Fantastic Power Board (that Turns Things Off For You)

[Mitcon1503562253]

Well I don't know how many of you might find this type of power board handy but I'm thinking about grabbing one. It's the Crest Earth Smart surge protector power board, it has one master outlet and 5 slaves so you can turn off all that AV gear by just turning off the one unit. For those of us that have pre/pros with seperate AMPs or even those of us (like myself) that use Pro/PA style AMPs which don't have a 12v trigger or a remote to put them in standby this sort of thing would be awesome. Not only that but they would save the eviron and you some money too even just by switching off alot of gear from standby.

Might be old or you may already know of it (or others like it) but I just saw it and thought it may be of interest to some, great idea to turn off those old AMPs when you just use the remote to turn off the AVR.

http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Reviews/Home_...L9N2S2N7?page=1

[stano1503560647]

here is another at jaycar!

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?I...mp;SUBCATID=656

[tb1231503560936]

I see your power board and raise you another!

http://www.energysuperstore.com.au/3469/YO...s/3589/product/

actually there is an interesting note re power consumption on that page.......

Please note that we have experienced problems with large Plasma televisions connected to the "MASTER" socket of this product. We have discovered that some of the newer Plasma televisions draw well over 30 watts in standby, causing the powerboard to be unable to detect that the Plasma has been switched off - and therefore not switching the "SLAVE" outlets off. (The PT9778 Energy Saving Powerboard detects power usage under 30 watts to be "off").

If you experience this problem, please try connecting your Plasma television into one of the "SLAVE" outlets, and a connect a different device such as a DVD player into the master outlet. This solution will solve the problem.

[Mitcon1503562253]

Even better folks, yours are both cheaper. Fantastic !

I think I'm even going to grab ones of those to try out TB, could use it to switch off all those AMPs with the AVR. But I see better reasons still for using these like saving that little bit for the planet.

Edited November 26, 2008 by Mitcon

[joz]

Like yourself I find them great and use one (Jaycar) in my system aswell.

I have my active crossovers,Pre and DAC connected to it.

Seeing as everything in my system needs to be on I use my receiver in the master socket so between the power board and 12v triggers all is good.

Only the video side of things is not connected but thats where we I use macros.

[huang]

That's a little great thing!

10% of home power is used by equipment on standby!

So, does this require to turn standby OFF on the MASTER?

[tkd]

I've got one of these on my theatre room and it works well. But I don't use a universal remote on this set up (Damn PS3). But on my lounge room set up, I tried to use one of these boards. It doesn't work too well with my Logitech 525 remote. I can control the start up power on sequence but not the powerdown sequence. When the power goes off to the amp, it immediately turns everythign else off and for whatever reason the TV seems to know it hasn;'t been switched off properly. So when the equipment back on, the TV sometimes switches on and sometimes doesn't. Its only the TV causing the problem. Everything else works well.

I can't rememebr the model of the board I have but it has a master + 4 slaces and then one always on plug. I use that one for my PVR so it always stays on.

[simopimo]

Here is what I use: http://ji.com.au/products/RCS88/

Not as fancy as the powerboards, but I got it for $30 with 2 outlets (not just one as pictured). It's a remote control power switch. I have a set of fans off the back of my cabinet. This remote control power switch powers them on and puts everything into standby. It saved me from having to wire up relays and things like that.

Only downside is that I can't use it via the Logitech Harmony.

[Mitcon1503562253]

I have a 4 outlet RF remote control power board I like, cost $39 @ Bunnings if my memory serves me corectly. But I like the idea of the switching power boards.

[lonewolf1503560131]

I have a 4 outlet RF remote control power board I like, cost $39 @ Bunnings if my memory serves me corectly. But I like the idea of the switching power boards.

Hang on guys, From what i was told about some of the remote controlled power sockets / boards. Is that they cant handle devices which use a decent amount of power specifically power amps which is where i need them for. It sounds like the Crest device might be able to handle it, but i know some of the remote power sockets i have found actually state that they restrict how much amps / watts goes through the power because they are only designed to be able to cut off power if its less than that amount. So they are continuously restricting power to make sure it stays below the amount they can handle. Now that is fine for dvd players, STBs etc but not good for power amps which might require a lot of watts / amps at times...

This all depends on the power board, i am sure some are designed to handle cutting off a lot of power and so the restrictions might be much better suited for power amps but i think some of the cheaper ones.....??? At least thats what i have been told / witnessed.

[Mitcon1503562253]

Hang on guys, From what i was told about some of the remote controlled power sockets / boards. Is that they cant handle devices which use a decent amount of power specifically power amps which is where i need them for. It sounds like the Crest device might be able to handle it, but i know some of the remote power sockets i have found actually state that they restrict how much amps / watts goes through the power because they are only designed to be able to cut off power if its less than that amount. So they are continuously restricting power to make sure it stays below the amount they can handle. Now that is fine for dvd players, STBs etc but not good for power amps which might require a lot of watts / amps at times...

