The Smart Strip Quick Help Guide
Questions and Answers

What Is the Smart Strip?

How Can I get more help?

Energy Savings
Is it good to shut off my computer peripherals?
How does the smart strip save energy?
How much energy does it save?
Will I see the difference on my electric bill?
I have balanced billing, will it help me save money?
Where can I use the Smart Strip to save energy?

Installation
Installing the Smart Strip on a computer
using it with a UPS
installing the Smart Strip on a TV
Using it with a TiVio or DVR
Installing the Smart Strip on Shop equipment
Adding more outlets
Understanding the indicators
Do you I need to turn the Smart Strip on/off

Troubleshooting
Setting up sleep mode on windows
Setting up sleep mode on OS X
My computer wakes up after I put it to sleep
How to adjust the sensitivity adjustment
My Smart Strip does not have an adjustment
The Smart Strip adjustment drifts
I can not adjust the Smart Strip to work correctly or
The switched outlets never turn on (or off)
The Smart Strip oscillates slowly
The Smart Strip makes a buzzing sound
The power switch is lit but all of the outlets are dead
no lights are lit and nothing works?

Introduction

What is the Smart Strip?

The Smart Strip reduces electrical waste by disconnecting power completely to devices when a single device is turned off. This stops all power supplied to the "Automatically Switched" devices so they cannot draw the current they would normally be consuming when they are in their off state.

The Smart Strip has a single blue "Control Outlet" that detects the change in power consumption of the device plugged into it so that when the device plugged into it is turned on and off, the Smart Strip knows and switches the "Automatically Switched" outlets on and off with the "Control" device. All of the Smart Strips have "Constantly Hot" outlets that do not switch off unless you physically switch the Smart Strip off.

When a PC is plugged into the blue "Control Outlet" and it goes into sleep or hibernate mode, the "Automatically Switched" Outlets are disconnected from power while the "Constantly Hot" outlets stay on. This is particularly useful with PCs since you can have the power cut to monitors, printers, and other peripherals after a period of inactivity on the PC so that if you have to walk away for a bit, you're not wasting electricity to keep those devices powered as they wait for your return. Also, it stops any waste from accidentally forgetting to turn monitors and such off when you shut down your computer.

The Smart Strip may be used with a number of devices in a number of scenarios. It is still a surge protector with the extra auto-switching functionality. There are a number of devices that, when turned on or off, have little to no change in the amount of current they draw and as such are incapable of triggering the "Automatically Switched" outlets.

How Can I Get More Help?

Use the contact us link on the menu above, or click here.

Energy Savings

Is it good to shut off my computer peripherals?

Yes, when any electronic device is left on 24/7, the heat inside the components are constantly building up without any chance to cool down. This heat eventually weakens the electronic components and causes failure of that device. Devices today are designed to be turned off and/or go into a low power sleep mode without shortening its life span.

How does the Smart Strip Power Strip save energy?

It saves energy by electronically unplugging all of the devices that are plugged into the "Automatically Switched outlets" when the device plugged into the control outlet is turned off. This stops them from drawing any current without the need to turn them off or unplug them. Some devices still draw an idle current even when turned off, therefore using the smart strip or unplugging them is the only way to stop them from wasting power.

How much energy does it save?

The short answer is that it saves a bit more than $4/month on the median average per US household (based on study data from Berkely and 8 other universities). The long answer is that it can save much less, or much more, than that depending on your electrical setup. The earliest Smart Strips were sold about 7 years ago, so they have saved their owners about $340 dollars, each.

Will I see a difference on my electric bill?

A normal electric bill varies by at least $20 month to month. The average savings that the Smart Strip will produce is $11.16 per month and easily get hidden in the above month to month variation. The savings can be measured using the Kill'a'Watt meter and is great enough for the smart strip to pay for itself in about three months on average.

I have balanced billing, will it help me save money?

Yes, every few months the utility company calculates your average usage and the energy saved by the Smart Strip will become part of that new calculation.

Where can I use the Smart Strip to save energy?

Devices that use a"soft power switch" or have no power switch draw idle currents & the Smart Strip WILL save energy. If the device has the small easy touch on/touch off switch, it has a pilot power supply that draws power 24/7 to power the power button. Devices that use a "hard power switch" do not draw idle currents therefore use zero energy when off & the Smart Strip WILL NOT save energy. The following list has examples of "hard power switches":

1. It has one button for on & a separate button for off
2. When you push the power button, it stay depressed until you push it again to turn it off.
3. The power switch has 2 positions (one for on & one for off)

The Smart Strip can be used even in places that it does not save energy. For example, plug your shop tool into the control outlet & your shop vac into the switched outlets. Every time you turn on you tool, the vacuum turns on with it.

