Is there a simple power strip that has two male
plug-in cords instead of one, with a switch
controlling which cord connects to the female
outlets on the strip?

It's needed for quickly switching some stuff
between solar power and regular house A/C mains
power.

Extension cord comes from the solar panels and
inverter to the power strip, and the power strip
is also plugged into the A/C mains.

When there's enough sun, the idea is to throw the
switch on the power strip to it takes A/C input
from the solar side.

The same thing could be achieved by unplugging
from A/C mains and plugging into the solar
inverter, but that gives a couple seconds of no
power, which is not desired.
--


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

On May 8, 10:33*pm, Ron Hardin wrote:
Is there a simple power strip that has two male
plug-in cords instead of one, with a switch
controlling which cord connects to the female
outlets on the strip?

It's needed for quickly switching some stuff
between solar power and regular house A/C mains
power.

Extension cord comes from the solar panels and
inverter to the power strip, and the power strip
is also plugged into the A/C mains.

When there's enough sun, the idea is to throw the
switch on the power strip to it takes A/C input
from the solar side.

The same thing could be achieved by unplugging
from A/C mains and plugging into the solar
inverter, but that gives a couple seconds of no
power, which is not desired.
--


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.


Is there some reason why your solar power
system is not permanently wired into your
home's mains power ?

What sort of battery array do you have to
store the solar power ? You make it sound
as if the solar array is directly connected to
the inverter...

A properly outfitted alternative energy system
to provide power to your home would be wired
up with a proper automatic transfer switch so
that there is no chance of ever cross circuiting
things by making improper connections...

There is no extension cord that I have ever seen
in 30 years which would do what you describe,
sure you could construct something which could
accomplish what you want to do, but I don't
recommend that...

~~ Evan

On May 8, 10:16*pm, Evan wrote:
On May 8, 10:33*pm, Ron Hardin wrote:





Is there a simple power strip that has two male
plug-in cords instead of one, with a switch
controlling which cord connects to the female
outlets on the strip?

It's needed for quickly switching some stuff
between solar power and regular house A/C mains
power.

Extension cord comes from the solar panels and
inverter to the power strip, and the power strip
is also plugged into the A/C mains.

When there's enough sun, the idea is to throw the
switch on the power strip to it takes A/C input
from the solar side.

The same thing could be achieved by unplugging
from A/C mains and plugging into the solar
inverter, but that gives a couple seconds of no
power, which is not desired.
--


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

Is there some reason why your solar power
system is not permanently wired into your
home's mains power ?

What sort of battery array do you have to
store the solar power ? *You make it sound
as if the solar array is directly connected to
the inverter...

A properly outfitted alternative energy system
to provide power to your home would be wired
up with a proper automatic transfer switch so
that there is no chance of ever cross circuiting
things by making improper connections...

There is no extension cord that I have ever seen
in 30 years which would do what you describe,
sure you could construct something which could
accomplish what you want to do, but I don't
recommend that...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

A large double pole, double throw switch would be what he needs, but
if he doesn't know how to do it and has to ask here, he shouldn't try
to do it himself

On May 9, 3:33*am, Ron Hardin wrote:
Is there a simple power strip that has two male
plug-in cords instead of one, with a switch
controlling which cord connects to the female
outlets on the strip?

It's needed for quickly switching some stuff
between solar power and regular house A/C mains
power.

Extension cord comes from the solar panels and
inverter to the power strip, and the power strip
is also plugged into the A/C mains.

When there's enough sun, the idea is to throw the
switch on the power strip to it takes A/C input
from the solar side.

The same thing could be achieved by unplugging
from A/C mains and plugging into the solar
inverter, but that gives a couple seconds of no
power, which is not desired.
--


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

What you need is a grid tie inverter. Then you don't need any of that
stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid-tie_inverter

The disadvantage is if the mains goes off, so does the inverter. (Anti-
islanding)

The advantage is you may be able to export power and make some money.

Meanwhile, you need a double pole two way switch.

However, if a cloud passes by some electrical equipment could be
damaged.

Ron Hardin wrote:
Is there a simple power strip that has two male
plug-in cords instead of one, with a switch
controlling which cord connects to the female
outlets on the strip?

It's needed for quickly switching some stuff
between solar power and regular house A/C mains
power.