This all depends on the power board, i am sure some are designed to handle cutting off a lot of power and so the restrictions might be much better suited for power amps but i think some of the cheaper ones.....??? At least thats what i have been told / witnessed.

A very good and valid point but you would have to check the specs of the individual board. One of those cheaper boards is infact made by Jackson which is a quality company that supplies a lifetime warranty on it's products. Here's a link to the PDF of that 6 way (4 slave) power board http://www.ji.com.au/pdfs/PT9778.pdf

I think I'll contact them and ask them about the max power handling of the board as it looks a bargin if ti can handle a decent load.

[jel]

Just bought a Jaycar board, thanks for the tip guys.

Regarding load, the Jaycar board is rated for 10A, which is all the wall socket is rated at anyway.

[tb1231503560936]

Just bought a Jaycar board, thanks for the tip guys.

Regarding load, the Jaycar board is rated for 10A, which is all the wall socket is rated at anyway.

10A is normal, but how many WATTS will it handle?

For instance (and I'm only guessing a figure here) if the board was rated at say 1000W, and you have a 400W plasma and 800W power supply in your power amp, then the power board may not be able to drive those two devices, let alone 4 devices etc...

you will probably be ok, but just something to watch for.

[TechWizNot]

In most electrical boards the standard is 10A equivalent to 2400 watts.

[Dortamur]

I was just wondering how to manage my excess of On Standby devices, given my power point is buried behind the unit. One of these boards would be fantastic!

I've had a poke around a few bricks & mortar stores, and haven't actually found any of them. Should these be available at DSE, JB, K-mart, any of those, or is it Order Online only for them?

[Mitcon1503562253]

I was just wondering how to manage my excess of On Standby devices, given my power point is buried behind the unit. One of these boards would be fantastic!

I've had a poke around a few bricks & mortar stores, and haven't actually found any of them. Should these be available at DSE, JB, K-mart, any of those, or is it Order Online only for them?

You can buy them online, maybe from Dick Smith but you can buy the Jackson ones at Bunnings and most everywhere has a Bunnings not far.

[Dortamur]

You can buy them online, maybe from Dick Smith but you can buy the Jackson ones at Bunnings and most everywhere has a Bunnings not far.

Cool, thanks. I'll give Bunnings a go.

Although I prefer the layout of the Jaycar one...

[Mitcon1503562253]

Cool, thanks. I'll give Bunnings a go.

Although I prefer the layout of the Jaycar one...

Then find your local Jaycar, simple

[dax]

10A is normal, but how many WATTS will it handle?

power = volts x amps

so 10A is equivalent to 2400W

For instance (and I'm only guessing a figure here) if the board was rated at say 1000W, and you have a 400W plasma and 800W power supply in your power amp, then the power board may not be able to drive those two devices, let alone 4 devices etc...

Sure.

But in this case the board is rated to the same as the outlet on the wall.

So if the board cant handle it, then neither should the wall!!

Then again - most people dont ever really worry about this - they just assume if something goes wrong a fuse/circuit breaker will catch it.

[dfferent]

I really like the sound of these but every time i turn my 360 off it loses it's memory (too much wine mayhaps)

When i switch it back o n i have to enter the time and date all over again.

Surprised it does that, would have thought it had backup at least for that part of teh memory(cmos?).

[rwo]

I really like the sound of these but every time i turn my 360 off it loses it's memory (too much wine mayhaps)

When i switch it back o n i have to enter the time and date all over again.

Surprised it does that, would have thought it had backup at least for that part of teh memory(cmos?).

I don't think it should do that. A standard pc has a bios battery to keep power to the cmos when it's unplugged, these last for ages (months if not years) but they do run out eventually. I assume the Xbox would have something like this too. If it's out of warranty, pull the cover off and have a look for a battery to swap out.

[lonewolf1503560131]

power = volts x amps

so 10A is equivalent to 2400W

Sure.

But in this case the board is rated to the same as the outlet on the wall.

So if the board cant handle it, then neither should the wall!!

Then again - most people dont ever really worry about this - they just assume if something goes wrong a fuse/circuit breaker will catch it.

I think people are misunderstanding what i was saying sorry. Like i said i could be wrong about these boards, but a lot of the remote control plugs / boards i have come across actually RESTRICT themselves on how much watts is travelling through the socket. FOr instance some of the remote control plugs i have seen state that they only allow up to a few hundred watts at any one time or less. Cos the circuit inside them that is used via remote to cut off power can only cut off the power if its below a certain amount of watts... At least thats what they said and thats what i have read when i did some research on trying to find remote control power boards to turn off my power amp (no 12 volt trigger or signal sensing on this power amp ).