Installation

Installing the Smart Strip on a computer?

A typical computer configuration is as follows:

1. Plug your computer into the control outlet.
2. Plug your Cable/DSL modem, pencil sharpener, lamp or battery chargers into the constant hot outlets. Note: If you rarely use your computer or you only have one computer in the house, you can plug the cable/DSL modem into the switched outlets to save more energy.
3. Plug all of your remaining computer peripherals into the switched outlets.
4. Turn on your computer & enable the sleep mode under the power options (windows) or energy saver (Apple) control panel. Set it for an 1/2hour or any time that you like. If the switched outlets do not turn on or off properly check How do I adjust the Smart Strip?

Using it with a UPS.

There are 2 different ways to setup the Smart Strip to work with your UPS Power Supply.

1. If your UPS can power your entire computer system. Plug the UPS into the wall & the smart Strip into the UPS. Then follow the instructions above for installing the Smart Strip on a computer.
2. If your UPS can only support your computer/monitor. Plug the Smart Strip into the wall & plug the UPS into the control outlet. Plug the computer & monitor into the UPS. Then follow step 2,3 & 4 under Installing a Smart Strip on a computer.

Installing the Smart Strip on a TV?

A typical configuration for a TV/home entertainment system is as follows:

1. Plug your TV into the control outlet.
2. Plug your Cable box or satellite receiver into the constant hot outlets.
3. Plug all of your remaining home entertainment equipment such as your VCR, DVD, home theater into the switched outlets.
4. Turn on your TV to test the Smart Strip. If the switched outlets do not turn on or off properly check How to adjust the sensitivity ?

Note: If you still use your VCR to record, then plug the VCR into the red CONSTANT HOT outlets.

Using it with a TiVo or DVR

If you have a TiVo, DVR or you use your VCR to record then plug that device into the red CONSTANT HOT outlets. This will keep the power to the recorder at all times so it can record programs while you are not watching TV. If you never program it to record programs then you can leave it plugged into the white AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED outlets & save energy with that device.

Installing the Smart Strip on Shop equipment

The Smart Strip is an excellent device to automate the work light and/or dust collection in your work shop.

1. Connect the vacuum hose of your shop vac into your shop tool (table saw).
2. Plug your shop tool into the Blue control outlet.
3. Plug your work light and/or shop vac into the AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED outlets.
4. Other tool or devices that do not need to be switched can be plugged into the red CONSTANT HOT outlets.

Adding more outlets.

If you need to extend the number of outlets, you can purchase the Power Strip Liberators models PL2 or PL3 on our shopping page. The Power Strip Liberator is a method by Underwriter's Laboratories (UL). Daisy chaining power strips or surge protectors is very common but it is not approved by UL & violates most local fire codes.

Understanding the indicators

The Power Switch lamp is a neon lamp & uses only .005 watts to indicates that power switch is on and power is available at both the control outlet and constant hot outlets. if this light is out check the power switch and the outlet that the power strip is plugged into.

Ground & Surge Okay indicates that both the ground to the Smart Strip and all of the surge protection is functioning correctly. If this light is out, please check the ground by plugging the Smart Strip into a different outlet. If the ground is okay, then it means that part of the surge protection on the Smart Strip is NOT protecting your devices plugged into it.
The Switched Outlets On indicates that the device plugged into the control outlet is on and has turned on the automatically switched outlets. This light will turn on and off with the device plugged into the control outlet & the automatically switched outlets.

Under normal operation, the power switch lamp and the ground & surge Okay are always on. The Switched outlets lamp turns on/off with the switched outlets.

Do I need to turn the Smart Strip on/off

The Smart Strip is normally left on to allow it to control power to the switched outlets automatically. This also allows you to turn everything on with the click of a button.

Troubleshooting

Setting up sleep mode on windows

1. Click on the start button on the bottom left of your screen
2. Click on control panels under the settings section of the menu
3. Click on the power option icon (Plug)
4. Change the sleep mode to the desired setting. When your operating system is installed most of the time deep sleep is disabled.
5. Close the control panels windows
6. Test the Smart Strip by placing your computer into the sleep mode, if the smart strip does not turn on/off properly then follow the instructions for How to adjust the sensitivity.

Setting up sleep mode on OS X

Open system preferences under the Blue Apple.

