Premise PowerStatusMonitors

is anyone using PowerStatusMonitors? I know GlobalCache has some voltage sensors that work w/ the GC-100s, but will they work w/ the existing GC-100 driver? Are there any other ones folks are using?

So to answer my own question....Yes, the current GC-100 driver will work w/ the PowerStatusMonitor. I'm using the GC-SP1 AC/DC Input Sensor (fm Globalcache - about 30-40bucks @ cost)

You basically can use it monitor the power of a device, such as a cablebox, Receiver, etc. The device has the 3.5mm input that goes into one of the IR Ports. The other end has two leads that can be tied to a old wall wart w/ less than 24vdc. You need to adjust the inputs from the builder interface to the GC-100 (or you could use the web address, I suppose). You need to change the IR and Sensor # to change the connector from IR Out to Sensor In. Also change the Sensor notification from disabled to enabled. You should see the lights on the back of the GC-100 light for the sensor enabled port. When you plug the GC-SP1 into it, it will go off.

The last part - (well almost)...you need to change the object type for the Multi IO port from IRPort to a GCDigitalInput by selecting the type property from the properties menu. You can find the general instructions in the Help menu in the builder.

So far, it seems to work fine.

chucklyons said:

The other end has two leads that can be tied to a old wall wart w/ less than 24vdc.

Click to expand...

Then you plug this into a switched outlet on the device?

-Tom

The two leads go to the leads from an old wall wart that you have cut the cord on. Fasten the two leads from the wall wart to the two leads of the power sensor, plug the wall wart into the switched output of the device you wish to monitor.

BTW, the Motorola 6412 Cablebox has a SW configurable option for switched/unswitched electrical outlet. You get to this option by pressing menu as soon as you press power on on the box. Its one of the first options. Make sure you do this or you may drive yourself nuts....

(These are recommended actions. See a licensed professional to perform any of these steps involving electric connectivity. This is for 110V and can serioulsy harm yourself or your equipment) - my CYA.

Thanks, Chuck. Sometimes my terse replies are confusing. Of course I was talking about plugging the AC side of the wall-wart into the outlet on the device, and the DC side to the sensor. My question was meant to clarify the point that the device has to have a switched outlet for this to work. Some of my devices don't have one. Also, as you probably know, there are other options for sensing power for devices without a switched outlet, such as video output sensing.

And thanks for the heads up on the cable box. I have a DCT3400 series box. I'm going to check the menu at my first opportunity.

-Tom