Powering up AV equipment slaved from one unit

[karma mechanic]

For years I've had an AV amp plugged into a power strip where the current draw from the AV amp causes the other outlets to become live.
This allows a motley collection of other surround amps, cabinet fans and miniDSP crossovers to come on just after I switch on the AV amp, and switch off when it goes off.

All well and good, but just lately the intelliPlug unit has sporadically refused to work as intended, so I'm looking for a replacement. It seems that these things aren't all that common now, and those that I can find don't generally get good reviews.

Ideally the solution would allow one press on the AV remote (or the phone app for Spotify which switches the AV amp on), then everything else would get started. I don't particularly want another remote, and some of the other items like fans aren't remote controlled anyway. Starting in a specific sequence would be a bonus.

Perhaps a smart plug solution might do it, but it needs to switch on or off as a slave to the actual state of the AV amp.

Any thoughts?

• Edited to add**

The AV amp appears to have a 12V trigger output. Presumably I could use that to switch a relay unit to in turn control a power strip for the other units. Any experience of those?

Edited by karma mechanic on Thursday 11th April 12:32

[MrOrange]

I use a SmartPlug linked to an Echo and say “Alexa, stereo on”. Plug was £20, Echo is similar.

[karma mechanic]

MrOrange said:

I use a SmartPlug linked to an Echo and say “Alexa, stereo on”. Plug was £20, Echo is similar.

That would do it if I had an Echo... however, if one of us picks up the remote for the AV amp we tend to press one of the scene buttons (for Apple TV, Netflix, music from the NAS, Spotify etc) which powers on the amp and sets up the input and settings. That wouldn't do anything if it had to be switched on first - I guess I'm trying to make it foolproof.

Ideally I would say 'Play music' and it would power up the AV amp, select the music source, turn on the amps that are used for the L+R speakers, turn on the crossovers and the fans. If I said 'Turn on the TV' it would do the above but select Sky, engage the surround amps, drop the projector screen and turn the projector on. Similarly for the Apple TV. Oh, all of those involve the sub being turned on as well. And everything off afterwards.

I think I need a combination of home automation and some triggering, so that the dumb elements like crossovers, mono power amps and fans are slaved electrically since when that works properly it is foolproof.

Another approach is a fancy programmable remote, limited by the dumb elements. If I use the Spotify app on my phone it starts the amp with the right setup but that wouldn't then engage the other stuff. Likewise using the Yamaha AV controller app, there's nothing there that could power up the mono amps so those need a separate approach slaved to the state of the AV amp.

I'm beginning to think there isn't a simple solution.

[miniman]

You might find a Logitech Harmony will do it via a series of macros. E.g. on mine, if I click “Sky” it will power on the Sky box, power on the TV, set the TV to correct HDMI input and set the Sky box to a specific channel. So a single button will control multiple devices with the ability to program (it would appear) any individual function on each device during the sequence.

[karma mechanic]

Yes, that would work for all the things that are remote controllable. The PJ screen and the Velux blackout blinds (d'oh, I knew there was more stuff) use wireless remotes, not sure if a Harmony can do those.

Thinking it through...

For anything:
Switch on AV amp, supply power to power amps, miniDSPs, fans, sub.

For music:
Use appropriate input (NAS, Spotify Connect etc) and set audio to 2.1.

Or if source is Apple TV, Sky:
Start PJ, drop screen if required, close Velux blackouts if it isn't dark (time of day recognition?)
Use appropriate input and audio 7.1.

Some parts of that can be electrically triggered, some need wireless remote commands, some need IR remote commands, some need logic that probably needs to be in an app. Switching from a video-based scene to a music-based one needs to tell the PJ, blinds and screen to go away but keep the rest of it alive.

An interesting challenge!

[Howard-]

You need one of these

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-Gas-Extension-L...

I've had one for yonks, and it is being used for exactly the situation you describe; parts of my AV system (preamp, power amp, and sub) that aren't remote-controllable but I don't want to leave on 24/7. You program its IR receiver to operate on any IR command, so presumably your AV receiver's remote's 'power' button, and it'll turn the outlets on and off when it sees that command.

Job jobbed.

It's a pretty old product now, but they pop up on eBay occasionally so I'd grab that one while you can.

Edited by Howard- on Friday 12th April 13:39

[random_username]

As your amp has 12v switching, you should be able to run a multiplug from one of these, providing you don't exceed 10A:

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/power-supply-kits/a...

I have one to turn on/off my Sub, works a treat...

I've had both the intelliplug type load sensing units before, and the IR remote switched plugs and this is way more reliable...

[karma mechanic]

It looks like 12V gives the most flexibility if I don't mind some DIY fiddling. The mono power amps may draw too much current at switch on, but one or more units as linked above should do it. The AV remote is then still the master, which is simple.

The amp used for the surrounds has a switched socket on the back, rated at 100 watts. I could hook up the fans and crossovers to that, the draw would be very low and it would guarantee they were on when operational. It is an odd socket, but some research suggests that the plug is a Bulgin P772. The obvious thing to do is take that out and hardwire something - that amp doesn't owe me anything.

The PJ screen is a separate issue. It has an IR remote so is probably one to include in a Harmony-style macro along with the PJ. Or I do that stuff the old way along with the blinds.

Progress, I think. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Howard-]

random_username said:

As your amp has 12v switching, you should be able to run a multiplug from one of these, providing you don't exceed 10A:

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/power-supply-kits/a...

I have one to turn on/off my Sub, works a treat...

I've had both the intelliplug type load sensing units before, and the IR remote switched plugs and this is way more reliable...

You could buy a male and female IEC connector and a relay for a fraction of the cost of that thing! And I've not had a single reliability issue with my IR power bar. It'll let you draw the full 13A too, not that this is an issue as I doubt his AV equipment will draw even a quarter of that. Mine never goes above about 1.25A even when giving it the beans with the volume control.

[mgv8]

Is this a high-end amp? If so I would try plugging it in directly to the wall, then use the trigger.

[karma mechanic]

The AV amp is currently plugged in to the load-sensing socket, then other stuff is hung off the switched output. Yes, it would be better if the primary amp was simply plugged in, and other stuff was simply plugged in via one or more switched/triggered supplies. Then it isn't all going through one socket.