Extension cord comes from the solar panels and
inverter to the power strip, and the power strip
is also plugged into the A/C mains.

Is this a regular sized 15 amp extension cord? It
wouldn't be that hard or expensive to make a junction/
switch box if so.

When there's enough sun, the idea is to throw the
switch on the power strip to it takes A/C input
from the solar side.

The same thing could be achieved by unplugging
from A/C mains and plugging into the solar
inverter, but that gives a couple seconds of no
power, which is not desired.

On May 8, 10:33*pm, Ron Hardin wrote:
Is there a simple power strip that has two male
plug-in cords instead of one, with a switch
controlling which cord connects to the female
outlets on the strip?

It's needed for quickly switching some stuff
between solar power and regular house A/C mains
power.

Extension cord comes from the solar panels and
inverter to the power strip, and the power strip
is also plugged into the A/C mains.

When there's enough sun, the idea is to throw the
switch on the power strip to it takes A/C input
from the solar side.

The same thing could be achieved by unplugging
from A/C mains and plugging into the solar
inverter, but that gives a couple seconds of no
power, which is not desired.
--


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

YOU SHOULD GET A POWER TRANSFER SWITCH FROM THE COMPANY THAT SUPPLIED
YOUR SOLAR POWER SYSTEM....

TGITM

On May 9, 9:10*am, The Ghost in The Machine
wrote:
On May 8, 10:33*pm, Ron Hardin wrote:





Is there a simple power strip that has two male
plug-in cords instead of one, with a switch
controlling which cord connects to the female
outlets on the strip?

It's needed for quickly switching some stuff
between solar power and regular house A/C mains
power.


If you wire up a DPDT switch to switch quickly between two LIVE
sources, you will have big problems unless the sources are phase
locked....It is not easy to phase lock your inverter to the grid.

The more practical thing to do is wire a switch that has a center off
position. If you don't phase lock the sources then you MUST go to the
OFF position when switching from one source to the other.

Note that a UPS when it is running on batteries, when the grid power
returns, it does not immediatly switch back to the grid, it first
phase locks itself to the grid which can take a few seconds, and then
it switches. If you don't understnad what this means, then the
simplest course for you to take is to go through an OFF setting
between the two sources. Unfortuntly this means you have to interpupt
the power for a brief time.

If you don't do this, you can destroy the inverter. Don't ask me how
I know this.

Mark

In ,
Ron Hardin typed:
Is there a simple power strip that has two male
plug-in cords instead of one, with a switch
controlling which cord connects to the female
outlets on the strip?

It's needed for quickly switching some stuff
between solar power and regular house A/C mains
power.

Extension cord comes from the solar panels and
inverter to the power strip, and the power strip
is also plugged into the A/C mains.

When there's enough sun, the idea is to throw the
switch on the power strip to it takes A/C input
from the solar side.

The same thing could be achieved by unplugging
from A/C mains and plugging into the solar
inverter, but that gives a couple seconds of no
power, which is not desired.

Use a relay instead: Make after break type, as many poles as you need.
Sunpower comes on, relay flips, disconnects from mains.
Might need a zener to keep it from coming on too early.

HTH,

Twayne`

On May 8, 11:53*pm, "hr(bob) "
wrote:
On May 8, 10:16*pm, Evan wrote:





On May 8, 10:33*pm, Ron Hardin wrote:

Is there a simple power strip that has two male
plug-in cords instead of one, with a switch
controlling which cord connects to the female
outlets on the strip?

It's needed for quickly switching some stuff
between solar power and regular house A/C mains
power.

Extension cord comes from the solar panels and
inverter to the power strip, and the power strip
is also plugged into the A/C mains.

When there's enough sun, the idea is to throw the
switch on the power strip to it takes A/C input
from the solar side.

The same thing could be achieved by unplugging
from A/C mains and plugging into the solar
inverter, but that gives a couple seconds of no
power, which is not desired.
--


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

Is there some reason why your solar power
system is not permanently wired into your
home's mains power ?

What sort of battery array do you have to
store the solar power ? *You make it sound
as if the solar array is directly connected to
the inverter...

A properly outfitted alternative energy system
to provide power to your home would be wired
up with a proper automatic transfer switch so
that there is no chance of ever cross circuiting
things by making improper connections...

