Is there any interest in a hardware board which will allow remote power cycling

[DeathAndTaxes]

What's wrong with something like this? (I think about purchasing one)

Nothing as long as you are running on 240V and all your rigs combined used less than 2.4KW.
There is also nothing wrong with the PDU that giga linked to.  Switched PDUs rock.  I was so glad in my last job when our company stopped being cheap and upgraded to switched PDUs.  Click-click reboot crashed server.  Their only downside is the cost per watt is pretty high as they tend to be designed for dense racks, so they have more ports and less wattage than we need.

If I could find a switched PDU that had:
* 30A input (24A usable) @ 240V
* NEMA L6-30P plug
* At least 6 C14 plugs
* <$200
I wouldn't have even started this thread. I would have bought it last year.  The only problem is .... it doesn't exist.


I guess one way to look at it would be a new spec:  "$ per KW switched".

The PDU giga linked to:  20@ at 240V = 4.8KW.  $450 / 4.8KW = $93.75 per KW
The PDU you linked to:  10@ @ 240V = 2.4KW. $130 / 2.4KW = $54.15 per KW
The best used PDU I have found on ebay:  30@ 240V = 7.2KW.  $600 / 7.2 KW = $83.33 per KW

USB board efficiency would depend on how many rigs and how much wattage:
USB relay board powering 6 1000W rigs.  6*1000 = 6.0KW.  $100 / 6.0KW = $16.67 per KW
USB relay board powering 8 1200W rigs.  8*1200 = 9.6KW.  $100 / 9.6KW =  $10.41 per KW
Mini USB relay board powering 4 1000W rigs.  4*1000 = 4.0KW.  $75 / 4.0KW = $18.75 per KW

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[DeathAndTaxes]

I got a PM asking about a smaller board.  Really smaller boards don't save much cost but if there is enough interest I could do a 4 port version for <=$75 (exact price will depend on bulk purchasing).

[rjk]

I got a PM asking about a smaller board.  Really smaller boards don't save much cost but if there is enough interest I could do a 4 port version for <=$75 (exact price will depend on bulk purchasing).

So if I understand correctly, you have modified the design specs so that the relay now holds down the power button for ~4 sec to kill the box, instead of switching the power? If so, what about +5VSB which stays on regardless? It may need to also be switched off in order to completely reset poorly designed boards.

Also, yes power switching is a bit more complicated, but I wonder how much extra solid state relays would cost. They do require some current to stay on however, but I don't know how much.

[DeathAndTaxes]

The length of time can be customized.  I have never had a failed rig not power cycle when holding down power button although I guess it can happen.

Not sure what you are asking about solid state relays.  They tend to be even more expensive but aren't necessary for this application.

For direct power switching the additional cost comes from the requires of switching 15A @ 120V/240V vs <1A @ 5V.
a) receptacles & housing
b) higher gauge wire
c) higher current relays

So we are looking at more like $200 per unit.  Seems like a lot more cost and complexity for not much gain.

[rjk]

I think what you have will work fine. The only reason I mentioned solid state relays is because they are reliable (no moving parts) and shouldn't require additional components such as caps. Anyways, the holding the power button option sounds sufficient for this application.

[gnar1ta$]

I'm in for 1.  Down to 3 rigs now so either the $100 or $75 version is fine.

[deepceleron]

I was thinking of making a finished project to sell (maybe parallel port control in a gutted UPS, since they have outlets and a breaker), but I decided to just sell my solid state relays for your projects here cheap:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=76678.0

Video fun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-UB5mhac_g

[DeathAndTaxes]

Thanks but I already have a power cycling board for 8 rigs.  There wasn't enough interest for me to try and mass produce the boards.

[Inaba]

Any way I can talk you into a couple?  Or at least one?

[Scared]

I'd be interested as well. I'd need three of these units.

[Brunic]

Three more here!

In exchange, I promise you fresh baked shiny Bitcoins.