USB controlled 120 volt AC switch

[Frank]

Hello Folks,

I am looking for a USB controlled AC (120 volt) switch.

The function would be such that when the computer is turned on or awakened, what ever USB voltage/current that is normally activated would cause an AC device to be powered on. Ideally, this device would be a small block that had cables to plug into a USB port and AC outlet, with an AC socket to plug a low current draw peripheral into.

Someone more knowledgeable than me might build themselves something that utilized a relay that took the available USB signal to close a set of contacts that could handle 120 volts and maybe 3 amps.

There are electronics that take the place of relays, now. That is even further over my head.

If what I am looking for was a mass produced item, the component value might be on the order of 10 dollars or less. Retail might be around 50 dollars (US).

Extensive Googling found this: http://www.transduction.com/transduc/trusb.htm

It appears to be similar to what I am looking for, but likely far to expensive. Contact with the company has failed over the past 6 months.

I wonder if any of you know of such a device, or have better searching skills than mine?

Anybody up to the task?

Thanks for any consideration.

Frank

[Mntsnow]

Welcome to XPC Frank!

I know we have a few "electrical" members...Maybe one of them might be able to help or know of such an item

[BBA]

I can make something like that for just a few dollars from radio shack.

[Frank]

Thanks Mntsnow.

Interesting response, BBA.

If anyone has a suggestion as to a board where this question might be more suited, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks.

Frank

[mohsleem]

I hope this would help

http://www.cpscom.com/reboot.htm

[roadtech]

I found pretty much what your looking for. Problem is they only sell them in Japan.
But you might want to do some checking. The smaller one is a T-J03USB.
The larger one is a T-Y12USB.

[Bovon]

An interesting subject. 10/15 years ago, I would have said a relay circuit controlled by the 5 volts USB could deal with most anything. Today, a solid state controller might be a bit more sophisticated, but better.

In the mid 90s (and earlier) AT type machines were powered on/off by a switch on the front of the case...if lightning (or whatever) caused a power flux...the machine would shut down, but reboot as soon as the power came back. Win95/98 did not like this at all...and quite often would crash.

I built several relay systems that were 'repeater-stick/blocking' systems for a bunch of folks in my neighborhood...if the power even flickered, the relays reset to not allow any power to the circuits until a button was depressed to cause a manual reset...then, the computer switch could be turned back on, and (hopefully) the machine would boot normally.

Long time ago...and I had not thought about that project in years.