So i wanted to have some of my peripherals turn off when my computer is off. Speakers and lamp and such.  I made a simple one using USB power to switch on/off a power strip but modern PCs have USB powered on always.  So without some intelligent circuitry, this will no longer work.

So what i use now is a power strip controlled by the PCs power supply.  Essentially I have a relay that switches when the computers power supply is on.  But with some added protection, so I wont damage anything inside the PC.

Description:

The PCs power supplies “12V” output is hooked into an isolation DC-DC converter, then a linear regulator.  This protects the PC if there is a short or if the external wires touch a high voltage by accident.  I put these all on a card to make it pretty, and more convenient.  After the protection circuit a cable connects to the power strip.  Inside the power strip a relay is controls the hot line of the power strip.  I used a small power strip to save space and to remind me not to plug too much into it.

 

Parts List:

  • Molex 8981 – Disk Drive Power Connector
  • VB1212LS-1W – Isolated 12V-12V DC-DC converter
    • VB1212LS datasheet
    • You can use any isolated DC-DC converter that allows Vin=12V and Vout>6.5V and max power > 0.1W
  • 5V linear regulator
    • You can use any 5V linear regulator or LDO that allows Vin=12V
  • 5V relay
    • You can used any 5V relay with switch voltage>=110Vac
    • Note that the max switch current of the relay is the max current you can use on the power strip
    • I used a 4.5V relay, because that is what I had.  If you use a 5V relay remove the diode, “diode1”
  • diode
    • Can use any switching or rectifier diode. I used 1N914
  • 1uF capacitors
    • I used 1uF electrolytic capacitors
  • Power strip

 

Schematic:

power_strip_on_when_computer_on_schem

 

Photos:

computer_powered_switch_w_anotate

computer_powered_switch_top_w_anotate

computer_controlled_power_strip