DIY MICROCONTROLLER-SWITCHED POWER strip

[Teknynja] was searching for a way to control a number of discrete AC-powered devices using a microcontroller, as well as while he did think about the Powerswitch tail 2 from Adafruit, dealing with 5 devices would get quite expensive. rather than purchasing a total off the shelf solution, he chose to develop his own 5-way switched outlet.

He picked up a durable metal power strip from a regional hardware store along with some Sharp S201S06V relays he purchased online. After test fitting his relays inside the power strip’s chassis, he wired up 5 of the 6 outlets through them to enable for switching through a microcontroller. He configured the 6th outlet to be online whatsoever times, offering a power source for the control system he planned on using to switch the other receptacles.

[Teknynja] pulled the connector from an old PS/2 mouse for use as a control wire, connecting one wire to each of the relays. He says that the strip is working rather well, as well as after a few months of use it is holding up nicely.