There is no extension cord that I have ever seen
in 30 years which would do what you describe,
sure you could construct something which could
accomplish what you want to do, but I don't
recommend that...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

A large double pole, double throw switch would be what he needs, but
if he doesn't know how to do it and has to ask here, he shouldn't try
to do it himself

I'm assuming that said switch should be break-before-make otherwise
bad stuff could happen. Or just use one with a center-off position in
case for whatever reason you would ever want to completely disconnect
the attached devices.

nate

On May 9, 10:01*am, "Twayne" wrote:
,
Ron Hardin typed:





Is there a simple power strip that has two male
plug-in cords instead of one, with a switch
controlling which cord connects to the female
outlets on the strip?

It's needed for quickly switching some stuff
between solar power and regular house A/C mains
power.

Extension cord comes from the solar panels and
inverter to the power strip, and the power strip
is also plugged into the A/C mains.

When there's enough sun, the idea is to throw the
switch on the power strip to it takes A/C input
from the solar side.

The same thing could be achieved by unplugging
from A/C mains and plugging into the solar
inverter, but that gives a couple seconds of no
power, which is not desired.

Use a relay instead: Make after break type, as many poles as you need.
Sunpower comes on, relay flips, disconnects from mains.
* *Might need a zener to keep it from coming on too early.

HTH,

Twayne`- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I hope he has batteries in that solar system to even out the power.
Otherwise, it sounds like a problem, depending on what the loads
are and how sensitive they are to power variation. For example,
sun goes behind a cloud, power starts to brown out.

On May 8, 10:33*pm, Ron Hardin wrote:
Is there a simple power strip that has two male
plug-in cords instead of one, with a switch
controlling which cord connects to the female
outlets on the strip?

Yes, there is. Such devices are used in data centers to provide
redundant power to computer equipment that does not have its own
redundant power system.

All you need to do is search Google for "redundant power strip" and
all sorts of products will come up.

They are not cheap.

That's essentially what I would have said. The OP needs an
electrician to build one for him.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"hr(bob) " wrote in
message
...

A large double pole, double throw switch would be what he
needs, but
if he doesn't know how to do it and has to ask here, he
shouldn't try
to do it himself

On May 8, 11:53*pm, "hr(bob) "
wrote:
On May 8, 10:16*pm, Evan wrote:



On May 8, 10:33*pm, Ron Hardin wrote:

Is there a simple power strip that has two male
plug-in cords instead of one, with a switch
controlling which cord connects to the female
outlets on the strip?

It's needed for quickly switching some stuff
between solar power and regular house A/C mains
power.

Extension cord comes from the solar panels and
inverter to the power strip, and the power strip
is also plugged into the A/C mains.

When there's enough sun, the idea is to throw the
switch on the power strip to it takes A/C input
from the solar side.

The same thing could be achieved by unplugging
from A/C mains and plugging into the solar
inverter, but that gives a couple seconds of no
power, which is not desired.
--


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

Is there some reason why your solar power
system is not permanently wired into your
home's mains power ?

What sort of battery array do you have to
store the solar power ? *You make it sound
as if the solar array is directly connected to
the inverter...

A properly outfitted alternative energy system
to provide power to your home would be wired
up with a proper automatic transfer switch so
that there is no chance of ever cross circuiting
things by making improper connections...

There is no extension cord that I have ever seen
in 30 years which would do what you describe,
sure you could construct something which could
accomplish what you want to do, but I don't
recommend that...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

A large double pole, double throw switch would be what he needs, but
if he doesn't know how to do it and has to ask here, he shouldn't try
to do it himself


Right... So if he can not locate one of those which has the proper
rating, and create his own junction box to install it on his power
strip, then he shouldn't be pondering that direction...

I still wouldn't construct such a device as it wouldn't be UL tested
or approved and just sounds like it could cause trouble... At least
having to manually unplug the power strip leaves no room for both
sources of power to short to each other as could happen if the
switch broke or the connections to it fail...

~~ Evan

In article
,
Evan wrote:

On May 8, 11:53*pm, "hr(bob) "
wrote:


A large double pole, double throw switch would be what he needs, but
if he doesn't know how to do it and has to ask here, he shouldn't try
to do it himself


Right... So if he can not locate one of those which has the proper
rating, and create his own junction box to install it on his power
strip, then he shouldn't be pondering that direction...