1. Look for the Energy Saver light bulb icon on the second row
2. Change the sleep mode to the desired setting.
3. You also have the option of clicking on the Schedule button to setup schedule for automatically turning everything on/off.
4. Close the system preferences
5. Test the Smart Strip by placing your computer into the sleep mode, if the smart strip does not turn on/off properly then follow the instructions for How to adjust the sensitivity.

My computer wakes up after I put it to sleep.

1. Move all of your computer peripherals to the red CONSTANT HOT outlets or unplug them from the computer or unplug them from the outlets.
2. Try the sleep mode, it should work properly.
3. Plug one peripheral at a time back into the white outlets & connect it to the computer. Test the sleep mode after connecting each device up. Most of the time the offending device is a USB hub.
4. Look for and install any updated driver for the device that is not working properly.
5. If you are still having problems & you are running OS X, try lights out from the links section of our web site. This resolves some driver problems & deep sleep problems.
6. If you are still having problems with a device, move it to the red CONSTANT HOT outlet. It is better to have sleep mode work correctly so you can maximize your energy savings. Future patches/driver updates may resolve the problem, at which point you can move it back to the white outlets.

How to adjust the sensitivity adjustment.

Although the factory preset for the Smart Strip Power strip works with most computers, some computer power supplies or home entertainment systems have a different means of energy usage. You may need to ‘fine tune’ your Smart Strip to work properly. The adjustment is on the long side of the Smart Strip by the power cord & labeled as "adjust."

If the switched outlets never turn on:
1. Turn on the device that is plugged into the control outlet.
2. Turn the "adjust" dial clockwise until the switched outlets turn on.
3. Turn off the device that is in the control outlet, if the switched outlets turn off, you are done. If not follow the procedure below.

If the switched outlets never turn off:
1. Turn off the device that is plugged into the control outlet.
2. Turn the "adjust" counterclockwise until the switched outlets turn off.
3. Turn on the device that is in the control outlet, if the switched outlets turn on, you are done. If not follow the procedure above.

If the above procedure does not work or you are using the equipment listed below, please contact us for further technical support or a replacement.

• Very low power home entertainment equipment
• Apple mac mini computers
• Dell laptop model 810 computers

My Smart Strip does not have an adjustment.

All Smart Strips sold after October 2003 are adjustable, please look for the adjustment on the long side of the Smart Strip by the power cord & LEDS. If you purchased your Smart Strip before October 2003 it is a rev A First Generation LCG1 or LCG2 & is not adjustable. Even though it is out of warrantee, we have an upgrade program that you can participate in, please contact us for details. If it is working properly, please continue using it, the upgrade program has no expiration date.

The Smart Strip adjustment drifts

On certain equipment with certain models the Smart Strip may experience a problem where the adjustment drifts & needs to be readjusted on a regular basis. This is not considered normal & the patterns currently are too scarce to come to a conclusion on the cause. However we do have a solution, so please contact us so we can confirm the problem & resolve it.

I can not adjust the Smart the Smart Strip or the switched outlets never turn on (or off)

Make sure you do not have a cable box or satellite receiver plugged into the blue CONTROL outlet. They use the same power off as they do on, therefore the Smart Strip will not sense a current change. Use the TV in the blue CONTROL outlet instead. Then try How to adjust the Smart Strip? and if that does not work, check the smart strip with a lamp or different device. If the Smart Strip functions now correctly, then you need to use a different device in the blue CONTROL outlet. If the Smart Strip is still not functioning properly, contact us for further technical support or a replacement.

The Smart Strip Oscillates slowly

If you have a DELL laptop 800 series contact us for a retrofitted replacement replacement. If you do not have the above computer then try the following steps before contacting us.

1. Turn off your computer or TV. Then turn off the Smart Strip.
2. Turn the adjustment on the side back & forth 2-3 times
3. Leave the adjustment about midrange.
4. Turn on the Smart Strip & then your computer or TV.
5. If everything works you are done, if not follow the instructions under How to adjust the Smart Strip.

The Smart Strip make a buzzing sound

If the Smart Strip makes a buzzing sound when on, the filter capacitor was knocked loose during shipping, please contact us for a replacement

The power switch is lit but all the outlets are dead.

If the power switch is lit & all of the outlets are dead & the red & green lights are off, the internal fuse has blown. If it is in warrantee, please contact us for a replacement. If it is out of warrantee, you may email us for assistance in changing the fuse or current discounted replacement cost would be.

I have no lights on my Smart Strip and nothing works.

Check that the power switch is on. If it is then the outlet you plugged it into has no power so try a different outlet. The indicator inside the power switch is before all of the internal fuses therefore if it is not lit, the problem must be the wall outlet.