Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: wrench on December 26, 2004, 05:59:36 pm
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I'm looking for some input on the smart power strips for turning everything else on when the computer starts.I've only found 2 so far, one sold through bitsltd.net and one marketed by Fellows.Are there any others I've haven't seen?One any better than the other? Or maybe there's a better way of shutting down everything when the computer is powered down I don't know of?
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I own one of the Bits Ltd model and it works great.It works so good that im thinking of buying a second one for my pc to turn off my 5.1 speaker set up after I shut down at night.If your like me and you tend to forget to turn all things off this can save some money in the long run.Bits Ltd is worth the money!!
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Anyone know if there is something similar for sale here in the UK (3-pin plug std)?
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Anyone know if there is something similar for sale here in the UK (3-pin plug std)?
there's this one (http://www.tchibo.co.uk/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/uk/-/GBP/TdUkDisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=YJJwWD_XLnlweX4YDNJ6PDxCKm-dxAnFki8=?ProductID=kVoKZAOipSsAAAD_XT1oAKnQ)
I've not tried it personally so YMMV.
I gather Somerfield sell these as well...
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Or maybe there's a better way of shutting down everything when the computer is powered down I don't know of?
After trying a bunch of different methods, I ended up settling on a Vantec VAN-400B ION 400W Power Supply that features a switched AC outlet on the back.
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Anyone know if there is something similar for sale here in the UK (3-pin plug std)?
there's this one (http://www.tchibo.co.uk/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/uk/-/GBP/TdUkDisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=YJJwWD_XLnlweX4YDNJ6PDxCKm-dxAnFki8=?ProductID=kVoKZAOipSsAAAD_XT1oAKnQ)
I've not tried it personally so YMMV.
I gather Somerfield sell these as well...
There's also this one:
http://www.oneclickpower.co.uk
Maplin stock these. They're twice as much as the one in the first link though.
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I went with this one.
I think it works great!
It is called the Mini Power Minder, and it works off your computers usb port.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1109367&CatId=1284
My system shuts down without any problems every time.
Hope this helps.
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I went with this one.
I think it works great!
It is called the Mini Power Minder, and it works off your computers usb port.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1109367&CatId=1284
My system shuts down without any problems every time.
Hope this helps.
I built my own relay set up, but in the end, this is the same thing...only less work for about the same price
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I did the relay thing, too.... that was before the SmartStrips came out. Felt good to make it work, though...
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Am also trying to find out about this. i have a power strip that has four plugs. when i turn it on at the wall, all four plugs activate and any devices plugged to it will also recieve power. so one switch will activate four devices
forgive my question if it was already covered here, but is that all i need? My tv will power on when the strip is powered on, as will the mobo on my system (but how does it sense the PSU is powered?), and the speakers. The mobo has settings in the BIOS that will turn on the computer when the plug is turned on, but am unclear as to how this all works with the Power Supply Unit.
is this correct, becuase i am slightly confused by the master/slave thing and the use of the word 'smart' in the power strip... i thought a power strip was just a device to allow more than one device to be plugged to a single wall plug. i feel like i've missed something ! :)
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Am also trying to find out about this. i have a power strip that has four plugs. when i turn it on at the wall, all four plugs activate and any devices plugged to it will also recieve power. so one switch will activate four devices
forgive my question if it was already covered here, but is that all i need? My tv will power on when the strip is powered on, as will the mobo on my system, and the speakers.
is this correct, becuase i am slightly confused by the master/slave thing and the use of the word 'smart' in the power strip... i thought a power strip was just a device to allow more than one device to be plugged to a single wall plug. i feel like i've missed something ! :)
Many modern systems cannot power up when power is applied; the ATX specification uses a "soft" power button that instructs the system to power up. Likewise, modern systems need to be shut down gracefully rather than be powered off.
There are two common solutions to this problem: the smart power strip and the relay. Both solutions require taking a momentary contact button and running the wires from it to the power button header on the motherboard. For the Smart Strip, the PC plugs into the "always hot" outlet and the strip detect when it is pulling current and turns on the other outlets, powering up your monitor, marquee light, speakers, etc. When the PC shuts down, it again detects this and shuts everything off. The relay version requires hacking a power strip to add a 12V relay. Mine is wired between the first two pairs of sockets on the power strip, so my first two outlets are always hot and the remaining four switched by the relay. This relay is then wired to a hard drive power connector on the PC. When the PC is powered up, it switches on the relay which powers up the remaining outlets, and when the PC shuts down, everything powers off.
