Wanted: Power Strip with Switches
It shouldn't be this hard, but all I want is a power strip with switches on each outlet. In my garage I have no less than six different chargers, and I don't want or need them to be on all the time. If I still lived in the UK, I could find such a device anywhere. However, as I live in the USA, the concept of switches on power outlets is against the constitution or something and impossible to find.
Digression: Terminology Translation
For the benefit of British readers, here is a table to translate the rest of this post between the two languages:
| American | English |
| Outlet | Socket |
| Power strip | Extension lead |
| Power cord | Mains lead |
| Wall wart | Power brick/Mains adaptor |
Part of the problem is the incredibly bad US standard for such things. The US system for connecting devices to electricity seems to have been invented about 3 days after the electric light bulb itself. It is incredibly primitive and gratuitously unsafe, especially compared with the fabulous UK system (in use since 1962). The idea of mandatory earth pins, a strong physical connection, fuses, difficulty of inserting metal objects into the sockets, all these things are expected and standard in Britain but seemingly unconsitutional in the USA. Considering the incredibly litiguous nature of America, you'd think someone like Ralph Nader would have sued the standards body (NEMA) for being so asleep at the wheel for so long.
The problem with switches is more than just on power strips: I have never seen a switch on a US outlet. Ever. To turn something off, you are expected, nay required, to yank the cord from the outlet. You actually get sparks when you do this, and of course it places extreme strain on the cable that connects to the plug, but hey: its only 110V so no-one cares.
I think another part of the problem is the stereotypical profiligate energy usage of Americans: why put a switch on an outlet, when you can just leave the device turned on permanently instead? It has been estimated that wall warts consume 4% of electricity in the USA - even George W Bush knows it! Despite this the concept of switches on outlets remains foreign to the American electrical industry.
In summary: if anyone knows of a US power strip with individual switches, please post a link in the Comments section. Save my sanity (and a little bit of my electric bill).
For details of all the different standard plugs & sockets in the world, see the great page on Wikipedia.
Comments
Anonymous
June 13, 2006
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June 13, 2006
Something like: http://tinyurl.com/ezsra
?
HTH,
- AaronAnonymous
June 13, 2006
Fabulous! Thanks so much Aaron. Looks perfect.Anonymous
June 14, 2006
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August 19, 2006
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August 21, 2006
Thanks Donald, very utilitarian looking but ideal for my garage.Anonymous
October 22, 2006
Andy,The first link above in no longer available. For the second link, you must find a distributor... Graybar's website led me to unavailable pages. This link shows several, but they're pricey.http://www.alliedelec.com/search/ProductDetail.asp?SKU=533-7196&desc=UL209BC&R=533%2D7196&sid=453AB4805380617FAnonymous
November 30, 2006
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December 04, 2006
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December 06, 2006
These are available at mcmastercarr.com and can be obtained the next business day if ordered by 3:00 PM by UPS delivery serviceAnonymous
December 07, 2006
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December 14, 2006
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December 14, 2006
Oops, didn't notice Aaron Robinson already posted the same thing. Didn't follow the link at first since people mentioned it was out of stock.Well, anyway, they're back in stock. Get 'em while they last.Anonymous
January 01, 2007
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January 30, 2007
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February 07, 2007
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February 25, 2007
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May 09, 2007
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July 23, 2007
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August 17, 2007
Try the X10 devices. They have a controller that plugs into your serial or USB port and can be programmed. x10.comAnonymous
October 29, 2007
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October 31, 2007
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November 28, 2007
Finally bought the one from Tiger Direct - Thanks a lot! Funny - I had called up Fry's and asked for it - and the guy told me that they no longer carried it - he happened to be looking for one as well.Anonymous
December 07, 2007
Wow... and the saga continues.... I was looking for one to use with some lighting when I gig. I'm a professional musician.... and found this blog and ordered 3 from Tiger Direct! Thanks to everyone who commented! DavidAnonymous
December 19, 2007
Thank you folks! I appreciate the links!Anonymous
December 26, 2007
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January 17, 2008
I know I'm coming in a few months late, but all the links above no longer carry them. Why?Anonymous
January 21, 2008
Someone sent me this link, which looks good but says it is "currently unavailable" http://www.ultraproducts.com/product_details.php?cPath=35&pPath=172&productID=172Anonymous
January 24, 2008
here you go! American DJ PC-100A 8-Switch ON/OFF Power Center Available at www.GuitarCenter.com http://www.guitarcenter.com/American-DJ-PC-100A-8-Switch-ON-OFF-Power-Center-100313636-i1155517.gcAnonymous
January 26, 2008
Glad to find this blog, but all the links above show either "unavailable" or not found, except the pricy $67 one.Anonymous
January 27, 2008
Just bought an Ultra 7-outlet with individual switches from Amazon.com. It was $23. By adding a $5 LED flashlight (which i needed anyway), the total cost was over $25, resulting in free shipping. Sorry, but I think I grabbed the last one for the moment.Anonymous
February 11, 2008
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March 02, 2008
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March 04, 2008
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March 04, 2008
Here's a rack mounted unit for $22 http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product.asp?product_id=555-2930&catalog_name=MCMProductsAnonymous
April 08, 2008
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=914023&CatId=1284Anonymous
May 08, 2008
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May 14, 2008
I don't like how those switches all have lights, so you get a Christmas tree effect when it's on. How about a low-power LED, for minimal power draw. And put the plugs on the back, so it's useable. Sheesh. Maybe I'll make one.Anonymous
June 12, 2008
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July 08, 2008
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August 16, 2008
I bought three of the individually switched power strips from Tiger Direct. At first they were great. Eventually, all three of them developed problems. Two have defective switches and one stopped working completely. All are less than one year old. I was able to take the dead one apart, unsolder a switch, and fix one of the other ones, but this was a very difficult repair, since all if the switches are soldered directly to the circuit board. I cannot recommend the ones from Tiger DirectAnonymous
August 29, 2008
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September 05, 2008
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October 11, 2008
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October 11, 2008
Thanks Kara, weird/worrying that neither of these switches has an earth pin though.Anonymous
December 30, 2008
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January 20, 2009
The Ultra ULT31570 which has individual switches is available at Amazon. Thank you to everyone who posted information.Anonymous
February 27, 2009
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February 27, 2009
Spoke with Ultra Products (manufacturer of ULT31570) and they are still manufacturing the product but it is on backorder until the start of April. According to their tech desk they don't have any other equivalent product.Anonymous
March 05, 2009
All this info is great, but the best one if from the guy who gave the Guitar Center link! $30 at your local guitar center; plug your items in one end, the power switches are on the opposite end of the block. It's perfect!Anonymous
April 11, 2009
I think I like the one linked at MCM Electronics, but it's currently backordered. http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product.asp?product_id=555-2930&catalog_name=MCMProductsAnonymous
April 13, 2009
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April 18, 2009
Ultra ULT31570 is currently back at TigerDirect, though I just depleted their stock by two.Anonymous
June 05, 2009
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June 07, 2009
Remember the guy above that had three out of three of the 'ULT31570' Radio Shack or Tiger Direct go out on him -- You get what you pay for. The wiremold http://www.alliedelec.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?SKU=5337196&MPN=UL209BC is heavy duty industrial strength.Anonymous
November 28, 2009
I, too, have been searching feverishly for the switched outlets when I came across your blog. Thanks for having the same problem and for all of the comments. My problem has been solved and items purchased. Thanks again.Anonymous
May 12, 2010
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August 06, 2010
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February 08, 2011
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