USB or network controlled mains sockets?

PhillyDee · 21 Feb 2013 at 09:48

Im looking for a cheap as chips way of switching off an extension lead remotely, I have teamviewer access to the PC in question.

I can only find one, and that works out at nearly £50!

TheVoice · 21 Feb 2013 at 11:28

I can't imagine such a thing would be particularly cheap. Surely it'd be easier to just turn the PC on and off remotely?

StevieP · 21 Feb 2013 at 11:41

I don't know about USB or network controlled but surely the cheapest way is to buy some of those remote controlled plug sockets for about a tenner??

londonbairn · 21 Feb 2013 at 12:02

Why don't you just have Wake on Lan alongside VNC in your router if supported?

Gammawolf · 21 Feb 2013 at 12:43

TheVoice said:
I can't imagine such a thing would be particularly cheap. Surely it'd be easier to just turn the PC on and off remotely?

londonbairn said:
Why don't you just have Wake on Lan alongside VNC in your router if supported?

Maybe OP doesn't want to turn the PC off? Only mentions turning an extension lead on and off, which might or might not be for other devices..

bsoltan · 21 Feb 2013 at 12:52

Plug the extension lead in to one of these?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-001-EN

That is unless it has to be done via a remote PC if that's what you meant?

Vanilla · 21 Feb 2013 at 12:55

Belkin Wemo? Probably not cheap so not applicable?

TheVoice · 21 Feb 2013 at 12:58

Gammawolf said:
Maybe OP doesn't want to turn the PC off? Only mentions turning an extension lead on and off, which might or might not be for other devices..

It wasn't very clear either way.

Confused · 21 Feb 2013 at 12:59

http://www.dbzoo.com/livebox/livebox

A friend has this - the board added to an old Orange Livebox, and applications on his mobile, as well as his O2 Joggler.

This allows control of a number of 433MHz RF sockets.

geuben · 21 Feb 2013 at 13:00

If you feel like DIY then you can get something like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-4-Cha...al_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item4165b5b34b

and put it in line with the sockets.

C.R.A.Z.Y · 21 Feb 2013 at 13:03

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PC-USB-Fo...372?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a28c894d4

**Edit** geuben's link is cheaper and better suited (Although this product comes with easy to use gui software for each of the 4 mains relays + temp sensors if you can make use of them)

PhillyDee · 21 Feb 2013 at 13:07

As above, the PC is on 24/7 for my laser, and I plan on rigging up a webcam so I can see the laser and extractor / compressor and need to run a job when I am not there which takes 45 minutes. Means I can log in from home, and disable the extractor / compressor and laser.

Cheers. This will do perfectly fine. Good find! DIY is fine for me, I am playing with arduinoi, but I am nowhere near programming one for this. The one below is even better than I hoped for, since I can have everything on seperate channels (and stop stretching to reach the extension switches at the same time). The PC runs XP, so all is good!

geuben said:
If you feel like DIY then you can get something like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-4-Cha...al_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item4165b5b34b

and put it in line with the sockets.

geuben · 21 Feb 2013 at 13:09

PhillyDee said:
As above, the PC is on 24/7 for my laser, and I plan on rigging up a webcam so I can see the laser and extractor / compressor and need to run a job when I am not there which takes 45 minutes. Means I can log in from home, and disable the extractor / compressor and laser.

Cheers. This will do perfectly fine. Good find! DIY is fine for me, I am playing with arduinoi, but I am nowhere near programming one for this. The one below is even better than I hoped for, since I can have everything on seperate channels (and stop stretching to reach the extension switches at the same time). The PC runs XP, so all is good!

Just watch out for the current draw as the relays are only rated for 10A on AC.

PhillyDee · 21 Feb 2013 at 13:11

geuben said:
Just watch out for the current draw as the relays are only rated for 10A on AC.

Yup, thats fine, the extractor is only about 700W, thr compressor is a koi pump and I am installing a better extractor soon (higher flow, lower W). The laser doesn't draw that much anyway!