[rescue] x10 controllers for remote power mgmt?

[dave at cca.org]

patrick at zill.net writes:

>Assume that system A and system B are in the same room, reachable via
>the Internet.

>What is the cheapest way to remote power cycle A or B?  Unfortunately
>neither A nor B is a E4500 with LOM :-( .

>When I check out the x10 controllers, apparently there are utilities
>to communicate over serial with an x10 power controller and turn
>things off or on.  Would this work well with copmuter equipment?

>I have heard good things about the APC MasterSwitch but they are a
>little pricier than an x10 solution.

I wouldn't trust the X10 stuff.

If you can afford the APC gear, it looks very solid.

When I needed computer control over AC outlets, I bought an interface
box from Prairie Digital, and relays from Digikey.  Works beautifully.
Requires wiring & programming. You could do what you want for probably
$200 - $250. (You'd only be using 10% of the functionality of the
interface box, so maybe there's something else fun you could do with it
simultaneously, like temp monitor, door locks, etc.)

------ David Fischer ------- dave at cca.org ------- http://www.cca.org ------
-------- "I prefer the ridiculous to the sublime." - James Chance ---------