Author Topic: For those interseted in the smart strip power strips. (Read 3368 times)

str1der · « **on:** June 09, 2003, 05:31:11 pm »

I bought a smart strip power strip from this ebay seller for $15 plus $5 shipping. I think these were $30 or more everywhere else. I told him I knew others that might be interested so he said to post his email and to let everyone know they can email him with what they want and he would send you an invoice. Hope this helps some of you out.

His email: herrainmaker@yahoo.com

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2003, 10:48:01 pm »

whats the deal with the smart strip power strips?

spectre · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2003, 11:07:06 pm »

yea, are they any good, how do they work, ect. ect.

IIOIOOIOO · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2003, 11:26:32 pm »

Oh god, as I'm so dirty and email him offering to buy his complete stock

rampy · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2003, 10:06:30 am »

Quote from: spectre on June 09, 2003, 11:07:06 pm

yea, are they any good, how do they work, ect. ect.

the original poster didn't give much detail as to WHICH smart strip he found a seller for or link to his completed auction... but regardless, here's a link to a thread about one button power up i.e. smart strips...

The whole point is to have a surge protector that when you turn on the computer it "senses" the increased demand for current and "switches" on the other plugs so your monitor, marquee lights, audio amp etc etc all kick on at once by one button (and shut off automagically when the PC shuts off)

*shrug* there's a DIY way of building a relay circuit... but between these smart strips and the sears one it's worth shelling out 20 bucks to make your cabinet's power idiot/family proof...

Rampy

Chris · « **Reply #5 on:** June 10, 2003, 02:06:03 pm »

I did it the DIY way, and unless you already have the power strip (as I did), you'll end up spending at least $20 doing it yourself. And, of course, you have to get comfortable with playing with 110 volts... ZZZT!

I like DIY'ing, though, and I think my metal power strip looks cool with a relay attached to it... I also replaced the power cord with a computer power socket, so it connects with a standard PC power cord...

But at $20, these are a steal!

--Chris

str1der · « **Reply #6 on:** June 10, 2003, 07:01:56 pm »

Sorry I didn't put more detail in my post. The thread was pretty popular and I figured most people had seen it. OOPPS. Yeah you can DIY it but $20 bucks is a great deal for this power strip. IIOIOOIOO I hope you're just joking and didn't do that to everyone. I was hoping this forum was a little nicer than that. I guess it would have been better to have people email me for the info. Oh well I got mine.

rampy · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2003, 10:29:25 pm »

FWIW if they *Are* sold out... you can get a simliar one for 20 beans at Sears... it's not *quite* as fancy/nice but does the same functionality....

Rampy

IIOIOOIOO · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2003, 12:02:52 am »

Well actually, I DID email him asking him how many he had available, but I haven't even heard back from him

But mainly, I was going to try and buy his stock at an EVEN lower price (it's funny how things work) to save the cash for myself and a couple of friends, and then resell the rest at the $20.

str1der · « **Reply #9 on:** June 11, 2003, 01:24:11 am »

That's cool. I just wanted to let everyone know about a pretty good deal.

IIOIOOIOO · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2003, 09:31:14 am »

Has anyone else heard back from this guy? And Str1der, do you know how many he has?

str1der · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2003, 06:28:53 pm »

I didn't ask. Sorry.

Justin · « **Reply #12 on:** June 11, 2003, 08:57:21 pm »

I bought this one today for $15. The outlet is only 20 miles from my home, so I decided to pick one up...
http://dalco.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=580574

I'll let you know how well it performs.

Homebrew · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2003, 01:25:16 pm »

Hey Justin, could you let me know how it works out for you. I bought the same one and i posted in another post about some problems i was having with it. I'm wondering if its a design flaw, or if I got a bad one. Basically, when i shut down my cab, the the strip makes a series of click sounds that can last for a while and even start up again hours later. It seems to do it more so when a monitor or tv is plugged into the strip. Just curious as to whether yours does the same thing. Keep me posted if you wouldn't mind.

-Kevin

Justin · « **Reply #14 on:** July 07, 2003, 12:17:01 am »

Quote from: Homebrew on June 12, 2003, 01:25:16 pm

Hey Justin, could you let me know how it works out for you. I bought the same one and i posted in another post about some problems i was having with it. I'm wondering if its a design flaw, or if I got a bad one. Basically, when i shut down my cab, the the strip makes a series of click sounds that can last for a while and even start up again hours later. It seems to do it more so when a monitor or tv is plugged into the strip. Just curious as to whether yours does the same thing. Keep me posted if you wouldn't mind.

