Power Box thingo

Davo1111 · 2nd November 2009, 3:45 PM

Problem
I have heaps of electrical devices and try to keep most of them turned off when out of my room. I could go under the table and turn them off manually, but i cbf. So yeah, i figured i'd go to jaycar and find some parts. (this project was just a reason to buy an emergency stop button)

Parts

2m extension cord
hobby box
emergency stop button
fuse with reset button
odd parts from around the house
heat shrink tubing
Plastic connectors (plastic tube with 2 screws to join wires)

What to do
Mark and drill holes, on top and on the side for the power cord. Cut the extension cable and remove plastic off ends.

Attach per diagram

Live IN -------->Load (circuit breaker) Line --> emergency stop --> Live OUT
Neutal IN -----------Connector ---------> Neutral Out
Earth IN ----------Connector --------->> Earth Out

Put cable ties to stop cords from being tugged from the outside. Screw the box closed.

Remember the emergency stop button has two parts. When you press the button one circuit is broken, and another one is connected. So make sure you get the right side, otherwise it will only turn on when you press the button!

Final Picture

How to Use
Plug one end into power point, plug the other end into electrical devices. When you leave the room, just press the emergency stop button. All the devices turn off. When you come back, just twist the button and it pops up, turning all the devices back on.

Cons
the main downside is that everyone wants to push the red button.

Why the circuit breaker?
when i'm at college, occasionally the circuit breakers are tripped. This means the room next door and your room are without power until maintenance come and reset it. So if it's from my end, the circuit breaker will trip, not the room circuit breaker.
Also, i just wanted another button. It was this or a fighter pilot missle toggle switch

Pugs · 2nd November 2009, 3:52 PM

I'd mount it under the table away from people who want to push that button....

Davo1111 · 2nd November 2009, 3:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pugs

I'd mount it under the table away from people who want to push that button....

true,
I was also thinking of having another red button, except when it's pushed a 120db alarm goes off. :P

Trog Star · 2nd November 2009, 4:53 PM

mate of mine had one of those attached to a popwer board.
had his PC, amps and screen attached to it

he just used to punch it on the way out the door

wazza · 2nd November 2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pugs

I'd mount it under the table away from people who want to push that button....

Are you kidding? A HIDDEN red button is MORE enticing to anyone who finds it

As security at one of the big banks in Sydney CBD can confirm, when I was doing computer work for them after hours one day and my finger found one of their silent alarm buttons, not knowing what it was.

ck_psy · 3rd November 2009, 7:06 PM

can ya post a tutorial?
i'd love to make one of these!!

ravencs · 3rd November 2009, 7:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trog Star

mate of mine had one of those attached to a popwer board.
had his PC, amps and screen attached to it

he just used to punch it on the way out the door

Good idea for the bar fridge, home theatre, tv... But isnt corrupt data a worry if your pc is on it?

Trog Star · 3rd November 2009, 7:23 PM

nah, it was mostly for effect
9 times out of 10 the PC would shutdown normally.

just hitting the button cus he likes to hit stuff

Dexamenus · 3rd November 2009, 7:25 PM

been thinking of making one similar as well.

Can we get a sneak peak inside?

myforwik · 3rd November 2009, 7:25 PM

May I ask what out of neutral/active/earth you are switching/joining? Did you break neutral and earth? And does that switch use screw terminals or soldered terminals?

CyberBeat · 3rd November 2009, 8:09 PM

Great to see that You have modified my Mod for my power box!

http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...d.php?t=803262

I like the idea of the 120db alarm!

myforwik · 3rd November 2009, 10:20 PM

CyberBeat i posted a comment on your thread that you might want to look at to make it a bit saver....

I think the safest and best way to make these sorts of devices is to never break earth or neutral. Just break active. That way you can at least keep a layer of insulation between active/neutral and prevent any possibility of earth breaking, I hope that is what you have done davo... to many people seem to put there joins of active/neutral/earth into the one box, which is a disaster waiting to happen.

robnkel · 4th November 2009, 12:37 AM

Are you a licensed electrician modifying an extension lead?

Davo1111 · 4th November 2009, 7:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robnkel

Are you a licensed electrician modifying an extension lead?

nope. (yes i am aware of the risks)

Quote:

Originally Posted by myforwik

CyberBeat i posted a comment on your thread that you might want to look at to make it a bit saver....

I think the safest and best way to make these sorts of devices is to never break earth or neutral. Just break active. That way you can at least keep a layer of insulation between active/neutral and prevent any possibility of earth breaking, I hope that is what you have done davo... to many people seem to put there joins of active/neutral/earth into the one box, which is a disaster waiting to happen.

i had to "break" all 3 wires to get it into the box. But once it's all rigged up, the switch only stops the active wire. I used heatshrink tubing over all the wires to stop them touching. If you guys thinkg i should modify it, i'll put it apart, solder the wires together, heatshrink tube it, then wrap in electical tape. Let me know what you think

Quote:

Originally Posted by myforwik

May I ask what out of neutral/active/earth you are switching/joining? Did you break neutral and earth? And does that switch use screw terminals or soldered terminals?

The only thing that "is intercepted" by the switches etc is the active wire, the others were cut, then resoldered together. The Push button switch had a screw terminal, there the reset fuse switch had soldered type. It's all covered in heat shrink tubing. I havent set the system up fully yet.

(in).............................................. ......(out)
N-----------------------------------------N
A-----(fuse)----(emergency switch)--------A
E------------------------------------------E

If this makes sense.

Davo1111 · 4th November 2009, 7:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ck_psy

can ya post a tutorial?
i'd love to make one of these!!

