Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: dmish82 on October 01, 2004, 11:13:29 am
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Hi,
I saw a post which had a link to a Smartstrip which can be used to shut everything down. I was wondering what your thoughts are on this one (good or bad luck) and whether anyone's tried any other ones (cheaper/different brands, etc) and your luck with those. Do you think this is the easiest route to go to get everything to shutdown? Thanks.
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i think this is your best bet and it should work 100% of the time
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/6ee4/
That or build your own relay like i did
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I love my smartstrip. It shuts donw everything with one button press. I just wish it would turn my TV on, but that's not an issue with smartstrip. It's an issue with my TV.
I would highly recommend it to anyone.
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As an alternative to the smart strip option, you could get a Vantec ION power supply. It has an "accessory outlet" on the back that switches on and off with the PC.
More info in this thread...
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=20611 (http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=20611)
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This topic has been addressed many times before.
Here is my personal experience.
I have Smart Strip LCG1 ($29.95) + s/h
http://www.bitsltd.net/smartstrip/buy.htm
It works correctly at home but when I bring my bartop to work I can't get it to work correctly, it's as if the sensitivity dial needs to be more sensitive. I think that this problem also might have something to do with my very old P2 computer. Another downside is that it's really big and I didn't take that into account when building my bartop.
I've removed it from my bartop and plan on trying it on a different computer to see if it works any better.
I replaced the smartstrip with a sears Craftsman Auto Switch ($19.99)
Sears item #00924031000 Mfr. model #24031
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00924031000 (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00924031000)
It worked perfectly out of the box, the downside is that it only had 3 outlets and it needs an extension cord.
Extension cord ($3-$8). I also needed another outlet (pc, monitor, speakers, light) so I bought a Power Strip Liberator II PL3 from bitsltd ($3)so I would have enough outlets.
In the end they were similar in price ($35ish). The sears device is not a surge protector, but it is smaller.