Secured Power Strip

[vortmax]

I am having an issue with maint personnel messing with the power supplies that run critical networking equipment. We've had the entire network go down on a few occasions because they unplugged the power strip to plug in something else, or they plugged something into the power strip and overloaded the circuit.

No amount of education or yelling seems to make a difference. Is anyone aware of a solution that allows you to lock down a power strip so that no cords can be added or removed without a key? A corresponding solution for attaching the power strip to the wall plate would be needed as well. I've tried google but come up dry

 

[CiscoGuy33]

vortmax,

At my old job we had the same issue until the head of OIT met with the maint supervisor and expl that HE would be fired if HIS staff unplugged ANYTHING again! Solved the issue

At another place - OIT ran the power strip (15ft cord) all the way to the other end and behind the racks - very hard to get to. At the power box they replaced the face plate with those outdoor faceplates from Home Depot with room for the cord to be plugged in out of the weather with a hidge on top and holes out the bottom for the cords, they drilled a hole in both sides and fit a pad lock into it. Not sure if this was "code" but it worked and the faceplate/cover was an industrial heavy duty!

Hope this might help!

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[RikRodgers]

Most of my larger customers implement key contol for their network rooms.

Of course, that can be difficult if they didn't follow your recommendations when they built the place, and put the network rack in the mop closet...

 

[vortmax]

I like that idea of modifying an outdoor box. Might try that.

This is kind of a unique situation. The equipment is a headend for a HFC network delivering cable TV and cable internet for an apartment complex and is located in the complex's maintenance shop. The properties are all remote, so if we have to hard boot (power cycle) something, we use the maint personnel (same that are unplugging stuff).