Power plug switch for power point with LED's plugged in

Today @sahan got a program working for the LED lights in the space running on Aspirin (server in the space that runs spaceprobe and rfid sign in backend stuff). It would be good if we had a power switch where we plug in the lights so the scripts could turn on the power for the lights - for instance when the space probe is turned on.

Does anyone have something suitable?

Not sure how the space probe device is built, but is there are GPIO on it that could be used? It could be used to drive a 5V relay, which in turn may need to drive a bigger relay (12 volt driven, but can handle 240V loads).

It would simply be a box that has a main lead coming out of it, to get the mains for the lights, and to power a small 12V psu inside for relay driving, it would then have a signal and ground lead coming out of it, making it an easy bolt on light control for the space probe. Wireless could also be used, with those various 4xxMHz remote kits I’ve seen around.

The way it could work is that if one were to enter the space and dial in four hours into the space probe, the relay could be held high for four hours. (thus turning the lights on for four hours. If the space probe were to be zeroed prematurely, the relay could be brought back low.

IMHO, this would be the cheapest and easiest thing to implement, all it needs is an output somewhere in the space that can be raised high/low based on Space Probe movements. Hope that helps?

PS: For safety’s sake, I should probably mention these things should be inspected by an electrician before being put in to service

The probe isn’t near the powerpoint that the lights plug into. Would like to just have a separate switch that can be triggered from software on server. Found this as a possible cheap starting point:
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MS6146

Just found this wireless one - $12 for one or $24 for 3: http://www.bunnings.com.au/arlec-remote-control-power-outlet-3-pack_p4331240

I’ve bought a 433MHz Wireless Transmitter from Jaycar. But @devdsp has pointed out that we should be able to turn off the leds from the controller and just leave the power on but the lights off.

So if anyone has a project for a 433MHz transmitter, talk to me.

for now, assuming nothing crashes (big assumption with this project so far!), the scripts running on aspirin should turn the LED strips off when the space closes and on again when the space opens. Having a watchdog system that can shut them off if there’s no DMX signal coming through (which makes them go into an ugly demo mode) is something worth exploring.