[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Hey guys,

What is everyone doing these days to deal with the power needs of all the stuff in your workstation? I have at least ten pieces needing power at my desk, including the phone, speakers, subwoofer, monitor, USB expander, two desk lights, etc. etc.

When we bought our first computer almost 20 years ago, it came with a desktop power director like this:



Basically your monitor sits on top of it, and all the peripherals plug into the back of it. (Naturally, it doesn’t have enough outlets, so there are a few three-ways added.) There is a switch for each plug, and a master switch. I modified mine to have one of the switches separate from the master switch, for my desk lights. I don’t need them on during the day, and I can use them at night even with the computer off.

The thing is getting old and a few of the switches are getting funky, and I’d like to replace it. But no one seems to make this kind of stuff anymore. I really only use the master and the light switch, but it’s really handy to have them right there in front of me, not down on the floor somewhere.

So, what is everyone doing these days for their power management? With my wife’s desk, I ended up bolting a power strip to the bottom of her desk in easy reach, for lack of something better. Naturally, all these plugs and wires are hanging off of it. I hate exposed wiring. There has to be a more elegant solution!

Regards,
Wayne