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Finishing Touches: The Power Switch
ampapa:
Jack,
Just thought I would throw my 2 cents worth in. I use a relay as well to turn on and off my cabinet. It's not very difficult to wire in the relay, the hardest part I thought was finding the correct relay to use because your mixing low voltage with high voltage.
In a "rough" outline, I used a standard power strip with a rocker switch, because it's what was lying around. I removed the rocker switch and installed the relay in it's place. The relay is a DPDT (double pole double thow). I got it from Radio Shack for about $7 (#275-218C). The DPDT relay is needed because it gives you 2 sets of contacts, 1 for the 12 volt power supply the other for 110volt of the power strip if I remember correctly. By using a 12volt connection from your power supply of the PC it acts like a "switch" for the 110volt. You simply install the relay where the rocker switch once was 1 set of contacts for 110volt and the other set of contacts go to 12 volt. Just test it before you apply use it...
Let me know if you need some aditional information. I also have some pics on my website of my relay installed... www.webajm.com/ajmconsulting :D
COBeav:
ampapa,
That's the same relay I used and I agree that it's not very difficult to wire up if you know how to read the diagram on the back of the package. I'll post some pictures this weekend to show people exactly how to wire it up if they are at all confused about this.
I first tried to put mine in the power strip like Scott did, but I ended up breaking my power strip when I tried to take it apart so I just stuffed it into a socket receptacle enclosure along with the socket and then plugged the powerstrip into it.
BTW, I like your cabinet. I also used Scott's Unicade as the model for my cabinet and I'm very happy with it.
Were you able to contact Scott via email? I sent him a few emails last year with questions, but he never replied.
Thanks,
COBeav
ampapa:
COBeav ,
I was able to get in contact with Scott, he was a great help in describing how he created his power on /off switch and why to use a DPDT relay. It's hard to realize and visualize some things without some inside information and descriptions, not to mention it makes progress go quicker...
I'd be interested in your write up when finished.
Thanks for the remarks... :D
ampapa,
COBeav:
I built another power outlet which has one socket which is always on and the other which is switched on when the PC is turned on. I haven't completed my write-up describing how to do it yet, but I've finished taking all the pictures and I threw together a "web photo album" so if anyone wants to take a look at the pictures just go to http://home.bendcable.com/werstlein.
I plan on creating a "real" web page in the next day or two with text describing all the details. If anyone has any questions about the pictures feel free to email me at mwerstlein@yahoo.com.
Thanks,
COBeav