July 23, 2010 AT 2:49 pm
NEW PRODUCT – Powerswitch tail + extras! Control anything that plugs in with a relay!
The Power Switch Tail is a smart alternative to slicing apart power cords to wire up your own relays. Its a compact 120V 3-pronged extension cord, with a relay board embedded in the middle. Connect to the relay using two screw terminals and activate by providing a 5V signal (40mA current draw). The relay can switch 10 Amp resistive loads such as heaters, small skillets, lights, etc. An LED indicator above the terminals will help you with debugging.
Ideal for people making their own controllable lights, SMT reflow plates, boilers or heaters, coffee roasters, home automation projects, etc. We even include a NPN transistor and 10K resistor so you can control the relay with a single microcontroller pin, as most cannot provide 40mA.
Please note, this is a safer alternative to wiring up your own relays but still requires common sense and knowledge of electrical circuits. Stay within the rated limit of the relay and use only resistive loads. Do not leave DIY electrical projects unattended or where they can get wet! This product is intended to be used by advanced hobbyists who are comfortable working with power supplies.
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6 Comments
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Very nice! Will there be a 220V version? Cheers, tamberg
if and when there is, we’ll stock it! well, maybe!
Nice part. Very nice.
Perfect- just what I need for my heated build platform!
why not just an X-10?
@john – not easily controlled with a micro, not significantly less expensive, they can be slow and flaky/annoying to work with