLICK ME

I'm also going to post this in the forsale forum and if I can get any good offers I'll likely scrap the plan of using this and move on to something else!

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