Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: mlcampbe on December 28, 2007, 04:19:04 pm
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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?
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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 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=74732.0), 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.
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I use Powermite -
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=61055.msg662808#msg662808
http://www.nicemite.com/PowermiteDD/PowermiteDD.htm
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fwiw, I used a PC power supply that has a switched monitor outlet on it and that has worked great...
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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.
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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
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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....
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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.
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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?
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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. ;)
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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.
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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
(http://www.geeks.com/imageshare/A/300x300/ARROW-680W-BLK-box.jpg)
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Anyone order the Ziotek one from cyberguys? Will it really take until april to get this?
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Another interesting alternative - a power supply with outlets.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ARROW-680W-BLK&cat=CAS&cpc=JAD
(http://www.geeks.com/imageshare/A/300x300/ARROW-680W-BLK-box.jpg)
A power supply with outlets? That just looks like a blue box to me ;D
How about this pic instead:
(http://www.geeks.com/imageshare/A/150x150/ARROW-680W-BLK-unit.gif)
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Sorry they changed the image URL after my post... :dunno
Anyone use one of these?
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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.
(http://www.bjorn3d.com/Material/ReviewImages/Clever%20Power/SPS500nSPS400%20Review/clevpwr_sps400n500_Back_sm.JPG)
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.
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"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
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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. ;D
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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:
(http://s.sears.com/is/image/Sears/00924031000?qlt=90,0&resMode=sharp&op_usm=0.9,0.5,0,0)
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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.
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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