Seeking IP Power switch, any remommendations?

[jkn]

Hi all
I am looking to be able to neatly control the 230V power to multiple units on a remote/unattended site. This is a semi-industrial application.

My German Colleagues are using this for the purpose - an IP power switch which works very well. It connect to a Windows machine via RJ45 and there is a windows app. Via Remote Desktop you can switch any of the 8 individual mains output ON or OFF.

<https://shop.anel.eu/main_bigware_34.php?pName=netpwrctrl-pro&cName=netpwrctrl-schuko-socket>

I cannot find anything similar available in the UK - any suggestions? The few I have found seem (a) to have IEC kettle lead sockets, rather than standard mains sockets, (b) only have one or two outputs, (c) seem to be fairly crudely made and don't give me any confidence.

Annoyingly, the manufacturers of the one in use in German (Anel Electronik AG) actually make such a thing:

<https://shop.anel.eu/main_bigware_34.php?pName=netpwrctrl-pro-uk&cName=netpwrctrl-uk-socket>

but don't have a UK distributor and tell me it would be "expensive and slow" to obtain one via them, sigh.

Suggestions for any alternatives welcome - thanks a lot

Jon N

[Daniel James]

On 26/01/2024 13:21, jkn wrote:
> I am looking to be able to neatly control the 230V power to multiple
> units on a remote/unattended site. This is a semi-industrial
> application.

My first thought was "A Raspberry Pi with 8 relays controlled by GPIO?"
... but that's probably not industrial enough for you.

My Google-Fu must be strong today -- "IP power switch UK" seems to be
the search term you want.

I quickly found this site:

https://www.serverroomenvironments.co.uk/ip-power-switches

which lists a 3-way and a 4-way IP controlled switch with standard UK
mains sockets, and an 8-way one with IEC connectors. These are quite
fancy units and enable measurement of power consumption as well as
switching -- also not cheap -- but might do the job?

,,, or have I misunderstood what you're looking for?

--
Cheers,
Daniel.

[GB]

On 26/01/2024 13:21, jkn wrote:

Do these sorts of things work via the internet?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outlet-SmartThings-Wireless-Control-Required/dp/B09KXQ32N4

Otherwise, install alexa app on a pc and access it remotely?

[jkn]

Hi Daniel
no, that is the sort of thing I am looking for - thanks. As you have found,
the actual name for this thing seems to be a bit vague.
The "Netio PowerBox 3PG" seems the closest - 3 UK sockets. A bit of
a let-down from the 8 of the DE equivalent, but might be OK.

Yes, the RPi option would be attractive ... but we do need something rather
more industrial.

Thanks
Jon N

[Theo]

Look up 'power distribution unit' or PDU. They are used to power servers in
datacentres, and smarter ones come with port control and/or power
monitoring. They can come with IEC C13, C19 or UK sockets. Networking is
typically industrial grade - there might be a web interface but also command
line, SNMP and similar interfaces.

A selection of vendors here:
https://www.comms-express.com/categories/power-distribution-units-pdu/

(not all PDUs have switching, some are just power strips, so check the specs)

Theo

[jkn]

Thanks Theo, that was useful.

Filtering on sites like that above for 'switched/controlled/the equivalent' + UK sockets
gives very little ... but having explored the world of PDUs a bit more I am
now thinking of trying to pick up an old APC 7821 PDU or similar, from eBay.

These have C13 'IEC' sockets ... but IEC male to IEC female cables are cheap and
as long as we don't have any equipment with 'hard wired' UK plugs that might be OK.

The APC PDUs are mostly intended to be managed via SNMP I think,
but they give enough information for you to be able to control them via Telnet or
ssh. It should not be difficult to knock up a Python/ttk graphical interface to use
that to do the sort of thing we need.

I am a bit disappointed that our IT people didn't suggest this in the first place ...
unless there is a snag here?

Thanks, J^n