Automating Belkin Surge

[3DogKnight]

I am considering picking up a few of these devices:
[post="0"]http://www.belkin.com/conserve/[/post]

I was hoping for a way to automate the process of cutting off devices that use phantom energy (TVs, monitors, recievers, printers, etc) when I was away or at night. I would like a way to automatically flip these items OFF when the alarm was set AWAY. (I have an ELK)

Belkin Conserve looks to be controlled by IR, so that would would be one method. (As I write this, I am wondering what the power draw of the IR reciever on the Belkin)

Does anyone have any other ideas or better solutions for accomplishing this?

 

[mustangcoupe]

I am considering picking up a few of these devices:
[post="0"]http://www.belkin.com/conserve/[/post]

I was hoping for a way to automate the process of cutting off devices that use phantom energy (TVs, monitors, recievers, printers, etc) when I was away or at night. I would like a way to automatically flip these items OFF when the alarm was set AWAY. (I have an ELK)

Belkin Conserve looks to be controlled by IR, so that would would be one method. (As I write this, I am wondering what the power draw of the IR reciever on the Belkin)

Does anyone have any other ideas or better solutions for accomplishing this?

The Link does not work so here it is again... http://www.belkin.com/conserve/ but those look to maybe rf controlled not IR as they say it can work through walls. It looks cool though

 

[TLCNORM]

That product does look great.

 

[sic0048]

It is definitely RF, so it would be pretty hard to tie into a home automation system. You might be able to crack the case open and use some sort of relay to kick the system off, but that obviously involves a little knowledge and opens the door up to some real problems.

Another option would be to simply use a lighting control system to turn a regular plug on and off. This is obviously a more expensive solution, but isn't hard and allows simple control via an automation system. You could start out with a plug or two as well - you don't neccessarily have to convert the whole house

I know the Intermatic wall plugs run about $50 each which is the approx price of the surge protector. Of course it doesn't automatically provide surge protection, and you would need a couple of other components to make it all work, but you get the idea.

 

[beerguy]

It is definitely RF, so it would be pretty hard to tie into a home automation system. You might be able to crack the case open and use some sort of relay to kick the system off, but that obviously involves a little knowledge and opens the door up to some real problems.

Another option would be to simply use a lighting control system to turn a regular plug on and off. This is obviously a more expensive solution, but isn't hard and allows simple control via an automation system. You could start out with a plug or two as well - you don't neccessarily have to convert the whole house :blink:

I know the Intermatic wall plugs run about $50 each which is the approx price of the surge protector. Of course it doesn't automatically provide surge protection, and you would need a couple of other components to make it all work, but you get the idea.

I've got UPB set up for my lighting so I got some of the UPB appliance modules and plugged a plug strip into them. That way I can have the plug strip powered off when the alarm system goes to Exit-Away. I've set up several of these around the house and it seems to be working great.

 

[hucker]

It is definitely RF, so it would be pretty hard to tie into a home automation system. You might be able to crack the case open and use some sort of relay to kick the system off, but that obviously involves a little knowledge and opens the door up to some real problems.

Another option would be to simply use a lighting control system to turn a regular plug on and off. This is obviously a more expensive solution, but isn't hard and allows simple control via an automation system. You could start out with a plug or two as well - you don't neccessarily have to convert the whole house :blink:

I know the Intermatic wall plugs run about $50 each which is the approx price of the surge protector. Of course it doesn't automatically provide surge protection, and you would need a couple of other components to make it all work, but you get the idea.

I've got UPB set up for my lighting so I got some of the UPB appliance modules and plugged a plug strip into them. That way I can have the plug strip powered off when the alarm system goes to Exit-Away. I've set up several of these around the house and it seems to be working great.

I do the same, I have a 'low power' scene that I used to turn of digital picture frames and stereo equipment. Works well.

 

[tmbrown97]

I just got 4 of those in yesterday... I heard about them a while ago, and immediately thought it would be great for my home office - where I have quad-monitors and surround speakers on 24/7 even though I only use the office maybe once every 2 weeks... Since they finally released, I picked up a few. Also gonna use one in the garage where I don't need the tool-chargers on too often - just maybe for a day after using the tools...

They're definitely RF... and the giant switch on them is a little jenky in my opinion... is has a big Clicking action to make if feel kinda like a lightswitch and locking it in either the on or off type position - in the process, you're bumping a little button which momentarily presses the on or off. I opened mine up and ditched the tabs that made it noisy when switching and stiff to move back & forth... made it more like a return-to-center momentary switch - major improvement (it still has springs inside so it's much smoother like this).

Anyway - since it's a simple RF remote, and you can buy extras - you could always follow Electron's (I think it's his) instructions for modding a wireless garage door controller - it's the same concept.

I've considered both options... I bought this for the office specifically because I hardly use it - but following the other idea of the upb modules would be great for the power-save while away mode. I'd be easy enough to mod though and kinda fun.

EDIT: FYI, there's 3 dip-switches inside for selecting channels - I don't know if that's 3 channels or 6 but it at least lets you have a few in proximity. I haven't tested the real-world range at all but can if there's a desire.