As soon as everyone is like 'yeh ok, thats safe-ish', i'll post it up.

2nd November 2009, 3:45 PM	#1
Davo1111 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Syd [Prev. Cbr] Posts: 821	Power Box thingo Problem I have heaps of electrical devices and try to keep most of them turned off when out of my room. I could go under the table and turn them off manually, but i cbf. So yeah, i figured i'd go to jaycar and find some parts. (this project was just a reason to buy an emergency stop button) Parts 2m extension cord hobby box emergency stop button fuse with reset button odd parts from around the house heat shrink tubing Plastic connectors (plastic tube with 2 screws to join wires) What to do Mark and drill holes, on top and on the side for the power cord. Cut the extension cable and remove plastic off ends. Attach per diagram Live IN -------->Load (circuit breaker) Line --> emergency stop --> Live OUT Neutal IN -----------Connector ---------> Neutral Out Earth IN ----------Connector --------->> Earth Out Put cable ties to stop cords from being tugged from the outside. Screw the box closed. Remember the emergency stop button has two parts. When you press the button one circuit is broken, and another one is connected. So make sure you get the right side, otherwise it will only turn on when you press the button! Final Picture How to Use Plug one end into power point, plug the other end into electrical devices. When you leave the room, just press the emergency stop button. All the devices turn off. When you come back, just twist the button and it pops up, turning all the devices back on. Cons the main downside is that everyone wants to push the red button. Why the circuit breaker? when i'm at college, occasionally the circuit breakers are tripped. This means the room next door and your room are without power until maintenance come and reset it. So if it's from my end, the circuit breaker will trip, not the room circuit breaker. Also, i just wanted another button. It was this or a fighter pilot missle toggle switch __________________ Main Rig: Dell XPS M1530 - 2.4ghz, 4GB ram, 320GB HDD, 256 nvidia Server: Asus EEE-Box 202 - 1.6ghz, 2Gb ram, 80GB HDD, integrated graphics accelerator Portable: Asus EEEPC 701 - 4GB SSD + 8GB SDHC Fill their tyres with grout Last edited by Davo1111; 5th November 2009 at 3:54 PM.

2nd November 2009, 3:52 PM	#2
Pugs Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Glenunga, SA Posts: 3,704	I'd mount it under the table away from people who want to push that button.... __________________ PC Gamer , PC/ Networking Geek, Licenced Cabler , Sci Fi Junkie. No I didn't get that thing you sent me..... Jesus was a Chippie, I'm a data cabler..make sense ??? "I don't just have tickets on myself, I have a whole booklet of tickets on myself" My PCDB

2nd November 2009, 4:53 PM	#4
Trog Star Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Blue Mountans, NSW Posts: 807	mate of mine had one of those attached to a popwer board. had his PC, amps and screen attached to it he just used to punch it on the way out the door __________________ Headset microphone mod Port-a-PC Bitspower in-line temp sensor + XSPC LCD = Joy

3rd November 2009, 7:23 PM	#8
Trog Star Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Blue Mountans, NSW Posts: 807	nah, it was mostly for effect 9 times out of 10 the PC would shutdown normally. just hitting the button cus he likes to hit stuff __________________ Headset microphone mod Port-a-PC Bitspower in-line temp sensor + XSPC LCD = Joy

3rd November 2009, 7:25 PM	#9
Dexamenus Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Adelaide Posts: 375	been thinking of making one similar as well. Can we get a sneak peak inside? __________________ Eh! ça va la vache? redbubble \| flickr

3rd November 2009, 7:06 PM	#6
ck_psy Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney - Inner west Posts: 61	can ya post a tutorial? i'd love to make one of these!!

3rd November 2009, 7:25 PM	#10
myforwik New Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 21	May I ask what out of neutral/active/earth you are switching/joining? Did you break neutral and earth? And does that switch use screw terminals or soldered terminals? Last edited by myforwik; 3rd November 2009 at 10:21 PM.

3rd November 2009, 8:09 PM	#11
CyberBeat Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Zealand Posts: 130	Great to see that You have modified my Mod for my power box! http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...d.php?t=803262 I like the idea of the 120db alarm! __________________ www.cyberbeatnz.com - 'Hosting at its Best' <- Prices start from... FREE www.img.cyberbeatnz.com -'Free Image Hosting' <- Unregistered 2MB Limit! : Registered: 1GB Limit HP DV5 1108ax (Laptop) === AMDTurion X2 Dual Core Mobile Processor RM-70 (2.0 Ghz) \| 2048mb DDR2 SDRAM \| 802.11n WLAN \| ATI Raedon 3450 \| 15.4" Widescreen HD Display

3rd November 2009, 10:20 PM	#12
myforwik New Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 21	CyberBeat i posted a comment on your thread that you might want to look at to make it a bit saver.... I think the safest and best way to make these sorts of devices is to never break earth or neutral. Just break active. That way you can at least keep a layer of insulation between active/neutral and prevent any possibility of earth breaking, I hope that is what you have done davo... to many people seem to put there joins of active/neutral/earth into the one box, which is a disaster waiting to happen.

4th November 2009, 12:37 AM	#13
robnkel Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hobart Tas Posts: 382	Are you a licensed electrician modifying an extension lead? __________________ C2D E6600 @ 2.4 stock - Gigabyte P35 DS3L Mobo - 2x1gig DDR667 Generic Ram - - DNTV Live - Antec 350W Previous Video Cards - Asus Gforce V6600 - GF2 GTS PRO - Creative 9700 PRO - Asus N6600GT 128 mb GTS - Sparkle 6800GT 256MB - Powercolor X1950 256mb AGP- Current Video Card - Inno 3D 8800gt oc 512