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detuned6
Metal dude
Whats the deal? way cant manufactures put a dam on/off switch? would it up the price? and wall warts, hogging 2 outlets on my power conditioner. I just picked up a lexicon reflex, and it has both, god damm it!
M
M.Brane
New member
You can get power strips that have outlet spaces designed for wall-warts. I know that HD has 'em & I think RS as well.
I think the no power switch thing is due to the fact they figure the thing will get mounted in a rack with a master power switch, thereby making a switch on the unit redundant and unnecessary.
I think the no power switch thing is due to the fact they figure the thing will get mounted in a rack with a master power switch, thereby making a switch on the unit redundant and unnecessary.
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littledog
New member
Two other things that may help:
There's a product called Dr. "Something" (can't remember exact name, but ask at music store) which is basically a plastic piece you can plug your wall wart into, and then a cable with a "normal" plug, so it doesn't hog power strips. Why more manufacturers don't build this into their design, i don't know (i.e. put the wart in the middle of the cable, not the end).
If you have a few pieces of gear with no power switches, you may want to get one of those AC Power Center boxes designed for use with computer gear - 5 or six outlets on the back controlled by individual lighted rocker switches on the front. They're not real expensive, and offer some surge protection as well.
There's a product called Dr. "Something" (can't remember exact name, but ask at music store) which is basically a plastic piece you can plug your wall wart into, and then a cable with a "normal" plug, so it doesn't hog power strips. Why more manufacturers don't build this into their design, i don't know (i.e. put the wart in the middle of the cable, not the end).
If you have a few pieces of gear with no power switches, you may want to get one of those AC Power Center boxes designed for use with computer gear - 5 or six outlets on the back controlled by individual lighted rocker switches on the front. They're not real expensive, and offer some surge protection as well.
knightfly
GrouchyOldFartOnBatteries
I think that product is called Dr. Ferd's Wart Remover, something or other. Another way is the route I took in a couple of my racks that have several warts for power - some of the inexpensive surge protected power strips are made with the sockets crosswise of the body of the strip - I found some strips with 7 outlets, spaced so that you can plug in warts to sockets 1.3.5.7. This costs about $7 per strip, in one rack I mounted 4 of these at the bottom rear, staggered so that the cords from one set of 4 warts went between the warts on the adjacent strip. There's not much power consumption involved, so you can plug several of these strips into one strip and switch it all from one switch. I built in light switches into the bottom kick panel and built custom guards so they couldn't accidentally be turned on or off, then tied all the strips into that switch.
The one thing you need to be really careful of, is getting any audio cables close to one of those wall warts. Most of them are not shielded well at all, and I have had an 18 inch shielded phone cable pick up enough hum from a wall wart to make the entire system un-usable. The way I get around it is when I wire a rack I designate one rear rail as power/midi, and the other side as signal. If I have to switch sides with a power cable, I do so as much at 90 degrees to any audio cables as possible, and get it into the power bundle as soon as I can.
The one thing you need to be really careful of, is getting any audio cables close to one of those wall warts. Most of them are not shielded well at all, and I have had an 18 inch shielded phone cable pick up enough hum from a wall wart to make the entire system un-usable. The way I get around it is when I wire a rack I designate one rear rail as power/midi, and the other side as signal. If I have to switch sides with a power cable, I do so as much at 90 degrees to any audio cables as possible, and get it into the power bundle as soon as I can.
darrin_h2000
Banned
I acctually will invest in $1.50 extention chords that only take up 1 plug space. and plug up to 3 wall warts into them. Theres more than one way to skin this Cat.
knightfly
GrouchyOldFartOnBatteries
Yeah, Darrin, cheapest way if not the neatest - usually though, the damn wide/narrow blades on power plugs limit you to two per cord. Still, a cheap way to go that will let you get the damn things far enough away from your audio wiring, hummm???!? Steve