Smart Strip just stopped working

[currygoat11]

By BITS LTD Smart Strip http://www.bitsltd.net/SmartStrip/index.htm just stopped working.

[Vicious]

The switching outlets on mine just quit working one day.  The main outlet and the constants are working fine, though.  The weird thing is that I only used it for a few hours, put it away for a couple months and when I went to use it again, nothing on the switching outlets.

[Craig]

Have your warranty form ready to mail, otherwise your cactus. Why bother with them?

[gnateye]

ive had nothing but good experience with them, just email them up and try to figure something out. they have good customer service.

dont dispair yet

[currygoat11]

OK I have an update:

I had moved my cabinet to another wall outlet right when the Smart Strip stopped working.  Well I'm in the room, adjusting the dimmer for the lights on the ceiling of the room, and poof the monitor flips on my cabinet.

SOMEHOW adjusting the room lights (via the variable dimmer on the wall) is causing the Smart Strip to switch off/on.

I have tweaked the sensitivity on the Smart Strip but it doesn't seem to have much of an effect.  The room lights dimmed at a certain spot will turn on my freaking monitor.

What's going on here?

[krick]

one of two things...

1) cheap dimmer is causing interference that is somehow triggering the SmartStrip.

2) somebody wired the dimmer/light/outlet incorrectly.


I'd guess that it's #1.  My friend has a recording studio.  He had to remove all his dimmer units and replace them with really expensive dimmer units because normal dimmers were creating serious interference that was being picked up in the amps and other equipment.

[Hoagie_one]

try a different outlet

[currygoat11]

Yes of course I could try another outlet, but I like the location =)

anyways, I'm going to ponder purchasing another dimmer switch.  I assume dimmer switches are easy to install.

[Hoagie_one]

i mean try a different outlet to be sure your smart strip isnt broke

[currygoat11]

i'm pretty sure it works, since when the dimmer switch is set low, and the room lights are not on, the power strip will switch off the switched outlets properly.

however when the room lights are on,  the switched outlets will remain hot.

[MameMaster!]

I too had a problem with my first strip. When I turned on my XBox (plugged into an outlet elsewhere in the same room) everything plugged into my smartstrip would "strobe" (turn on/off fast). You can imagine that I freaked out when the lights; monitor; pc etc. etc on my mame cab started to do that!...

any hoo....turns out the resistor was bad in my strip. They sent me a new one in a day or so with a box to send back my broken one.

PHEW!....as of now I have 2....and both work perfectly.

Just send it back. They have great customer service!

MameMaster! 

[maraxle]

I have to admit, I've been less than impressed with the smartstrips I've had for almost a year now.  I've run into incompatibilities with about half the computers I try to plug into them.  Plus, about twice or three times a day, the smartstrip in my arcade cabinet pops on for a split second and then shuts back off.  Doesn't seem to matter what's running in the room or house.

Does anyone know of any alternative products that serve a similar purpose, but work right?

[hitandrun]

I haven't had this one very long, but I have never noticed it turning on/off by itself...

http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?T1=112+0120

[Hoagie_one]

Does anyone know of any alternative products that serve a similar purpose, but work right?

Mini Power Minder

better because it only starts teh outlet if the USB is given  powerfrom the computer

[Flinkly]

don't alot of usb ports still have power after shutdown?  and have you priced those style usb wires?  stupid best buy thought i was going to pay 30 dollars for one...

i'm still up in the air on this one...i might just get a regular one for everything but the computer.  then just wire a switch to it to my coindoor with all the other switches.

[Hoagie_one]

Another Alternative that I know works.  I've used this in a bartop i built