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BYO Auto-Switching Power Strip

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crashwg:
I remember seeing sometime in the recent past on these boards something about a powerstrip that connected to a USB port and when it sensed power would then turn on the rest of the powerstip.  Only problem if I recall correctly was that it was not a US product and therefore had different curent/plug and would not be useable by those in the US.

So, I got to thinking... Shouldn't it be easy to duplicate the same results with off-the-shelf parts and ultimately have a working product?

Here's my thoughts.  Just let me know if I'm not on the right track.

Ok, so you've got a power strip, you would:
Open it up
Cut 1 wire that feeds the left/right side of all the outlets
Insert 5v/110v relay between cut (110v part obviously)
Attach 5v part to the end of a USB cord
Close it all up
Attach USB cord to PC
Done!

Does this make sense to anyone other than myself?
It seems to be a simple solution to a common problem.

Only thing that bothers me is posibly frying my USB ports.  :-\
Is there any advice those with electrical experience would give me to avoid doing such a thing?  It would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for your time, and if you feel like going ahead with this design feel free to do so as I wouldn't have to experiment on my computer.  ;D

krick:
Sounds like it would work.

In theory, you can tap 5V off of a USB port:
Pin 1 is +5V
Pin 4 is ground

I use an amplifier from a set of USB powered speakers in my mame cab.
Works like a charm.

The only problem that I see is that on some motherboards, the USB ports continue to remain powered even after the PC is off.  I don't know why, it may be a design problem or something.

crashwg:

--- Quote from: krick on June 23, 2004, 01:12:02 am ---I use an amplifier from a set of USB powered speakers in my mame cab.
Works like a charm.

--- End quote ---

Would you care to elaborate on exactly what it is you're doing with the USB powered speakers?  I'm not exactly following you.  Have you done the relay/powerstrip thing with the speakers?

krick:

--- Quote from: crashwg on June 23, 2004, 01:18:15 am ---
--- Quote from: krick on June 23, 2004, 01:12:02 am ---I use an amplifier from a set of USB powered speakers in my mame cab.
Works like a charm.

--- End quote ---

Would you care to elaborate on exactly what it is you're doing with the USB powered speakers?  I'm not exactly following you.  Have you done the relay/powerstrip thing with the speakers?

--- End quote ---

No there's no relay involved.  I was mentioning that things (like speakers) can be powered off of the 5V supplied by a USB port simply as an illustration.

I'm just doing the standard "speaker amplifier hack" that most people do.  You know, buy a set of cheap computer speakers and gut them for the amplifer board inside.  However, the twist is that I've chosen a set of speakers that are powered off of a USB port instead of a power brick that you have to plug into a power strip.

See these threads for more information...
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=16381
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=20839

koolmoecraig:
Why not just buy a SMART STRIP? They are under $30

http://www.bitsltd.net/smartstrip/buy.htm

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