US/CDN: Found cheap supplier of 1 button power supplies...

[JoeB]

I've noticed people building their own sensing power supplies, or trying to find where to get one.

If you are in the USA, a really good one can be found at www.dalco.com.  Search for part #69457. (~17$US)

If you are in Canada, their supplier can be found at ww.annasys.com. Same part number. (~25$CDN)

Here's the item description:

SURGE STRIP BASIC 7 OUTLET
 
Auto power-on/shut-down with the computer plugged into the first outlet (MAIN), all equipment connected on the same power strip will be automatically turned on or off by powering up or shutting down the computer.
 

[Lilwolf]

I have to say, that would be sweet for most people.  Having your computer automatically turn on and off your speakers, monitor, ect.

Seems pretty cheap at 18 bucks if you need it.

(I can't use it, because I use my computer with another monitor for work when I'm not using my cabinet.)

[rampy]

Thanks Joe B,

Although I may end up getting the one they have at Sears that does the same thing...  it's good to have options.

direct link for US

There's got to be more of these style surge protectors out there!

rampy

[Brax]

Here's the direct link for Canada:

http://www.annasys.com/moreinfo.cfm?&Product_ID=580574

Sounds great, thanks. It cost around 20 -25 bucks to build my own circuit so this is a nice alternative.

Does it say how much its rated for? Nevermind hehe

[Homebrew]

I have the dalco unit and for the price its not bad.  However i hear a clicking sound when the tv is shut off by the strip.  Because of where my strip is mounted, its hard to tell if the noise is coming from the strip or the tv.  Its strange, no noise if the tv is shut off manually before the computer shuts down.  I assume it has something to do with the current draw by the tv.  Not really sure, i'm not an electronics whiz.  Just because i've had this experience though, if i had it to do over again, i'd probably buy the smartstrip mentioned a while back.  
http://www.bitsltd.net/smartstrip.html

I don't know if it would be any better or not, but i just figure you get what you pay for.  I bought a cheap strip.   Plus the smartstrip has built in always-on outlets.  As it is now, i have 2 strips in my cab.  A normal one and the dalco.  I needed a couple always on outlets for some things.  The dalco isn't bad, don't get me wrong, it does the job, but i feel its kind of cheaply made.  Just food for thought.  

-Kevin

[Cue-Ball]

Although I may end up getting the one they have at Sears that does the same thing...  it's good to have options.

I was at Sears a few weeks back and didn't find anything like this at my local store.  The closest thing i could find was a strip that had a remote power switch and one always-on outlet.  But it wasn't a "sensing" unit of any sort.  You would still have to manually turn off the power to the strip using the power switch (in addition to turning off your computer).  I also checked their website and couldn't find anything.  Do you have a model number and price for the unit you saw at Sears?

[rampy]

Although I may end up getting the one they have at Sears that does the same thing...  it's good to have options.

I was at Sears a few weeks back and didn't find anything like this at my local store.  The closest thing i could find was a strip that had a remote power switch and one always-on outlet.  But it wasn't a "sensing" unit of any sort.  You would still have to manually turn off the power to the strip using the power switch (in addition to turning off your computer).  I also checked their website and couldn't find anything.  Do you have a model number and price for the unit you saw at Sears?

You need to look in the tools/power tools section... near the circular saw/saw blades n' stuff... I found it pegged there on a back wall with a bunch of tools.  i.e. it's not in the electrical/extension cord section.

I'll dig up the old thread and see if there's info there...

it was 20 bucks (I didn't buy mine yet, was happy to just konw it's there/available) there is the drawback of it kinda needing a short 3 or 6' extension cord of some sort to really be nice for a cabinet (IMHO)...

link to old thread coming shortly..  EDITlink to old thread with 8bits pic of sears you can make out the model number even!
rampy

[str1der]

A quick question about these power strips. If you put XP into sleep mode will the power strip treat it as powered off? My thought is it would be easy to have a button on my CP programmed to put the PC into sleep and hit a different one to wake it up.

[2slk]

 What's cool about the sears outlet is the control outlet and the 2 hot outlets. You could power down everything with another powered device and leave the PC on all the time which would be good if you wanted to keep it up on a home network or something.

[Cue-Ball]

The problem with the Sears one is that it only has 3 outlets total.  That's just not enough and i really don't want to daisy chain another 6 outlet surge supressor off the switched outlet.  Has anyone ever seen the Dalco or SmartStrip switchable power strips in a local store (Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, etc)?  It would be great if i could get something like this locally.  Otherwise, i guess i'm going to break down and order the Dalco one online (and maybe get a 2nd one for my "normal" PC).

[rampy]

The problem with the Sears one is that it only has 3 outlets total.  That's just not enough and i really don't want to daisy chain another 6 outlet surge supressor off the switched outlet.  Has anyone ever seen the Dalco or SmartStrip switchable power strips in a local store (Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, etc)?  It would be great if i could get something like this locally.  Otherwise, i guess i'm going to break down and order the Dalco one online (and maybe get a 2nd one for my "normal" PC).

Well I'm ok with daisy chaining =P  ...

But, this is byoac after all... there's no reason one couldn't take apart the sears one and put it in a new box and add outlets or something...

rampy

[Cue-Ball]

I'm apparently a very impatient person.  I stopped by Sears last night on the way home and picked up one of their two-outlet current sensing power strips.    I plugged my PC into the "MAIN" outlet and my power strip with my marquee light, speakers, etc into one of the switched outlets.  This thing works GREAT!  I have a momentary switch from my PC wired to the stock power location on my cabinet (right side of top panel).  Now, powering up/down my cabinet is a one step deal.  Just press the button and the entire cab turns on and the PC boots.  Press it again and the PC performs a graceful shutdown and everything in the cab turns off.  It ended up costing me $20 for the current sensing power strip and another $9 for a 6' extension cord.  Well worth it in my opinion.  I was gearing up to do the relay/power strip hack but this was so clean and easy.

[eightbit]

I'm apparently a very impatient person.  I stopped by Sears last night on the way home and picked up one of their two-outlet current sensing power strips.    I plugged my PC into the "MAIN" outlet and my power strip with my marquee light, speakers, etc into one of the switched outlets.  This thing works GREAT!  I have a momentary switch from my PC wired to the stock power location on my cabinet (right side of top panel).  Now, powering up/down my cabinet is a one step deal.  Just press the button and the entire cab turns on and the PC boots.  Press it again and the PC performs a graceful shutdown and everything in the cab turns off.  It ended up costing me $20 for the current sensing power strip and another $9 for a 6' extension cord.  Well worth it in my opinion.  I was gearing up to do the relay/power strip hack but this was so clean and easy.

The Sears strip works great. I've used them in 2 cabs. A $9 power stip is over kill. If all you want is more outlets a $3 tap will give you that.