On motherboards that support it, Windows XP will automatically close all applications when the power button is pressed, so there is no need to "exit" my front end (if the front end supports it; not all do); I press the power button, the front end shuts down, the PC shuts down, and then the monitor, marquee and speakers shut down.
For more information, search for "SmartStrip" or "relay"; there are numerous threads on the subject.
--Chris
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Am also trying to find out about this. i have a power strip that has four plugs. when i turn it on at the wall, all four plugs activate and any devices plugged to it will also recieve power. so one switch will activate four devices
forgive my question if it was already covered here, but is that all i need? My tv will power on when the strip is powered on, as will the mobo on my system (but how does it sense the PSU is powered?), and the speakers. The mobo has settings in the BIOS that will turn on the computer when the plug is turned on, but am unclear as to how this all works with the Power Supply Unit.
is this correct, becuase i am slightly confused by the master/slave thing and the use of the word 'smart' in the power strip... i thought a power strip was just a device to allow more than one device to be plugged to a single wall plug. i feel like i've missed something ! :)
The term "smart strip" is being used to describe a power strip where there is a sensor so that when power is drawn from plug 1, 2-5 turn on.
In this manner, a typical setup is to plug PC in the smart plug so that when power is turned on to this unit, all other devices are then powered up, ie: monitor/tv, marquee light, speakers, etc.
In your particular strip, all plugs are active all the time.
At the time I built my upright cab, I had to solder a relay in place of the switch in a power strip which in turn connected to a 12v power lead of my PC. Power on PC, triggers relay, power strip goes active.
The "Smart Strip" so often referred to in these boards accomplishes the same thing without the need to create your own.
I trust the above makes sense....
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ok, i see now :).
so if i did my method, i would have to turn machine off without shutting down - which is bad for the OS in the long run. Or, if i can, get the mobo to not power off when i shut down the OS (like in the old days "its now safe to turn off your computer"). This method would work from one switch at the wall plug. maybe not so clever... :-\
smart strip method, as i understand your post - use the pc power button to activate the PC, thus triggering all other devices - TV/monitor, speakers, marquee. Good for the OS becuase it shuts down the way its supposed to.
I am guessing that it is possible to wire up a switch to the outside of the cab replacing the switch housed in the PC case itself?
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Here is the one I bought.....
http://www.stayonline.com/ac_surge_protectors/3388.asp
IT WORKS AWESOME !!!
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ok, i see now :).
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smart strip method, as i understand your post - use the pc power button to activate the PC, thus triggering all other devices - TV/monitor, speakers, marquee. Good for the OS becuase it shuts down the way its supposed to.
I am guessing that it is possible to wire up a switch to the outside of the cab replacing the switch housed in the PC case itself?
Exactly, for ATX based power supplies and motherboards, the power switch is nothing more than a momentary contact switch.
You can splice into the existing wires run from the motherboard to the existing switch in the case or in the alternative, you can unplug this switch jumper from the motherboard altogether and replace it with one that has longer leads that extend to wherever you wish for your power switch to be.
That's the approach I took....created a "new and improved" set of leads that in turn runs to a power switch inside my control panel (my control panel has a hidden hinge on the front edge which allows me to open up the top.
That's where I chose to mount single power switch and speaker volume control.
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I'm using the Bits Ltd Smart Strip also and I would highly recommend it... The cab is running Windows XP and the Power Settings are set to hibernate - so when the PC shuts down the TV and lights shut off as well. When you want to play a game ANY button press will wake the PC... this is an easy solution for those that don't want to wire an external power button.
-Newsome
Heavy Metal Arcade Cabinet
http://www.mindspring.com/~chrisnewsome/
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Or maybe there's a better way of shutting down everything when the computer is powered down I don't know of?
After trying a bunch of different methods, I ended up settling on a Vantec VAN-400B ION 400W Power Supply that features a switched AC outlet on the back.
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Here is the one I bought.....
http://www.stayonline.com/ac_surge_protectors/3388.asp
IT WORKS AWESOME !!!
Thanks for the link. It's 1/2 the price of the cheapest Bits Ltd SmartStrip
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thanks for all the help on this guys...