power strip

Sun Jan 08, 2012 5:32 pm   

So what does it take to get the power strip I want? They don't make them.
I checked all over. So I decided to make one myself. I found 2 steel tool
boxes big enough for 14 receptacles each. Then I got 28 snap-in
receptacles. Between a Dremel tool and a sabre saw I should be able to cut
out all the holes. Then I'll have what I need. No "power strip
liberators." Just the simple damned power strip. No more wires, no frills.

My floor is a spaghetti of wires, plugs, power strips and transformers,
probably a fire hazard.

Sun Jan 08, 2012 5:52 pm   

On Sun, 8 Jan 2012 11:32:49 -0500, "Jon" <intrepid_at_bellaire.tv> wrote:


Make sure to align your receptacles for enough spacing to accommodate
wall warts... like these:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Belkin+BE112230-08&x=0&y=0

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:18 pm   

Nice try, but those still aren't what I want. The one I'm building can have
28 wall warts at half the cost. But as I am no prophet, today so far all
I've done is order the materials.
====

"Jim Thompson" wrote in message
news:l4ijg7ltpu4phuj758t38gc3rks2msklb6_at_4ax.com...

On Sun, 8 Jan 2012 11:32:49 -0500, "Jon" <intrepid_at_bellaire.tv> wrote:


Make sure to align your receptacles for enough spacing to accommodate
wall warts... like these:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Belkin+BE112230-08&x=0&y=0

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Sun Jan 08, 2012 8:06 pm   

"Jon" <intrepid_at_bellaire.tv> wrote in message
news:vJWdnWMoMua-WJTSnZ2dnUVZ_rednZ2d_at_earthlink.com...

the outlet you plug it into will support - or must be fused separately.

Typical outlet in the US is 15 amps so all wiring must support that (#16
awg) or heavier.
http://www.armstrongssupply.com/wire_chart.htm

Rule of thumb is that if the outlet is available, it will be used - no
matter what the draw is... Current limiters (ie fuses) are your friend. At
the end of the Christmas season when we get ready to take the tree down, I
used my shop vac to remove the remaining water from the tree stand. For
several years running, I kept forgetting that the switched extension cord
that fed the tree was fused at about 5 amps and *still* plugged the 20 amp
shop vac into it. This year I did remember and plugged it directly into the
wall.

Sun Jan 08, 2012 8:56 pm   

"Jon" wrote in message
news:vJWdnWMoMua-WJTSnZ2dnUVZ_rednZ2d_at_earthlink.com...


I don't see how your tool box power strip will help all that much, and you
can usually get power strips cheaper than the individual outlets. The
problem is that you still need wires going to each of the items you need to
power.

A better idea might be to get some cheap inverters ($10 for 75 watts:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-12V-AC-110V-75W-Car-Power-Inverter-USB-Laptop-/260816859208?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb9e57048)
and some rechargeable batteries, and have your low-power devices plugged
into cordless modules so there are no wires to trip on. Then rig up a way to
recharge all of these modules overnight. Also makes each of your devices
very portable. You could put the battery and inverter(s) in the toolbox. And
also sometimes you can find, cheap or free, dead UPS units that usually just
need fresh batteries.

Paul

Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:09 pm   

Hi Jon,

On 1/8/2012 9:32 AM, Jon wrote:

The snap in receptacle are often of dubious quality.
Also, the enclosure in which you are mounting them needs to
be of sufficiently high gauge steel to not flex when
force is exerted on it -- inserting or removing individual
plugs.


You'll have *lots* of wires! All terminated in one giant
pile! 28 loads within a (best case) ~10ft span?


The floor, here, is reserved for data cabling. Power is distributed
"from above" -- outlets on the underside of the work tables. THis
keeps the service loops from becoming intertwined (as they would if
they all laid on the floor). It also makes it much easier to find
a particular power cord (with your *eyes* instead of having to tug on
cords: "Is this it?").

But, perhaps more importantly, it lets you run power in logical
groups as well as based on physical proximity.

I have 12 outlets available on each (office) workstation.
And, the "key components" of each "system" plugged into a
shared UPS (per system). E.g., computer, displays, wall
warts for any "powered peripherals", etc. If Im in the
middle of printing something when the power fails, I'll
have to restart that print job, later. But, at least the
PC, displays, pointing devices, etc. will remain functional.

Two other small (500VA) UPS's power the network switches
and backup media (tape, disk) in that room. The combination
of UPS's (6 total) remove the need for many of the plugs from
the other outlet strips.

Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:31 am   

"Jon" <intrepid_at_bellaire.tv> wrote:

I bought some long ago on sale. They have sockets on top and both sides.
That way transformers fit.

Greg

Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:48 am   

Death to the modified sine wave. Use that junk at your own risk.

Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:54 am   

On 1/8/2012 8:32 AM, Jon wrote:

Before power strips existed, I rolled my own out of outlets and an
outlet box. The only problem was to find a wall plate with a bunch of
cutouts. It turned out most electrical shops have a Greenlee chassis
punch that can do a clean cut out for an outlet.

My point is before you spend hours cutting the holes, see if an
electrical supply shop will punch what holes you need.

You haven't drawn a diagram of what you are trying to achieve, but I've
seen power distribution panels in surplus shops, presumably out of
server rooms.

Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:22 am   

On Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:32:49 -0500, Jon wrote:


So, is a power strip a really short but intense act at a nudie bar?

--
My liberal friends think I'm a conservative kook.
My conservative friends think I'm a liberal kook.
Why am I not happy that they have found common ground?

Tim Wescott, Communications, Control, Circuits & Software
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:38 pm   

I went to your web site. You are a legend, dude. You could run circles
around Einstein.

"Jim Thompson" wrote in message
news:l4ijg7ltpu4phuj758t38gc3rks2msklb6_at_4ax.com...

On Sun, 8 Jan 2012 11:32:49 -0500, "Jon" <intrepid_at_bellaire.tv> wrote:


Make sure to align your receptacles for enough spacing to accommodate
wall warts... like these:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Belkin+BE112230-08&x=0&y=0

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:39 pm   

lol! "power strip"... my ass. "Hey babe, can you do me a power strip?"
[slap, slap, punch, whap]

"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
news:0eqdnWfgHac25JfSnZ2dnUVZ_jgAAAAA_at_web-ster.com...

On Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:32:49 -0500, Jon wrote:


So, is a power strip a really short but intense act at a nudie bar?

--
My liberal friends think I'm a conservative kook.
My conservative friends think I'm a liberal kook.
Why am I not happy that they have found common ground?

Tim Wescott, Communications, Control, Circuits & Software
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:29 am   

On Jan 8, 11:54 pm, miso <m...@sushi.com> wrote:

McMaster-Carr also has a double-D punch: Cat# 3449A86
Link: http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/117/2303/=fqmus4
Not exactly cheap, but sure looks like it would get the job done!

-mpm

Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:48 am   

On 1/9/2012 9:29 PM, mpm wrote:

tool you will only use once. Well unless there was a Harbor Freight
version...

Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:21 pm   

On Sunday, January 8, 2012 8:32:49 AM UTC-8, Jon wrote:

A good starting point might be the Plugmold products; one
that I'm fond of, is a steel channel with one US-style three pin
outlet every six inches. You can mount these permanently
to a wall or post, and I've connected several to workbench
areas with double-stick tape and wire-ties. A six-foot
strip at a workbench gives you a dozen outlets.
It takes fittings/boxes to complete an installation: find a
local stocking supplier before you start your project.

<http://www.amazon.com/Wiremold-Plugmold-Electrical-Multi-Outlet-Assembly/dp/B000LEWYK4>