In order to be able to remotely turn on and off the power to all the equipment in the observatory, I installed a Digital Loggers Internet Power Switch, shown above. This is a microprocessor-controlled device that connects to the network, and allows control of the 8 switched outlets via the internet (it is basically a server, controlled via a web interface). One can log in using a laptop or even the iPhone (see iPhone page), and turn on, off, or cycle all of the electronic equipment in the observatory. This is a very reliable device, which I have run for hundreds of days continuously, and accessed from anywhere in the world.

Technical Innovations Remote Power Switch

Technical Innovations, the company that makes HomeDome and ProDome observatories as well as the RoboFocus, can also provide a "Remote Power Module" that plugs into the RoboFocus, and allows switching of up to four AC lines. This works very well, as long as the RoboFocus is turned on. However, a separate power switch (like the Digital Loggers above) is required to turn on and off the RoboFocus. Now that I have the Digital Loggers switch, I am not using the Remote Power Module, but it gives me upgrade capability to another 4 AC powered devices. Control is through the RoboFocus software, so access to the observatory computer is required (whereas the Digital Loggers power switch is an actual server, and can be remotely accessed via any web browser over the internet).