Looking for a cheap power strip with 12V trigger

[scholl]

Hi,

I'm looking for a cheap power strip with a 12V trigger so that a preamp with trigger out can power on one or two older power amps.

Any recommendations?

Thanks!!

[KevinN]

I use one called IoTRelay. CAn't link to it as it's not a PE offering.

[devnull]

I made my own. I took the switch out of a power strip to make space and then just wired in a solid state relay.

[Wolf]

Just in case this has not been mentioned or thought of, make sure this relay is rated as a 12VDC trigger coil, and 120/250VAC activated circuit. These are typically known as 'glass relays', and not the automotive Bosch style jobbies. The automotive relays are not rated to run 120V on their circuits.

Later,
Wolf

[thekorvers]

I made my own. I took the switch out of a power strip to make space and then just wired in a solid state relay.

Sounds like a good idea. These would work:

https://www.digikey.com/products/en/...1&pageSize=500

https://www.digikey.com/product-deta...979-ND/2364684

https://www.digikey.com/product-deta...B545-ND/678179

https://www.digikey.com/product-deta...D25R-ND/753408

There are many more under $40, most of them in stock.

Since PE does not carry anything like it, I don't think they mind the links. If they do, they can remove them.

[thekorvers]

If you go the above route, be aware that these relays need to be adequately heat sinked!

[charlielaub]

If you prefer, you can build your own using AC power receptacles and one or more 12V relays. You can build a small "box" that has a similar form factor to your other audio components and have the connections on the back. Finish the front with a nice wood or metal panel and you are all set.

I would use a regular 15A or 30A 12V coil 120VAC contact relay, not an SSR. First, an SSR will produce heat and this must be properly dissipated. Also, not all SSRs not pass a clean AV waveform - you do not want that powering any sensitive audio equipment. See:
http://sound.whsites.net/articles/mosfet-relay.htm
Just use a good old "dumb" coil relay.

The ESP article mentions the issue of arcing across the contacts of the coil relay. One fancy solution to this is to use an SSR in parallel with a coil relay. You MAKE the SSR contacts first, then make the contact of the coil relay, then break the contacts of the SSR when turning on. To turn off you again MAKE the contacts of the SSR, then break the contacts of the coil relay, then break the contacts of the SSR.

[scholl]

Thanks guys. Not sure which route I'll take. I'm looking at wifi preamps to steam and want the amp out of sight.

[AdamM3]

Another option would be to use one of those "energy saving power strips" as long as you don't need more than 15A for both amplifiers and the pre. They have a sensing outlet you would plug the pre into and then plug the amps into the switched outlets. The power strip senses the current draw of the preamp and will turn on the switched outlets. I believe a company called tricklestar makes them, I have also used one made by belkin before.

[devnull]

Couple of comments while I have morning coffee.

I mounted my SSR in a old school metal industrial power strip which does an adequate job as a heat sink.

I wouldn't be too concerned about AC input waveform distortion going to any modern amplifier except for class A amps. Modern amps are designed to deal with less than clean, less than ideal AC power

I used a SSR because it's what I happened to find first in my junk drawer

[thekorvers]

I mounted my SSR in a old school metal industrial power strip which does an adequate job as a heat sink.

I thought along the same lines of using the powerstrip chassis, but wanted to make sure that the o.p. was aware of the heatsinking requirements. I would suggest using adequate heatsink compound.

I wouldn't be too concerned about AC input waveform distortion going to any modern amplifier except for class A amps. Modern amps are designed to deal with less than clean, less than ideal AC power

Bingo! We are not passing any AV signals, just feeding power to an amp which will be rectified and smoothed.

[Millstonemike]

Consider a $3 Panasonic mechanical relay (12 V coil, rated 440 VAC @ 16A). The contacts are rated for 10,000 operations; minimum.