Remote power switch question.

[Charger]

Hi

I've been looking for this solution for a long time, and without success. So I thought I might put it out minds better than mine.

Im wanting a classy looking switch (or switches) that I can physically select to power off mains power. Many smart plug devices with remotes exist already, but the problem is they seem to be all ugly white plastic remote controls.

By classy I mean silver switches, maybe buttons. Anything nice really. A switch box perhaps, or even one switch on it's own.

I have a desktop rack setup with many devices, Class D amp, preamp, EQ, DAC ect..... and I wish to power everything down when not in use. Currently I either have to power everything off or crawl under my desk to the power outlet. And not every device even has a power switch.

I would much prefer to introduce a proper switch(s) into the audio rack to achieve this purpose. I figured something that operates like the remote smart plug. Surely in the past someone who built a stereo rack has thought of this problem.

I'm not an electrician by any means, but not afraid to have a crack building something.

Thanks for reading! Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[staticV3]

Have you considered using a master slave power strip?

 

[Sokel]

Just search for Rack Power Strips,here's an example:

Rack Mount Power Strips | Servertech

Rack mount power strips from Servertech - no matter what your data center needs, Servertech has you covered with switched, smart, metered, and basic rack mount power strips.

www.servertech.com

 

[theREALdotnet]

Bolt this to the front of your rack and run the power board for all your devices through it.

 

[ZolaIII]

Well why not just use phone as a remote and you can stylese it as much as you want. You might go and with inexpensive centralised one (phone with IR) as controller in order to decouple down (most part). Of course this is U turn from fancy switches but it's up to what you want. One thing is certain, the number of your remotes will continue to grow one way or the other.

 

[RickS]

Well why not just use phone as a remote and you can stylese it as much as you want. You might go and with inexpensive centralised one (phone with IR) as controller in order to decouple down (most part). Of course this is U turn from fancy switches but it's up to what you want. One thing is certain, the number of your remotes will continue to grow one way or the other.

I'll second that and one less thing to lose. I have a some master powered, some Alexa-powered and this one on my wish list waiting for me to "need"...

Amazon.com

 

[Berwhale]

I'm using a Sonoff RF3 Wifi/RF switch to control power to a sub and 2 monitors...

Generally, I used the Sonoff switch on my desk to turn the setup on or off, but I can also tell Alexa to "Turn my monitors on or off" (Handy if I go to bed and can't remember if i've turn everything off. My only problem with this setup is that Sonoff don't make the switch in black which would look better on my desk.

 

[digitalfrost]

Mount something like this into a nice enclosure and get PDUs that can be triggered via 12V. Solder 12V power supply to the switch. No risk of working with 110/220V and you have a nice switch.

AUDIOPHONICS Trigger 12V 230V Slave Power Supply Device - Audiophonics

The Audiophonics Trigger 12V is the simple and effective solution for turning on and off any appliance connected to 230V AC mains with an IEC female mains input

www.audiophonics.fr

 

[Charger]

Thanks for some awesome suggestions! I see that there are different ways to solve this problem. Im going to have a think thats for sure.

Based upon this brilliant video - i really want to use these guys! But sadly im in Australia and require AU style plugs.

 

[Charger]

Just search for Rack Power Strips,here's an example:

Rack Mount Power Strips | Servertech

Rack mount power strips from Servertech - no matter what your data center needs, Servertech has you covered with switched, smart, metered, and basic rack mount power strips.

www.servertech.com

Cheers for that. When I said rack, I didn't realise this also meant proper audio racks! Mine is actually this little wooden thing I knocked up that sits on my desktop next to my PC.

 

[Berwhale]

Thanks for some awesome suggestions! I see that there are different ways to solve this problem. Im going to have a think thats for sure.

Based upon this brilliant video - i really want to use these guys! But sadly im in Australia and require AU style plugs.

Another option is to find or build an IR controlled mains switch...

Before I moved to the Sonoff setup above, I used a Lime IR switch to control power to my monitors and sub with an unused button on my Topping remote. Later, I added IR to my PC and got PEACE/EAPO to switch PEQ profiles appropriately when changing between headphone and pre-amp output on my Topping EX5. So one tiny remote to rule them all...

Controlling PEACE/eAPO on Windows with Topping DAC/Amp Remote (or any other IR remote)

I have a Topping EX5 which I use as both a headphone amplifier for my Sennheiser HD660s and as a pre-amp for my iLoud MTM monitors. I switch between the headphone and monitor outputs using the headphone and line out buttons on a Topping RC21 remote. On my Windows 11 PC, I use eAPO with the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Cincyret]

I use a 3 outlet smart switch and Google Home. The speakers 'pop' if the DAC is turned off before the AMP, so I put in a delay between the 'amp off' and 'DAC off' commands. Does anyone know if turning off devices at the outlet can damage the equipment? I kind of like talking to my devices, although the Buckeye Amp is my favorite.

 

[Berwhale]

Does anyone know if turning off devices at the outlet can damage the equipment?

I don't think so. Nearly all outlets in the UK are switched, so it's pretty common to turn things off there and how would a device handle a power cut if it couldn't deal with being turned off at the outlet?

 

[audio_tony]

I use these (I suspect you can get an Aus version)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Tapo-Monitoring-Required-P110/dp/B097YBXHTW

I also have something similar to this that I use elsewhere.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-HBN-Household-Appliances-Operating/dp/B0CDFX5ZR6

Again, I think you'll be able to get an Aus version?

EDIT: Found these on amazon.com.au

https://www.amazon.com.au/Smartwares-Indoor-remote-control-sockets/dp/B07JLPG4CM

https://www.amazon.com.au/DEWIN-Wireless-Control-Compatible-Controls/dp/B085VFF44T

And the Tapo device: https://www.amazon.com.au/Tapo-P100MA-Certified-Schedule-Compatible/dp/B0DB884ZRZ

 

[theREALdotnet]

I use a 3 outlet smart switch and Google Home. The speakers 'pop' if the DAC is turned off before the AMP, so I put in a delay between the 'amp off' and 'DAC off' commands. Does anyone know if turning off devices at the outlet can damage the equipment? I kind of like talking to my devices, although the Buckeye Amp is my favorite.

There is also the question whether the device will come back on when power is restored. My March Audio amp for example doesn't, its power supply requires the front power button to be pressed. Alan suggested using the trigger port instead. I'm now keeping the amp connected to the mains permanently and use a cheap 12V power adapter on my WiFi-controlled outlet. Seems like an ideal solution to me, especially since the power adapter can be shared to trigger multiple devices.

 

[kemmler3D]

I use a smart plug for my outdoor gear, but if you are keen to minimize the appearance of the thing, you can get smart in-wall outlets/sockets now.

 

[dualazmak]

Even though I have "master-power-on" switch/breaker for my total audio setup, I do not like all triggered simultaneous power-on of my audio gears for mainly safety concerns/reasons.

I dare to perform (and prefer) my routine "startup/ignition sequences" and "shutdown sequences" as I shared in my post here #931 on my project thread.

- The latest system setup of my DSP-based multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier fully active audio rig, including updated startup/ignition sequences and shutdown sequences: as of June 26, 2024: #931