The power strip of the gods...

[Wavelflack]

Having problems hooking up all of your stuff (or most of it) at once?
Solution:




http://image.hostcubix.com/getimg.php?img=powerstrip%20top%20view.jpg

http://image.hostcubix.com/getimg.php?img=powerstrip%20front.jpg
:)

[Crush Crawfish]

:eek 2:

I need one of those! where did you buy it?

[Querjek]

@_@ @_@ @_@

Wow! That would help my 4 surge protectors that are all hooked together!

[Sylentwulf]

Is it actually a surge protector or just a 10-wide gang box that you rigged up? :)

[Mr-E_MaN]

Thats awesome!

I personally don't like leaving my systems plugged in all the time.... mainly because I don't use most of them.

[Wavelflack]

Sylentwulf: Bingo. I just welded up an aluminum box to the correct dimensions, then simply bought ten duplex receptacles, metal cover plates and a 20 amp fuseholder and wired it up. It works great! If everything were to be turned on at once, I'd have about 23A draw, but that's never going to happen.

As far as surge protection goes, the box itself runs to a surge protector. It's not integral.


I do have a 2nd box built (but not wired), because I wasn't sure how many receptacles I would need. So I guess if someone really wanted one of these, I could wire up the 2nd and put it up for grabs.

[Duncan]

I do have a 2nd box built (but not wired), because I wasn't sure how many receptacles I would need. So I guess if someone really wanted one of these, I could wire up the 2nd and put it up for grabs.

You could sell a crap-ton of these, you know. Start with us (I'll take one!), and then turn to eBay.

Remember, you're allowed to charge a reasonable fee for labor, too. :)

[SoulBlazer]

Yup, if you ever started selling these I'd place a order also. :D

[FABombjoy]

Power Strip Savers (http://www.powerstripsaver.com) are incredibly handy, too. Unfortunately, the 1->2 plug version seems to have disappeared.

[Richter]

most of them use the same type of plug (PS, S2, DC, Sat, XB) they dont make any kind of switch for them?

[tholly]

wow...that looks nice. i need one of those. my dad works with electronics / electricity for a living, so things like this are easy for him. maybe i can get him to make me one.

[dreamcaster]

20 outlets?! Nice. :-P

I have that many outlets, but it involves:

1. four-outlet board hardwired into the wall
2. two four-outlet power boards
3. and one six-outlet board with three double-adapters plugged into it.

...and I still don't have enough plugs (NES/SNES are always being swapped around).

[Ed Oscuro]

most of them use the same type of plug (PS, [P]S2, DC, Sat, XB) they dont make any kind of switch for them?
That's a good idea. I'm sure there's something like that available, but the downside of one of those over a Power Strip Saver (http://www.powerstripsaver.com) is that you have to reach over to a switch. Probably more useful in industrial/installation applications.

As for that Strip Saver, I could use one of those to bridge the gap between my wall socket and my desk's power cord...it's got a selector box on the inside of the top drawer that you can plug various things into, with labels such as "monitor" and "printer" foolishly molded into the front of the unit...'sides that it's nice, though.

I would like to get ahold of a short version of a PC power cord, two of them (one for my Mac's main unit and one for the monitor) and then plug a UPS into the wall socket. I'd probably still get to use the desk's power selector, as well.

[Sylentwulf]

Sylentwulf: Bingo. I just welded up an aluminum box to the correct dimensions, then simply bought ten duplex receptacles, metal cover plates and a 20 amp fuseholder and wired it up. It works great! If everything were to be turned on at once, I'd have about 23A draw, but that's never going to happen.

Pretty sweet, I don't weld, but I bet a plastic box could be found to do the same thing with, maybe somewhere down the road I'll have to give that a try :)

[chadtower]

Uh, if you were to build that, and then burn down your house, I GUARANTEE YOU WOULD NOT GET INSURANCE PAYMENT. There wouldn't even be a debate about it. They'd just give you the finger. That is so outside of building codes that they may come over to your house to slap you. I'm not kidding.

Before buiding something like that, it would be far better to get some battery backup capability to clean out power dips, which are far more numerous and just as lethal in the long term as a surge.

[Ed Oscuro]

I feel silly now :P

That's good advice. In fact, the insurance folks won't cover you if you leave your breaker box open and a fire starts there (or nearby, you're certainly going to hear about it).

[Sylentwulf]

Uh, if you were to build that, and then burn down your house, I GUARANTEE YOU WOULD NOT GET INSURANCE PAYMENT. There wouldn't even be a debate about it. They'd just give you the finger. That is so outside of building codes that they may come over to your house to slap you. I'm not kidding.

Before buiding something like that, it would be far better to get some battery backup capability to clean out power dips, which are far more numerous and just as lethal in the long term as a surge.

Running anything off of an extension cord could nullify your coverage too :)

Honestly, that thing is MUCH safer than probably ANY other setup most people on here have. Personally, I just take down the system and cords and plug them in as I play them. Average time to completely swap a system in&out is maybe 10-20 seconds.

[chadtower]

Running anything off of an extension cord could nullify your coverage too :)


That's not necessarily true. It's only true if there are a certain amount of items running off of that cord vs the amount of current that cord is meant to handle. I believe it's daisychaining cords that is always a problem.

[Ed Oscuro]

Honestly, that thing is MUCH safer than probably ANY other setup most people on here have. Personally, I just take down the system and cords and plug them in as I play them. Average time to completely swap a system in&out is maybe 10-20 seconds.
'-'

Hmm, a home-built metal box safer than consumer products built according to strict standards? Let's see...

