Smart Power Strip; Part 2
Computer Assisted Design
A model of the project was made on Autodesk Invetor. This helped iterate different design ideas and come up with a design that fit all of the components. Having a model also made it convenient to 3D print an enclosure - the bottleneck became access to a 3D printer.
Putting it together
The high voltage components are separated from the low voltage components with an acrylic sheet. The enclosure also houses a fuse to prevent overcurrent, and strain relief for the AC cable going to the SMPS. The enclosure also has a slot where the controller is and allows the user to re-program the power strip without opening up the enclosure.All the parts easily fit inside the enclosure and the final product looks very similar to the CAD model.
Demo
The video demonstrates how this power strip can be controlled via an Amazon Alexa and used to dim light bulbs. As can be seen in the video, the delay in the power strip is fairly minimal and comparable to the delay seen in other smart devices.
The total component cost was under $20. Other systems can be bought for a minimum of $30 and don't have the ability to perform dimming. A similar approach can be used for smart in-wall smart switches. These type of smart dimming switching cost an average of $40.