Re: IP-9258 Remote Power Thingo

[gordonb.2eklo@xxxxxxxxxxx (Gordon Burditt)]

>> >I saw one of these on geeks for $64 but it is the 9258T model designed
>> >for US/TW/JP according to the manual. The 'S' model is designed for AU/
>> >EU/UK. The local stores that stock these kinds of gizmos in Australia
>> >charge at least several hundred for this same unit! Would it be
>> >possible to run a 'T' model here without any major dramas or am I
>> >gonna come home after my 3 week vacation to find my home burnt to the
>> >ground??
>>
>> The USA uses 110-120VAC 60Hz.  According to a handy web site, Australia
>> uses 240VAC 50Hz.  I expect that if you try using the model designed
>> for the USA in an Australian outlet, it will fail before you get your
>> hand off the module or the switch controlling the outlet.  Smoke and
>> fire are optional.
>
>Yep, indeed you're spot on. However on this page it says
>http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=IP9258&cpc=SCH
>it supports from "90-240 V ~ 50/60 Hz" so I would have guessed
>anywhere between those ranges would of been fine. But I guess I'm
>mistaken.

I would have guessed that if the module actually had specs that
would cover both voltages, there wouldn't BE two different models,
one for Australia and one for the USA.

>So some sort of voltage converter or stepdown pack is needed?

What are the voltage specs for whatever it is you are controlling?
Those devices have to handle the power also.

>Alternatively I need to look at maybe a watchdog card or something
>along those lines. Essentially all I need is something that is
>reachable through tcp/ip and can "hard reboot" an unresponsive
>machine. But the ability to use a device like the 9258 to switch on/
>off an aircon for example would seem rather nice.

Assuming 'aircon' means air conditioner, be careful, those things
tend to be wired in directly and draw more power than an ordinary
(for the USA, at least) 15A circuit.  They also tend to have an
inductive load.  I don't see any current ratings on the outlets
being controlled, but it's not infinite.  You might be able to
control the thermostat power to control the air conditioner but
with smart thermostats this might cause loss of memory or premature
dead batteries in the thermostat.