These boards may be different, but i think it will depend on the price and quality of the components and basically how it was configured. Even if it can handle the full 2400watts they may have configured the device to only output a certain amount so they can guarantee that the remote option will always work correctly. Dont forget most of these boards probably arent designed for power amps. I think most other devices will be fine, its power amps which might struggle to work efficiently. I got a Elektra 7channel Power amp, its rated around 160 or 180 watts per channel, thats a lot of watts if it is being driven heavily. IF someone does find out for sure that there are power boards that can handle it then thats awesome, i would like to get my hands on one of them as well, since at the moment i get up and have to turn it off /on manually everytime.

[Mitcon1503562253]

I think people are misunderstanding what i was saying sorry. Like i said i could be wrong about these boards, but a lot of the remote control plugs / boards i have come across actually RESTRICT themselves on how much watts is travelling through the socket. FOr instance some of the remote control plugs i have seen state that they only allow up to a few hundred watts at any one time or less. Cos the circuit inside them that is used via remote to cut off power can only cut off the power if its below a certain amount of watts... At least thats what they said and thats what i have read when i did some research on trying to find remote control power boards to turn off my power amp (no 12 volt trigger or signal sensing on this power amp ).

These boards may be different, but i think it will depend on the price and quality of the components and basically how it was configured. Even if it can handle the full 2400watts they may have configured the device to only output a certain amount so they can guarantee that the remote option will always work correctly. Dont forget most of these boards probably arent designed for power amps. I think most other devices will be fine, its power amps which might struggle to work efficiently. I got a Elektra 7channel Power amp, its rated around 160 or 180 watts per channel, thats a lot of watts if it is being driven heavily. IF someone does find out for sure that there are power boards that can handle it then thats awesome, i would like to get my hands on one of them as well, since at the moment i get up and have to turn it off /on manually everytime.

You should be fine with any normal power board as it is the normal thing for them to all accept 10A, as already stated it's no different than plugging into your house as you would have a 10A fuse. What is the max power use stated for the elektra ? I'm currently using a remote board with 2 PRO/PA type amps which work fine, soon to run 4 AMPs. I think the limiting factor will be more the wiring/fuse of the supply from your house wiring/power point than the power board. I also think it would not be very often you would use that kind of power as most the time your only using a few watts except for the peaks, if you do have a problem I think you would notice the power boards safety cut-out or the fuse trip in your house. BUT if the power board or documents that come with it state it's not fit for the kind of current then I wouldn't use it. I'm going to try the one from jackson in my set-up though, I've even spoken with Jackson about them and think it will be ok for my use.

[Dortamur]

Then find your local Jaycar, simple

That's crazy talk!!

Turns out there's a Jaycar opened near my place pretty much on the way to Bunnings.

[lonewolf1503560131]

You should be fine with any normal power board as it is the normal thing for them to all accept 10A, as already stated it's no different than plugging into your house as you would have a 10A fuse. What is the max power use stated for the elektra ? I'm currently using a remote board with 2 PRO/PA type amps which work fine, soon to run 4 AMPs. I think the limiting factor will be more the wiring/fuse of the supply from your house wiring/power point than the power board. I also think it would not be very often you would use that kind of power as most the time your only using a few watts except for the peaks, if you do have a problem I think you would notice the power boards safety cut-out or the fuse trip in your house. BUT if the power board or documents that come with it state it's not fit for the kind of current then I wouldn't use it. I'm going to try the one from jackson in my set-up though, I've even spoken with Jackson about them and think it will be ok for my use.

Hi Mitcon,

Sorry, maybe i am getting confused , But i actually came across remote controlled power boards and single sockets that actually stated that they will only provide a certain (quite low) amount of wattage due to them having to be able to switch the circuit on and off. Maybe these boards and sockets were of really low quality and design. I just assumed after that that most remote systems in the affordable range had to put restrictions on how much watts they passed through. I am not saying the power amp wont work, but you may not realise or know that your power amps Arent getting as much power coming to them as they could use or would like but it doesnt meant they wont still continue functioning just at a lower power rating and hence not getting the full benefit of the power amp. At least thats what i presumed the power boards were stating that i read up on. But maybe your power boards / a lot of better quality remote power boards actually do provide the full amount of power through??

I think the elektra max power would be in the mid 1000s.... but i could be wrong. But you might be right, perhaps i was just looking at cheaper remote power boards. I just dont want any power boards that actually put a restriction on how much power they allow through their systems. I would much rather have a remote power board that just isnt able to work remotely if too much power is going through but that it still lets the power go through.

Edited December 2, 2008 by lonewolf