what are YOU using to power your cab

[darthbane2k]

Just wondering what options people, particularly UK cab builders, are uing to power your cabs?
Are you using regualar power strips or smart strips. Are smart strips even sold in the UK?

Im at the stage now where I need to decide on the best option. Smart strips cost a lot more I have been told, so i really want to know whats the most beneficial for me.

[Stingray]

Not in the UK, but mine just has a regular power strip inside.

-S

[SirPeale]

I wired mine to a power distribution block.

[spystyle]

I use a home made "smart strip" and have installed an on/off switch (not a momentary switch) to the TV's power button solder points on the TV's PCB. With this button the TV is "always on" so when it gets power it turns on.

This is similar to jamming the power button "always on" with a toothpick.

The advantage to an on/off switch instead of "jamming" is it can easily be switched from "always on" to "normal" so adjustments can be made in the TV's menu. If it were "jammed" the other buttons wouldn't work until it was "unjammed"

Dig it?
Craig

[TOK]

[crashwg]

I too rolled my own "smart strip".  I actually used the powerstrip that is pictured http://spystyle.arcadecontrols.com/index81.htm too... 

It was easy enough to just remove the phone surge protection crap from the end and put my relay in it's spot.  I just cut the "hot" power connecter in the middle and connected the two to the relay.   Then I used a female USB-B connecter wired to the relays 5v input.

Now whenever the USB ports output 5v the last three plugs turn on.

Here's a couple pics...

[paigeoliver]

[Bones]

 

[Luckydevil]

my guys are working on it as we speak...

[Bones]

WTF?? Is that a crankshaft? Out of a boat or something?

[Daniel270]

I would've thought everyone would be using one of these by now 

[Luckydevil]

WTF?? If that a crankshaft? Out of a boat or something?

http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/

Container ship engine.

"Maximum power:     108,920 hp at 102 rpm
 Maximum torque:    5,608,312 lb/ft at 102rpm"

[Bones]

WTF?? If that a crankshaft? Out of a boat or something?

http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/

Container ship engine.

"Maximum power:     108,920 hp at 102 rpm
 Maximum torque:    5,608,312 lb/ft at 102rpm"

Although those specs are quite staggering, the RPM has me chuckling... 

[Kremmit]

[Minwah]

I have a surge protected 6-way power block thing.  I cut the plug off the end and wired it to a 3-pin kettle socket which is on the back of my cab.  I plug a kettle lead in to send power to the cab, and then hit the PC power switch (arcade button on the to of the cab) to power up the pc.

[Shep]

UK supplier of a smartstrip-like device:

http://www.quietpc.com/uk/components.php#oneclick

(note, I haven't used one of these myself - but I'm tempted...)

[darthbane2k]

actually My local MAPLIN in Stratford were actually selling the UK version of smartstrip on clearance for

[danny_galaga]

                                               

[Minwah]

When I first saw these SmartStrips I thought what a good idea.  But for cabs, what is actually the benefit over just turning the cab off at the wall?

[danny_galaga]

my guys are working on it as we speak...

yes.

[versapak]

When I first saw these SmartStrips I thought what a good idea. But for cabs, what is actually the benefit over just turning the cab off at the wall?

I use an Xbox in mine, so the benefit of the smartstrip (which I use) is keeping the Xbox supplied with a constant flow of power, so that I don't have to reset the clock every time I boot it up.


Otherwise... I dunno. Can't imagine there really is much other benefit.

[spystyle]

When I first saw these SmartStrips I thought what a good idea.  But for cabs, what is actually the benefit over just turning the cab off at the wall?

A one button power solution is what we are accustomed to. We use one button to power our electronics, why should a cab be any different?

Not to mention a series of button pushes makes it confusing for wives and children. Simply pushing one button to power everything on, then later the same button to power everything off makes it easy for them.

And it's easy to do, you could have your cab set up for one button power for $10 +2 hours.

In my opinion the one button power solution is a very nice finishing touch.

That was a huge selling point on the last cab I sold (the guy had a wife and a little child)

Craig

[darthbane2k]

When I first saw these SmartStrips I thought what a good idea.

[Minwah]

I use an Xbox in mine, so the benefit of the smartstrip (which I use) is keeping the Xbox supplied with a constant flow of power, so that I don't have to reset the clock every time I boot it up.

Does it matter if the clock is wrong?  I read that when modding it is a good idea to keep the clock correct, but personally I don't want to supply power to mine constantly.

[Minwah]

Not to mention a series of button pushes makes it confusing for wives and children. Simply pushing one button to power everything on, then later the same button to power everything off makes it easy for them.

But my cab has one button to power on, aside from actually plugging it in.  So I presume you leave yours plugged in all the time, but that seems a pretty obvious thing to me (not like having to turn on several things I mean).

[Minwah]

benefit i've found is that the girlfriend can easily switch everything on and off for a round of tetris.  The way my flat is designed,I cant access the wall socket to switch it off, so the smart strip is ideal for the part of the room where the cabinet sits.

That makes sense...so it seems the only benefit is you can leave it plugged in.

[teef two]

The smartstrip is more commonly known in the UK as an Intelligent Mains extension lead.

There is one available at Maplins (click here)

To facilitate easy turning on and off I spliced the wire from the PC on/off button and connected to an ordinary arcade button on the side of the cab.

[darthbane2k]

The smartstrip is more commonly known in the UK as an Intelligent Mains extension lead.

There is one available at Maplins (click here)

To facilitate easy turning on and off I spliced the wire from the PC on/off button and connected to an ordinary arcade button on the side of the cab.

Thats the one, but as I mentioned Stratford are selling it (not sure if its the exact same product code) for

[darthbane2k]

benefit i've found is that the girlfriend can easily switch everything on and off for a round of tetris.

[Minwah]

preciscely. other wise i would have to move the sofa to get to the extension lead to switch it on and off manually

LOL, lazy git

[spystyle]

Not to mention a series of button pushes makes it confusing for wives and children. Simply pushing one button to power everything on, then later the same button to power everything off makes it easy for them.

But my cab has one button to power on, aside from actually plugging it in.  So I presume you leave yours plugged in all the time, but that seems a pretty obvious thing to me (not like having to turn on several things I mean).

Yes, I leave mine plugged in all the time. I wouldn't want my daughter to have to plug the cab in to play it. Again, I think of it like the other household electronics, it would be a drag if I had to plug the VCR in everytime I wanted to watch a movie.

By what means do you get power to everything with one button press? Maybe all you need to do is add a relay.

Craig

[versapak]

I use an Xbox in mine, so the benefit of the smartstrip (which I use) is keeping the Xbox supplied with a constant flow of power, so that I don't have to reset the clock every time I boot it up.

Does it matter if the clock is wrong? I read that when modding it is a good idea to keep the clock correct, but personally I don't want to supply power to mine constantly.

Actually...

It doesn't really matter much at all with the mod turned on, because it checks with a time server on boot, but with the mod off, it forces me to the time/date settings at the dash on start up. Not a big deal, but annoying all the same.


Another thing with the Xbox, is that it doesn't automatically turn on when it receives power, and unlike a PC, it can't be changed to do so in bios settings.


With the smartstrip, I just have a power button for my Xbox routed to the underside of my control panel, and I can easily turn the cab on and off from there (Downside is that my 2 year old is shorter than the bottom of my control panel, but that problem will be taken care of with a little time. lol). Plus i got the smartstrip from a supplier that was clearing em out, so it was as cheap as buying a regular surge strip.