IP Power unit

[rogerg]

For the benefit of others looking for IP Power solutions..

Just wanted to report on this "generic IP power" (http://www.techbuy.com.au/product.asp?prodId=148361&catId=NETWORKING&parentId=NETWORKING_POWER_DISTRIBUT ION_UNITS) unit which I bought about a month or so ago. At $256 It's the cheapest IP power unit I've found (appart from Zantech iBoot (http://www.zantech.com.au/power/reboot/iboot.html) ones which are about the same price but only 1 outlet).

It's obviously very "generic" with chinglish through and through, but it so far has worked well and done everything advertised.

The web interface is old and simple, could do with a new firmware version, but functional in IE8 and Chrome. On my iPad in Safari I can access the first page which allows on/off control but not other pages such as Wake On Lan functionality. That is a slight inconvenience.

The unit has physical buttons on it to be able to turn individual devcies on/off but I find them confusing and so don't use them for fear of incorrectly turning something off. So I control it exclusively through IP.

Since having it I've had my observatory PC running probably 1/5th what I used to, because I know I can easily turn it on remotely if I need to access data on it, and hard reboot it if it crashes etc.

At the moment I have just the PC and dew heater on it, but plan to have the scope, camera and other accessories when I get a bigger UPS (currently have that stuff on a second UPS). The dew heater is on it because I have it programmed (via the web interface of the IP power unit) to turn on at 18:30 and off at 8:00 each day to keep the optics dry over a damp winter.

Roger.

[jase]

Roger,

While iBoot are good, they're expensive for what you get.

With iBoot, you are paying for some nice intelligence such as pinging the host its supplying power to. If it doesn't respond, it power cycles the system. Of course, this doesn't work if you have hosts communicating via 802.11 wireless LAN. To counteract this with a wireless set up, configuring watchdogs on the system is the answer - can elaborate more if needed.

Anyway, you may wish to try Interworld Electronics in Melbourne. Quality products and service. Their industrial switched power distribution products are fanless, perfect for long operating hours in dusty environments. I know you probably think your observatory is clean, but you'll be surprised by the amount of dust and gunk that enters with time. For a robust set up, go fanless with as many devices as you can.

You can check them out here - http://www.ieci.com.au/products/product_list.asp?Class=9&BaseCat1=276&Title=Switched-Power-Distribution

Note, that they are not IP based, but serial. If your core requirement is an IP based solution, you can pick up a Wireless serial converter - http://www.ieci.com.au/products/product_list.asp?Class=3&BaseCat1=308&BaseCat2=249&BaseCat3=38&BaseCat4=&Title=Wireless-Serial-Device-Servers

[jase]

I forgot to add...

While many like a web interface for power management, I have avoided it. A command line interface provides greater flexibility. I have a script that is called by a start up process that turns on devices (and shuts them down at dawn), something not possible with a web interface. CLI all the way, but I acknowledge its a personal choice.

[rogerg]

Hi Jase,

I already have my unit and am happy with it, probably keep my requirements satisfied until it breaks or many years. This one has no fan, and I am well acquainted with dust in my observatory :) good to have the links for the benefit of others that might be looking.

Roger.