I still wouldn't construct such a device as it wouldn't be UL tested
or approved and just sounds like it could cause trouble... At least
having to manually unplug the power strip leaves no room for both
sources of power to short to each other as could happen if the
switch broke or the connections to it fail...

~~ Evan

I'm troubled - so much as I'm capable of being troubled by others'
follies, which isn't much - by his statement that a few seconds of pause
between pulling the plug from outlet A and putting it in outlet B is
unacceptable. That means he's looking at a "make before break" switch
and I can't see that not letting some smoke out somewhere, sometime.

But as far as it not being UL approved, I remain completely unconcerned.
I powered an otherwise dead wall-mounted power strip in my old office
for two years from a 2-headed suicide cord. Electricity doesn't make me
jittery.

On May 9, 10:02*pm, Smitty Two wrote:
In article
,





*Evan wrote:
On May 8, 11:53*pm, "hr(bob) "
wrote:

A large double pole, double throw switch would be what he needs, but
if he doesn't know how to do it and has to ask here, he shouldn't try
to do it himself

Right... *So if he can not locate one of those which has the proper
rating, and create his own junction box to install it on his power
strip, then he shouldn't be pondering that direction...

I still wouldn't construct such a device as it wouldn't be UL tested
or approved and just sounds like it could cause trouble... *At least
having to manually unplug the power strip leaves no room for both
sources of power to short to each other as could happen if the
switch broke or the connections to it fail...

~~ Evan

I'm troubled - so much as I'm capable of being troubled by others'
follies, which isn't much - by his statement that a few seconds of pause
between pulling the plug from outlet A and putting it in outlet B is
unacceptable. That means he's looking at a "make before break" switch
and I can't see that not letting some smoke out somewhere, sometime.

Along those lines and as I said before, I'd be interested in hearing
what the loads are. Even without a switch, unless the solar system
includes a battery to even out the power, it would be unsuitable for
many loads. Every time the sun goes behind a cloud there will be
a brown-out condition. And batteries quickly drive up both the
initial cost as well as maintenance costs, as they need to be
replaced. That's why full house systems rarely have them and
instead rely on the grid to stablize the power.

Like so many posts, this one seems to be hit and run, with
no further info from the poster.

On May 10, 9:48*am, "
wrote:
On May 9, 10:02*pm, Smitty Two wrote:





In article
,

*Evan wrote:
On May 8, 11:53*pm, "hr(bob) "
wrote:

A large double pole, double throw switch would be what he needs, but
if he doesn't know how to do it and has to ask here, he shouldn't try
to do it himself

Right... *So if he can not locate one of those which has the proper
rating, and create his own junction box to install it on his power
strip, then he shouldn't be pondering that direction...

I still wouldn't construct such a device as it wouldn't be UL tested
or approved and just sounds like it could cause trouble... *At least
having to manually unplug the power strip leaves no room for both
sources of power to short to each other as could happen if the
switch broke or the connections to it fail...

~~ Evan

I'm troubled - so much as I'm capable of being troubled by others'
follies, which isn't much - by his statement that a few seconds of pause
between pulling the plug from outlet A and putting it in outlet B is
unacceptable. That means he's looking at a "make before break" switch
and I can't see that not letting some smoke out somewhere, sometime.

Along those lines and as I said before, I'd be interested in hearing
*what the loads are. *Even without a switch, unless the solar system
includes a battery to even out the power, it would be unsuitable for
many loads. *Every time the sun goes behind a cloud there will be
a brown-out condition. * And batteries quickly drive up both the
initial cost as well as maintenance costs, as they need to be
replaced. *That's why full house systems rarely have them and
instead rely on the grid to stablize the power.

Like so many posts, this one seems to be hit and run, with
no further info from the poster.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

We never heard any more from the op. But I can see small loads
working with a center off switch. Anything with a power supply
probably has enough reserve power to handle a fraction of a second
without ac power. Simpler loads like small motors, etc don't really
care of the power is lost for a little bit of time.

wrote:
Along those lines and as I said before, I'd be interested in hearing
what the loads are. Even without a switch, unless the solar system
includes a battery to even out the power, it would be unsuitable for
many loads. Every time the sun goes behind a cloud there will be
a brown-out condition. And batteries quickly drive up both the
initial cost as well as maintenance costs, as they need to be
replaced. That's why full house systems rarely have them and
instead rely on the grid to stablize the power.