-Kevin

Kevin:

I finally got it all installed today, and I am experiencing the exact same problems you describe: Series of clicks when I powerdown, and then after minutes (sometimes hours) the computer powers up on its own(!!!)

This is the part that really intrigues me... how can the powerstrip be powering on the computer?!?! My PC is set up to power-on only by hitting the Powerbutton (which the powerstrip clearly cannot do) or by hitting the space bar on my PS/2 keyboard (again, not something the powerstrip can do!)

The PC is connected to the 'trigger' or 'control' outlet of the strip.

What on earth is going on here?

BillyJack · « **Reply #15 on:** July 07, 2003, 11:09:21 am »

Is there a setting for power on after AC loss in your BIOS? Not sure if this has been discussed yet in this thread, I just thought i'd throw it out there.

BobA · « **Reply #16 on:** July 07, 2003, 01:58:10 pm »

Most newer PCs draw power even when they are turned off by the button on the front of the PC. It is only a small amount but that is what keeps the circuits alive so they can do a power up from the button or from a lan request etc. If that current is too high it will turn on your smart power switch.

The DIY relay on the 12V of the PC PS is a good tried and true method of controlling power. With a smart power strip your results may vary depending of how the PS works.

BobA

Mark70 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2006, 06:03:36 pm »

Just wondering how many things you need to power off of your smart strip?

My monitor powers up with the pc and sleeps when the pc is off. The only other thing is my marquee light.

If you set your bios to turn the computer on after power failure, could you just use a regular power bar switch. Your marquee light switch on all the time but controlled by overall power to the power bar. Then startup proceedure would be just flic on power at the power bar. Shutdown would have to be shutdown from the start menu of windows, then turn off the power bar.

Is that even close to right?

versapak · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2006, 07:37:57 pm »

In my cab I have the Xbox, Marquee light, TV & speakers being powered by the smart strip.

In my case, I couldn't set the bios to boot after power failure (same goes for some PC bios out there as well), and if the Xbox didn't have constant power, I'd have to deal with time & date settings every time I turned it on without the mod. That wouldn't really be taht big of a deal, but if there is a solution to not have the problem, then why not do it.

[EDIT]

Would you be running windows?

If you are running windows, then unless you are just turn it off while windows is running, then your plan wouldn't work. If you shut windows down properly, then it wouldn't boot back up as you plan.

seanp · « **Reply #19 on:** February 02, 2006, 03:04:33 pm »

Here's how I have my machine hooked up to a smart power supply... I have the PC running through the main power plug - so that when I power on my computer, the rest of the cabinet gets power as well - turning on the lights, speakers, etc. Then, when I shut down the PC the cabinet powers off. I spliced in a button on the top of my cabinet to the PC power button. If you are running DOS, then there's no issue cutting power off on the machine. If you're running WinXP, then you can set it to enter "hibernate" when you push the power button, and when you power back on everything will come up exactly the way it was, including your frontend.

MovingTarget · « **Reply #20 on:** February 05, 2006, 10:52:26 pm »

Where do you set that up in XP? I really like that hibernate idea especially if the power strip still works to power everything else off.

Comp1demon · « **Reply #21 on:** February 06, 2006, 06:29:49 am »

Not to rain on anyone parade. But sometime the Smart Strip does not work right. If you plan on making the computer the main device that powers on the rest of the smart strip you have to be careful. IF you power supply has a switch on the back of the PC (not just an on/off button), then your computer, Even in a off State the smart strip sees the PC as on.

I ended up returning my smart strip and going with a different product from bittech.com. I plug the computer into the main socket and a regular power strip is plugged into the secondary. There is a USB cable that goes from the PLUG mechanism to the PC. SO when the PC is Powered off the usb cord tells the plug that it is off and the secondary outlet receives no power. When powered on the Secondary turns on everything plugged into the powerstrip.

This is a solution for those of you who wish to use your PC as the Main on and off device. IF you plan on using another device such as speakers or something then the SMART STRIP will be FINE for you.

Either way there are products to let you power eveything on and off by just doing it with one switch.

Thanks,
C1D

seanp · « **Reply #22 on:** February 06, 2006, 10:23:30 am »

Quote from: MovingTarget on February 05, 2006, 10:52:26 pm

Where do you set that up in XP? I really like that hibernate idea especially if the power strip still works to power everything else off.

On the computer I'm at right now, it's in the control panel under "power options". First you need to enable hibernation, and then I find the tab that gives me the option "when I press the power button on my computer: ", and choose hibernate.

Regarding the other post indicating there might be problems with a smartstrip and a PC - the smart strip I bought had an adjustable knob to set where "zero" power was. I didn't really even have to adjust it, but the fact that it's there indicates that it might be needed for certain devices...