I don't mean to shortchange Wavelflack or imply that his design is dangerous, but if anything happens he won't have any coverage. It's pretty simple.

Running stuff off an extension cord can nullify your coverage? Well, I don't know what to say about THAT assertion...

[chadtower]

Honestly, that thing is MUCH safer than probably ANY other setup most people on here have. Personally, I just take down the system and cords and plug them in as I play them. Average time to completely swap a system in&out is maybe 10-20 seconds.
'-'

Ed's right. Without UL approval, that box is an insurance nightmare. Who is UL? Look on any electronic device you have... you'll see a UL logo either on it or in the documentation with an approval number. The UL is the Underwriter Laboratories. What do they Underwrite... why, insurance standards, of course.

[Ed Oscuro]

Hmm...*starts checking things for the UL logo ;o*

Thanks for the info, Chad; if I got it right it was probably a case of the blind leading... ;)

I do know that I've heard secondhand that the insurance folks will get all over you if you leave a breaker box open. No doubt about it, you'll be losing out on coverage.

So, while we're at it: Do any of you have frayed wires on any of your equipment? :o (http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/Resource/StoreOperations/store_electricalfires_ir.htm)

[wberdan]

that looks like a potential fire harzard to me...
Do you have all that shit plugged into a circuit that shares electricity with other appliances?

I personally would not use that, but that's a good job making it


willie

[Wavelflack]

Uh, if you were to build that, and then burn down your house, I GUARANTEE YOU WOULD NOT GET INSURANCE PAYMENT. There wouldn't even be a debate about it. They'd just give you the finger. That is so outside of building codes that they may come over to your house to slap you. I'm not kidding.

Before buiding something like that, it would be far better to get some battery backup capability to clean out power dips, which are far more numerous and just as lethal in the long term as a surge.

You're have no idea what you are talking about. I could present this to the UL inspector that comes by quarterly, and he would approve it. It's fused for it's intended capacity, it is properly grounded, the enclosure is grounded (or neutral), and the enclosure features no 1/8" or larger gaps, no exposed wiring, no burring or shards (metal enclosures), and because it is for indoor use, it does not require drainage holes.

Second, you can throw water on an oil fire in the kitchen. You can forget to turn off the iron. It doesn't matter. As long as it's not arson, you're still covered. You CAN run an extension cord in your house! If it causes a fire, you ARE still covered!

Finally, this is not a surge protector. Good grief.

[Ed Oscuro]

Just lookin' out for you, bro, and don't want anybody to get dumb ideas. :L

[chadtower]

You're have no idea what you are talking about. I could present this to the UL inspector that comes by quarterly, and he would approve it. It's fused for it's intended capacity, it is properly grounded, the enclosure is grounded (or neutral), and the enclosure features no 1/8" or larger gaps, no exposed wiring, no burring or shards (metal enclosures), and because it is for indoor use, it does not require drainage holes.

Be careful what you say. You're treading the line between legalities and realities. You COULD present it to a UL inspector and it MAY pass inspection and it MAY be well built and it MAY be safe. The fact that you have done NONE of those things is what the insurance company would care about. They wouldn't care if it was built by Thomas Edison if he didn't have appropriate permits and inspections. I've BEEN THERE.

[Wavelflack]

The reality and legality are one and the same. I'm not sure what shady insurance company you dealt with previously, but there is very little room for ambiguity in a standard homeowner's insurance policy. Do you have one? I do. It's very black and white about what is/ is not covered.
For instance, you could add on a room to your house. You could accidentally wire it with aluminum wiring (if you could find it). Your addition could catch fire and burn your house down. The insurance claim is still valid. In fact, most home fires are a result of negligence or error on the homeowner's part. Are the claims still paid? Yes. Why? Because there is not a "fault" provision in the policy. Because if there were, insurance would be practically worthless. Most homes do not spontaneously combust.

In any case, I'm not sure why you are so frightened in the first place. Just what about it appears "unsafe"? I'm curious.

As for UL, that wasn't an idle speculative move on my part. I work for a fairly large electric sign manufacturer (which is why I have access to aluminum forming and welding equipment), and the UL inspector DOES visit on a quarterly basis to "relicense" our products. I'm quite aware what does or does not pass UL muster. My designs and fabrications must conform to UL approval to be erected in quite a number of municipalities.

Anyway, I can see that you probably had good intentions in posting your warning, but I wanted to let you know the reality of things.

[chadtower]

Anyway, I can see that you probably had good intentions in posting your warning, but I wanted to let you know the reality of things.

Okay, you go right ahead. Build your addition with substandard, incorrect wiring, and then don't have permits or building inspections. Then watch your house burn down and make a claim. I DARE YOU. The first thing that claims adjustor will do is go to your town hall and pull the permit/inspection records. Don't have any? The second thing they'll do is send a forensic investigator to your house to determine the exact cause of the fire. The second he sees cause as "improper wiring" combined with "lack of inspection/permit records" your policy will be void. The permit/inspection process exists for exactly this case, it's there to protect you and the town as well as provide documentation for the insurance companies that you are not providing excessive risk to their investment by having improper work done on the property.

You can compare dropping a cigarette on the couch with improper electrical all you want but they are miles apart on an insurance claim. Insurance companies make profit by NOT paying out and will do everything they can, within the law, to avoid doing so.

[tholly]

Power Strip Savers (http://www.powerstripsaver.com) are incredibly handy, too. Unfortunately, the 1->2 plug version seems to have disappeared.

i went to that link....they are only like $2, but the shipping on just a cord is nuts. if i wanted just one it would cost $8+ for ground shipping.