Special kind of power strip. What's it called and where can I find them?

Ohighway

Ohighway

Wannabe Minimalist
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Looking for a special kind of power strip for various equipment around the house. It's main feature is that in the event of a power outage, it has to be manually re-set to supply power to it's outlets.

I've noticed in my area that our power interruptions are generally followed up by several re-connects, often in rapid succession. I can only imagine that this is very hard on my electronic equipment.

Any idea on what this feature is called and/or where I can get some of these strips?
 
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GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor).

You can find these at Home Depot, Lowes, Amazon, etc...
 
Ohighway said:
Looking for a special kind of power strip for various equipment around the house. It's main feature is that in the event of a power outage, it has to be manually re-set to supply power to it's outlets.

I've noticed in my area that our power interruptions are generally followed up by several re-connects, often in rapid succession. I can only imagine that this is very hard on my electronic equipment.

Any idea on what this feature is called and/or where I can get some of these strips?
Click to expand...

Are you looking for something like automatic power supplies like as-used for computers to keep them from crashing durjng brown-outs/ black-outs, only larger?
 
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No, just a power strip with a few outlets. I used to have one at work. It would kick out during a power outage, then have to be manually re-set with a button on the unit to allow power back to the outlets. It eliminated the equipment being connected to the grid when the power grid came back up, so by default protected the equipment from the spikes and cycling when the power came back up.
 
It depends. The hardwired outlets will not but some strips are designed to trip during outages.

Here is one example of one that trips after a power outage:

http://www.trci.net/products/shock-shield/power-strip

Description, reads as follows:

Equipped with a three foot extension cord, six outlets and a lighted on/off switch. This GFCI protected power strip guards against dangerous electrical shock hazards.

To prevent unmonitored equipment startup, manual reset is required after GFCI trip and power outage.

Ohighway said:
:no: GFCI does not trip off during a power outage.
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This could be done with heavy-duty 120V relays in a box, wired as toggles. The coil goes to the output end with a momentary contact switch in series with the coil and input end on the same pole so that it cannot carry the full load thru the switch.
 
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trhee said:
It depends. The hardwired outlets will not but some strips are designed to trip during outages.

Here is one example of one that trips after a power outage:

http://www.trci.net/products/shock-shield/power-strip

Description, reads as follows:

Equipped with a three foot extension cord, six outlets and a lighted on/off switch. This GFCI protected power strip guards against dangerous electrical shock hazards.

To prevent unmonitored equipment startup, manual reset is required after GFCI trip and power outage.
Click to expand...

Yes, that would work. Thanks for the link!! Strictly speaking, the GFCI and manual reset are separate functions.

Pio1980 said:
This could be done with heavy-duty 120V relays in a box, wired as toggles. The coil goes to the output end with a momentary contact switch in series with the coil and input end on the same pole so that it cannot carry the full load thru the switch.
Click to expand...

Yeah. Was just hoping to buy something off the shelf and not have to DIY a bunch of these.
 
Yes, I'm well aware of GFCI's having worked as a chef for over 2 decades and been involved with designing kitchens from the ground up. :D

Ohighway said:
Yes, that would work. Thanks for the link!! Strictly speaking, the GFCI and manual reset are separate functions.
Click to expand...
 
In the power tool market there are versions that you simply install [cut and wire]at the end of a power cord, they are generally GFIC and power manual restart.
 
totem said:
In the power tool market there are versions that you simply install [cut and wire]at the end of a power cord, they are generally GFIC and power manual restart.
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Care to provide a link?

The manual reset (after power outage) function is what I'm after.

If it's also a GFCI, well,...... I'll just consider that a bonus.
 
Care to provide a link?
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Sorry no link, but these are what I am referring to they were sold as
a safety devise in the tool trade to prevent auto start up following a power outage.

GFIC and manual restart, the smaller one is wired at the end of a power cord rated 15 amps and the larger one inserted into the line and is
both 115/220 capable.

I think this particular company was bought out but others should be out there.

These are samples from back when I was a rep.
 

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Search some of the power tool catalogs. They are commonly used on stationary power tools like table saws. Here's a link to one designed to be mounted on the saw.
http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-G4572...1-17&keywords=table+saw+switch#productDetails

For the life of me, I can't find a link, but they've been required in shops for many years now.

Usually they are required to be hard-wired so users can't bypass the safety feature by unplugging it. All you might have to do is wire it into the power cord on your power strip.
 
Leviton makes some manual reset GFCI devices. Some just the device in a chunk of cable with NEMA 5-15s on thh ends others with 3 outlets. Short but it could be put somewhere convenient to operate and have wiring back to the outlet and on to the units. Or if they can be opened, wiring added that does what you need.
 
I know exactly what you're talking about, I have two of them. They're older, probably '80s-'90s, and mine were made by SL Waber. 4 outlets, a power switch, and a "reset" button to restore power after an interruption.
 
I would be a little leery of the verbiage on the GFCI strip. I would bet that it has to be reset upon power loss caused by a GFCI failure, but I wonder if it will need reset after power to the strip is lost.
 
BayouTiger said:
I would be a little leery of the verbiage on the GFCI strip. I would bet that it has to be reset upon power loss caused by a GFCI failure, but I wonder if it will need reset after power to the strip is lost.
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Well, I'm thinking these actually kick out from either tripping the GFCI -OR- if power is interrupted. Here's the wording from the manufacturer.

GFCI Protected Power Strip
120V/15A

To prevent unmonitored equipment startup, manual reset is required after GFCI trip and power outage.
Click to expand...

From the same manufacturer I found this through Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XVG72G/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And reading the user comments, it indeed trips off if the power shuts down, and needs to be manually re-set. A negative for them, but for me.... it's exactly what I want to happen.

TRC 90033 Shockshield White Portable GFCI Plug with Surge Protection
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caution: Trips when power is turned off
By Phil A. on October 6, 2010
Color Name: White Amazon Verified Purchase
Another reviewer wrote about this and I missed it, so here it is again: If the power is turned off to this unit, it trips. The other reviewer points out the best or worst case example: If you plug aquarium equipment into this, and the power goes out, even for a blink, you must press the reset button to restore power to the equipment. A lamp would be another bad thing to plug into this, since you would have to find and press the reset button to turn the lamp back on. An alarm clock would be a bad idea for obvious reasons.
----------------------------------------
Good product, but a note about its operation
By M. Futrell on August 3, 2008
Color Name: White Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought two of these to use in an aquarium. What I didn't realize is that, if the input power is interrupted, they trip off and have to be manually reset. This was bad for my application, as I had them plugged between the UPS and my aquarium equipment. When the mains power went off, the UPS switched to battery, but while it was switching, both GFCIs tripped, and wouldn't come back on until they were manually reset. So, if I was at work and the power went out, the UPS would switch, the GFCIs would trip, and no power to the aquarium for the rest of the day until I got home to do manual reset.

In summary, make sure the GFCI you buy behaves as you expect. If you need one that comes back on automatically after a power-out, this isn't it.
 
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