tastydog
New member
WARNING!!!
THIS GUIDE USES 15AMP 120v AC POWER AND THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. 120v AC CAN KILL YOU!!! PLEASE TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT SOMETHING DON'T DO IT! NO ONE ON WWW.REEFCENTRAL.COM INCLUDING MYSELF ARE LIABLE FOR WHATEVER ACTIONS YOU TAKE. ALSO BE AWARE THAT 120v AC POWER CAN START AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND COULD RESULT IN A HOME OR BUILDING BEING BURNED DOWN. THIS IS A GUIDE, NOT A HOW TO MANUAL. BE SMART AND AGAIN, IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT ANY OF YOUR ACTIONS, YOU SHOULD STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND CONSULT AN ELECTRICIAN.
Introduction
This should be an easy to follow guide if you want to build a cheap power strip that can be easily controlled with a $13.00 Arduino and a 9v 750mA wall wart. The total cost of the power strip for 7 plugs is about $60 depending on how resourceful you are. (Not including the Arduino.)
Description
This power strip uses 15AMP 120v AC relays that are switchable with 5v DC power. They have a switching current draw of 72mA. There are only 2 other components needed for this build besides the box, wire and receptacles. That is a I2C breakout out board and a relay driver. Although you can get any of these you desire, I will show you how to build this with specific parts.
Including shipping: $16 from Sparkfun - $31.00 from Digikey - Other parts ~$13
The parts list
Tools that you must have
Tools that will make life 100 times easier
The steps that will take place
FIRST WE ASSEMBLE THE BOX
NEXT WE BUILD THE RELAY BOARD
LAST, WE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
I will detail each section above it its own post below with pictures and details on each step. For now though, this is all I have the patience for.
Brandon
THIS GUIDE USES 15AMP 120v AC POWER AND THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. 120v AC CAN KILL YOU!!! PLEASE TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT SOMETHING DON'T DO IT! NO ONE ON WWW.REEFCENTRAL.COM INCLUDING MYSELF ARE LIABLE FOR WHATEVER ACTIONS YOU TAKE. ALSO BE AWARE THAT 120v AC POWER CAN START AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND COULD RESULT IN A HOME OR BUILDING BEING BURNED DOWN. THIS IS A GUIDE, NOT A HOW TO MANUAL. BE SMART AND AGAIN, IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT ANY OF YOUR ACTIONS, YOU SHOULD STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND CONSULT AN ELECTRICIAN.
Introduction
This should be an easy to follow guide if you want to build a cheap power strip that can be easily controlled with a $13.00 Arduino and a 9v 750mA wall wart. The total cost of the power strip for 7 plugs is about $60 depending on how resourceful you are. (Not including the Arduino.)
Description
This power strip uses 15AMP 120v AC relays that are switchable with 5v DC power. They have a switching current draw of 72mA. There are only 2 other components needed for this build besides the box, wire and receptacles. That is a I2C breakout out board and a relay driver. Although you can get any of these you desire, I will show you how to build this with specific parts.
Including shipping: $16 from Sparkfun - $31.00 from Digikey - Other parts ~$13
The parts list
- x1 - A box to put everything in --- http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/1956824-box-plas-6-00x3-25x2-06-black-1591xxdsflbk.html
- x7 - NEMA 5-15R 15AMP 125v 2-Pole 3-Wire Grounded Receptacles --- http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/99355-conv-outlet-assembly-black-208697-2.html
- x7 - 15AMP 125v Mechanical Relays --- http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/1449879-relay-pwr-spst-no-15a-5vdc-pcb-orwh-sh-105hm3f-000.html
- x1 - I2C Breakout Board --- http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8130
- x1 - ULN2003A Relay Driver --- http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/1009713-ic-arrays-seven-darl-16-dip-uln2003a.html
- x21 - Male 16-14AWG Male wire terminal tab ends - Something similar to --- http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=SVckT5GqMorgtgfvw5XjDw&ved=0CEUQ8wIwBQ
- x17 - Ring Terminals for 14AWG Wire and bolts and nuts to go through them- Something like --- http://www.google.com/products/cata...rFckT9uhFImFtgf52an8Dg&sqi=2&ved=0CKYBEPMCMAM
- x1 - Internal wall phone jack terminal and phone line long enough to reach where ever you want the Arduino to be located
- x1 - High Quality PCB for mounting relays, relay driver and I2C breakout
- x4 - 6" pieces of 22AWG Wire (4 different colors to make life easier)
- x1 - 12" of 20AWG Wire
- x1 - 12" piece of bare 8AWG Copper wire (60 cents at Home Depot)
- x1 - Enclosure cable stay - (A way to hold the power cord in the enclosure, see pictures for more detail.)
- A 3 prong plug and however long of cord you want. (This is a great item to salvage. Make sure it is 14AWG wire though.)
- 14AWG Wire (This is a great item to salvage from something.)
Tools that you must have
- A soldering iron and solder (Fine tip is much better)
- Side Cutters
- Electrical tape
- Drill motor with assorted bits
- Hammer
- Saw
Tools that will make life 100 times easier
- Wire Crimping Tool
- Wire Stripper Tool
- Nibbler Tool - http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12345949
- Assortment of pliers and screw drivers
- Anvil or vice with anvil
- Drill press to replace the drill motor
- Dremel tool with cutting blades to replace the saw
The steps that will take place
FIRST WE ASSEMBLE THE BOX
- Cut out holes in box for receptacles, control wire and power cable
- Insert receptacles and attach power cable
- Attach terminals to 6" lengths of 14AWG wire and insert into neutral and ground on receptacles
- Attach hole terminals to those same wires
- Attach ground to a piece of hammered 8AWG wire with hole terminal connectors
- Attach neutral to a piece of hammered 8AWG wire with hole terminal connectors
- Wrap both pieces in electrical tape
NEXT WE BUILD THE RELAY BOARD
- Cut a strip of PCB for relays, (see pictures)
- Solder on relays
- Solder chips
- Solder wire for control
- Solder wire for 5v Power and bridge for power to relay
- Solder wires to connect to chips
- Solder hammered 8AWG wire for 120v Power
- Solder on wires to connect to receptacles to other pin on relay
- Attach tab terminal ends to wire
LAST, WE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
- First, attach the control wires to the phone jack in glue or screw into place
- Next, attach all of the relay wires to the receptacles
- Add any needed tape to create a safe contact surface between board and receptacles
- Upload code to Arduino after connecting VCC, GND and I2C Pins
- Control your power strip!
I will detail each section above it its own post below with pictures and details on each step. For now though, this is all I have the patience for.
Brandon
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