I wanted what I asked for.

The load is a couple of laptops. If you interrupt the power for more than
a couple of seconds, it discharges the internal batteries, and when it
goes on solar power each laptop draws hugely more power because it's
started recharging its battery (100w vs 30w each), which won't work on the
solar array.

So I want a fast switchover, not using any noticeable internal laptop
battery charge.

If such a device is ready-made I wanted to hear about it.

On a sunny day, I could run the laptops on solar power all day, which
would help keep the electrical load below the low-rate load balancing
minimum on the billing.

--


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

Ron Hardin wrote:
wrote:
Along those lines and as I said before, I'd be interested in hearing
what the loads are. Even without a switch, unless the solar system
includes a battery to even out the power, it would be unsuitable for
many loads. Every time the sun goes behind a cloud there will be
a brown-out condition. And batteries quickly drive up both the
initial cost as well as maintenance costs, as they need to be
replaced. That's why full house systems rarely have them and
instead rely on the grid to stablize the power.

I wanted what I asked for.

The load is a couple of laptops. If you interrupt the power for more than
a couple of seconds, it discharges the internal batteries, and when it
goes on solar power each laptop draws hugely more power because it's
started recharging its battery (100w vs 30w each), which won't work on the
solar array.

So I want a fast switchover, not using any noticeable internal laptop
battery charge.

If such a device is ready-made I wanted to hear about it.

On a sunny day, I could run the laptops on solar power all day, which
would help keep the electrical load below the low-rate load balancing
minimum on the billing.

See if you can remove the batteries, that would solve some problems.

Sjouke Burry wrote:

Ron Hardin wrote:
wrote:
Along those lines and as I said before, I'd be interested in hearing
what the loads are. Even without a switch, unless the solar system
includes a battery to even out the power, it would be unsuitable for
many loads. Every time the sun goes behind a cloud there will be
a brown-out condition. And batteries quickly drive up both the
initial cost as well as maintenance costs, as they need to be
replaced. That's why full house systems rarely have them and
instead rely on the grid to stablize the power.

I wanted what I asked for.

The load is a couple of laptops. If you interrupt the power for more than
a couple of seconds, it discharges the internal batteries, and when it
goes on solar power each laptop draws hugely more power because it's
started recharging its battery (100w vs 30w each), which won't work on the
solar array.

So I want a fast switchover, not using any noticeable internal laptop
battery charge.

If such a device is ready-made I wanted to hear about it.

On a sunny day, I could run the laptops on solar power all day, which
would help keep the electrical load below the low-rate load balancing
minimum on the billing.

See if you can remove the batteries, that would solve some problems.

If you remove the batteries, then the laptop can't tolerate any power interruption at
all and it won't work period.
--


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

On May 11, 6:37*am, Ron Hardin wrote:
Sjouke Burry wrote:

Ron Hardin wrote:
wrote:
Along those lines and as I said before, I'd be interested in hearing
*what the loads are. *Even without a switch, unless the solar system
includes a battery to even out the power, it would be unsuitable for
many loads. *Every time the sun goes behind a cloud there will be
a brown-out condition. * And batteries quickly drive up both the
initial cost as well as maintenance costs, as they need to be
replaced. *That's why full house systems rarely have them and
instead rely on the grid to stablize the power.

I wanted what I asked for.

The load is a couple of laptops. *If you interrupt the power for more than
a couple of seconds, it discharges the internal batteries, and when it
goes on solar power each laptop draws hugely more power because it's
started recharging its battery (100w vs 30w each), which won't work on the
solar array.

So I want a fast switchover, not using any noticeable internal laptop
battery charge.

If such a device is ready-made I wanted to hear about it.

On a sunny day, I could run the laptops on solar power all day, which
would help keep the electrical load below the low-rate load balancing
minimum on the billing.

See if you can remove the batteries, that would solve some problems.

If you remove the batteries, then the laptop can't tolerate any power interruption at
all and it won't work period.
--


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

depends on the effort you want to put into it. A few fairly decent
sized capacitors on the various power out lines from the power supply
and the laptop will run without a battery for many seconds.