ChadTower · « **Reply #23 on:** February 07, 2006, 02:18:59 pm »

Many devices draw current when they are "off", stuff like VCRs, microwaves, anything with a clock or a lit display when off.

versapak · « **Reply #24 on:** February 07, 2006, 04:56:57 pm »

Quote from: Comp1demon on February 06, 2006, 06:29:49 am

Not to rain on anyone parade. But sometime the Smart Strip does not work right. If you plan on making the computer the main device that powers on the rest of the smart strip you have to be careful. IF you power supply has a switch on the back of the PC (not just an on/off button), then your computer, Even in a off State the smart strip sees the PC as on.

I ended up returning my smart strip and going with a different product from bittech.com. I plug the computer into the main socket and a regular power strip is plugged into the secondary. There is a USB cable that goes from the PLUG mechanism to the PC. SO when the PC is Powered off the usb cord tells the plug that it is off and the secondary outlet receives no power. When powered on the Secondary turns on everything plugged into the powerstrip.

This is a solution for those of you who wish to use your PC as the Main on and off device. IF you plan on using another device such as speakers or something then the SMART STRIP will be FINE for you.

Either way there are products to let you power eveything on and off by just doing it with one switch.

Thanks,
C1D

Are you sure you were using the Smart Strip right?

The whole point of a Smart Strip is to use with a device like a PC, where it needs to draw on power all the time.

My Smart Strip has a sensitivity dial, for the very reason you mention them not working. If it is thinking that the PC is on, when you actually have it shut down, then you just adjust the dial, until it registers that power drain as being off.

Comp1demon · « **Reply #25 on:** February 08, 2006, 12:34:29 am »

I am 100% sure I was using a Smart Stip.. Check my website and look at the pics in album 3 or 4 I forget which. I did the whole ajusting the dial on the smart stip. When I contacted tech support they told me that some PC's, the smart strip, will never see as totally off. They recomened a different device. One that has 2 plugs and a USB attachment. The usb tells the plug that the Computer is off and in turn it shuts down all power to the secondary socket which I have a power strip plugged into. This device was only 15.00 + shipping from Bit tech. While Im not saying the Smart Stip does not work with ALL PC's Im just saying that it is not the end all be all solution for this kind of problem.

I wish the smart strip worked for me.. Its a great device, but it did not and I needed the PC to be the main ON and OFF device. I wasnt gonna get a NEW POWER SUPPLY just to make it work with the smart strip.. thats not economical.. what was economical was this device called the MINI POWER MINDER.. AT www.bitsltd.net the same people that make the smart strip. Good luck with selling the smart strip.. just make sure your if you want your PC to be the main on off device that your power supply will comply with the functionality of the smart strip, if the smart strip and your PC are not compatable check out the mini power minder.. works great!

Thanks,
C1D

tetsu96 · « **Reply #26 on:** February 08, 2006, 12:51:02 pm »

Quote from: Comp1demon on February 08, 2006, 12:34:29 am

I wish the smart strip worked for me.. Its a great device, but it did not and I needed the PC to be the main ON and OFF device. I wasnt gonna get a NEW POWER SUPPLY just to make it work with the smart strip.. thats not economical.. what was economical was this device called the MINI POWER MINDER.. AT www.bitsltd.net the same people that make the smart strip. Good luck with selling the smart strip.. just make sure your if you want your PC to be the main on off device that your power supply will comply with the functionality of the smart strip, if the smart strip and your PC are not compatable check out the mini power minder.. works great!

Thanks,
C1D

I got 2 of those little things and tried them out on my cabs - I bet they're great on older stuff but my USB tends to send power to the little bit device and that keeps all the other devices on. I haven't played with it too much to troubleshoot yet but did try some of the different power setting modes from the BIOS without success. Really, the best thing about these in my case is that I haven't hooked the PC power to a button yet so I plug in the USB cable when I power the unit on without having to reach around for a power strip.

OPMMV with this, but it's not that smart IMO. If someone has a smart strip they'd like to trade for these, let me know.

Roughy · « **Reply #27 on:** February 09, 2006, 01:06:37 pm »

FWIW, the SmartStrip works reasonably well for me, but the people at BitsLTD are just about 1 shade smarter than being full on retarded.

Not only did they offer NO response to email inquiries, but their telephone support from Russ was severely lacking--could not ever find my order, would not return phone calls, etc.

When my order finally arrived, it was WRONG--even though part of the explanation for it being late was that I had ordered a 12' cord. I still got the 6' cord.

Regardless, I was met with nothing but excuses and a lack of any response from them unless I phoned them--repeatedly--directly.

If there's an alternative, I'd highly recommend it.


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