Power switch questions..

[gharris999]

Sorry about the cross post, but I didn't manage to raise any interest in this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=41180&page=2

I bought this 120 volt, 4 amp solid state relay direct from Opto22 for $13.00. Can't beat that!

http://www.opto22.com/site/pr_detail...21053,,,4,8 &

I then wired it into an old power strip according to Charlie's diagram. It seems to work perfectly with the PowerSwitchII plugin and my transporter.

Can anyone with any electronics knowledge answer a couple of questions?

1). I'm connecting 2 ATI AT1502 power amps (each 2 x 150W) through this circuit. Am I being foolhardy trying to power these amps through a 4 amp SSR?

2). According to the Opto22 documentation, their SSRs always leak some current when off. If I'm primarily doing this to save electricity when the Transporter is off, what's my wastage here, as compared to, say, an X10 appliance module switching scheme?

[gordon]

Regarding question 1, you are going to have trouble trying to run 2 2X150W amplifiers off a 4-amp relay. Assume each amp is 100% efficient (which of course if won't be) - you have 4*150W or 600W. Current (I) is Power/voltage, or 600W/110V. So, you have 5.45 amps. But, since the amplifiers won't be 100% efficient, the actual current will be greater - so you'll need a bigger relay.

Do you have the documentation for the ATI amps? It should list the actual current requirements.

[gharris999]

Thanks for your answer. Yes, the current from the two ATI amps eventually burned out that 4 amp SSR. At least, I think that's what happened. I ordered a much higher amp version from the same folks. I may have botched wiring it into my powerstrip, though. One of my amps now has a nasty 60 cycle hum when it's plugged in. Until I can get that sorted out, I've returned to usng a X10 module to power the amps up and down.