Good evening all,

In my never ending attempt to reduce my load even further, I now switch off plug ccts in the DB, which is not exactly easily accessible to everybody.

I want to be able to install a "switch" in my TV lounge, which will switch off all the plug ccts, for the TV, soundbar, Apple TV, Plex Media server, etc.

Stuff that is only used some nights, and mostly only weekends.

Currently to get to the actual plugs is impossible as it is behind either the wall mounted TV, or behind the cabinet.

I was thinking of having a switch next to the light switch so when the family go in there, they must switch on the plugs and off again when they leave the room.

Anyone done something like this?

Can I use the same pipe as the lights to run the live and "chase" a 2x2 wall socket right next to the light switch?

There would be very little touch-up required. The wall was plastered with rhinolite wall plaster .

 

I could save 100+ watts a day.

 

Edited October 11, 20186 yr by Antony

Hi Antony,

 

Depends on what you have on the equipment, if you keep switching off a DSTV PVR decoder and sensitive AV equipment, that has a mechanical Hard drive in there, which doesn't like instant  power drops.

That's why we perform shutdown on PC's to get the HDD heads in parked state, and not just skimming across the platter.

While I respect your opinion on saving 100w a day, this only means R6 a month at best.

Having to replace a DSTV PVR @ R1k a year..would nullify those savings.

 

Just my 2cent

 

 

 

I agree with @Langman with regards to sensitive equipment but not all equipment falls under that criteria. You could also look at something like a Sonoff Wifi Switch , they are fairly inexpensive and you can Plug it in where ever you want to control a load. The even simpler option and one that I used in the beginning was to get some wall plug timers and set certain loads on a timer so it will only be able to come on during daylight hours. Works quite well on stuff like chargers extr. 

12 hours ago, Antony said:

Can I use the same pipe as the lights to run the live and "chase" a 2x2 wall socket right next to the light switch?

Yes you can do that. In most cases you wont have a neutral in the Light Switch box  so you will have to pull that through as well. Keep in mind that you will have to mark that switch clearly as people will assume that its a light of sorts and it wont be fun if a guest switches off the Tv in a mid rugby game .     

I'd look at the sonoff wifi plugs, light switches . You can controll them at home or remotely , anywhere with an Internet connection. Just use the remote to put the stuff in standby while your at home before you turn the power off ,not the end of the world.

11 hours ago, Langman said:

That's why we perform shutdown on PC's to get the HDD heads in parked state, and not just skimming across the platter.

Modern hard drives (ie those made in the last two decades) auto-park when they spin down.

Edit: That is not to diminish the overall point, the startup stress on a HDD is an actual thing that will slightly reduce its life... though one switch a day would probably not be an issue.

59 minutes ago, PaulF007 said:

You could also look at something like a Sonoff Wifi Switch ,

I'd go with these too. Much less invasive. Personally I worry a tiny bit about security, so I would not use them for critical stuff where a hack into my network or into the device itself (has already happened a few times with WiFi light switches) could flood my water tanks or open security gates or things like that... but they can be useful.

Edited October 12, 20186 yr by plonkster

qwikswitch.co.za have a solution(s) that you can control via the web or locally with a remote but they are pricey in my opinion.

Sonoff switches, you can also set them up as a timer so they turn on and off daily.

In fact it was cheaper to install a sonoff relay and contactor that it was to replace a time switch in my mates swimming pool DB

A simple timer switch can work. 12pm - 5am everything is off. Easy.