Alternative for bitsltd smartstrip

[mlcampbe]

I've been looking for alternatives to buying a smartstrip due to costs. I had found a post on how to make one from standard electrical parts but that seems a little to risky.

In looking around I found the following items:

smartstrip from http://bitsltd.net

mini power minder from tigerdirect (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1109367&Sku=C184-34006&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&CMP=OTC-GOOGLEBASE)

auto switch from sears (http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00924031000P?keyword=00924031000&sLevel=0)

smart surge strip from ziotek (http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/SearchDetail.asp?productID=13128)

The ziotek device seems to be a good price for what you get. At $14.95 it has master, 4 switched, and 1 unswitched plugs.

Has anyone used the ziotek product? Any reviews?

[nicklaw17]

The ziotek device seems to be a good price for what you get. At $14.95 it has master, 4 switched, and 1 unswitched plugs.

Has anyone used the ziotek product? Any reviews?

No feedback when I asked here, but I bit the bullet and bought a couple (at that price, I figure I can use another on the entertainment system to save some power) - I'll post some feedback once they arrive.

[tommyinajar]

I use  Powermite -

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=61055.msg662808#msg662808
http://www.nicemite.com/PowermiteDD/PowermiteDD.htm

[millercentral]

fwiw, I used a PC power supply that has a switched monitor outlet on it and that has worked great...

[somunny]

I'm currently using Mini Power Minders in two cabs and have never had any issues with them.  I'm surprised more people don't use them.

[unclet]

Here is one way to have everything else turned on when your computer is turned on

http://skennys-arcade.blogspot.com/2007/05/switching-power.html

[Warborg]

smart surge strip from ziotek (http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/SearchDetail.asp?productID=13128)

The ziotek device seems to be a good price for what you get. At $14.95 it has master, 4 switched, and 1 unswitched plugs.

Has anyone used the ziotek product? Any reviews?

I'm using this strip in my cab, and so far so good...  I've been using it for a couple of months, and when I hit the PC power, the monitor/speakers/lights all pop on just as they should...  That was the price I got mine at, really fast shipping, I'd definitely give it a thumbs up....

[nicklaw17]

Just did some quick tests with mine, which arrived a few days ago - seems to work just fine. Additionally, no issues with the one or two x10 devices being used around the house, which was one thing I'd been wondering about.

[TOK]

Sears sells a small Smart Strip style thing. I end up going with these just so I don't have to mail order or make something. They work great.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00924031000P?keyword=craftsman+auto+switch

Its funny, one of the reviews in there mentions using it for a MAME cab. It wasn't me, but I wonder if it was someone here?

[Ummon]

Sears sells a small Smart Strip style thing. I end up going with these just so I don't have to mail order or make something. They work great.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00924031000P?keyword=craftsman+auto+switch

Is it surge protected, though?

[mlcampbe]

Thanks for the reviews and help.

My decision was down to the ziotek device or the sears one and I think I'll give the ziotek a try.

[Teknique]

Sears sells a small Smart Strip style thing. I end up going with these just so I don't have to mail order or make something. They work great.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00924031000P?keyword=craftsman+auto+switch

Is it surge protected, though?

No it is not, I plug mine into a surge strip and it works fine.

[TOK]

Sears sells a small Smart Strip style thing. I end up going with these just so I don't have to mail order or make something. They work great.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00924031000P?keyword=craftsman+auto+switch

Is it surge protected, though?

Don't know... When thunderstorms are coming, I unplug my stuff. I think with those cheap surge protectors, the damage is done by the time the thing trips anyway. 

[Ummon]

In this day, I'm more worried about brownouts and related power surges from the electric company. Also, this is a sort of power strip. I read somewhere that chaining power strips isn't a good idea.

[DrumAnBass]

Another interesting alternative - a power supply with outlets. I assume they are switched via the ATX power, but they may have constant power...??

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ARROW-680W-BLK&cat=CAS&cpc=JAD

[Cero21]

Anyone order the Ziotek one from cyberguys?  Will it really take until april to get this?

[quarterback]

Another interesting alternative - a power supply with outlets.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ARROW-680W-BLK&cat=CAS&cpc=JAD

A power supply with outlets?  That just looks like a blue box to me   

How about this pic instead:

[DrumAnBass]

Sorry they changed the image URL after my post... 

Anyone use one of these?

[DrumAnBass]

Sorry to dredge up this old thread but I thought this information might be helpful to those of you looking for a power solution other than the SmartStrip.

I just bought a CleverPower SPS-500 power supply with built in power strip on eBay for $21 shipped. I will give you guys a review soon.


Here is a review of it that I found on the web:
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=724&pageID=1141

Sounds like a great solution - killing two birds with one stone; power your computer and any and all peripherals simultaneously. I am planning to use it in a cocktail where there is limited space available. According to the review it is also really quiet.

[divemaster127]

"Has anyone used the ziotek product? Any reviews?"  I purchased 5 of these to use around my house for turning off stuff when not in use, these work like a "charm"
$14.95 each I purchased from amazon.com
dm

[rlehm]

I didn't want to pay for a smartstrip, but once it got here i was happy i did. It's not to click shut down and walk away. Having to crawl behind the cab and click the strip off sucks. sounds lazy, but, well.. yeah it's lazy. It's like having a remote for the t.v.

[javeryh]

Can anyone tell me how the craftsman switch plugs into the wall?  Is there a cord or just three prongs sticking out of the back.  You can't tell from the pictures on the Sears website:

[TOK]

Its just 3 prongs out the back. You can plug it into a standard 3 prong extension cord and just run that out the back of your machine.

[jasonbar]

Here's another vote for the Craftsman product.  I went to Lowe's/HD & bought a small power supply receptacle & screwed it to the inside of my cab, then plugged in the Sears switcher, then zip-tied the switcher to the receptacle.


I was just having too much trouble with this Smartstrip: http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Strip-SCG3-049418906-Autoswitching/dp/B000P1QJXQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1226688552&sr=8-2

It kept floating & I had to keep adjusting the pot--if I got the items to turn on w/ the PC, then they wouldn't turn off.  And vice versa...

Craftsman one's been great.  I just plug a power strip into 1 of the controlled outlets & plug all my stuff into the power strip.

-Jason