Thread: Hack a Power Strip for Installation of Fluorescent Starter Sockets

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Each of the starters on the strip will give you a different flicker effect. This short video shows two 4 watt bulbs and a red 7.5 watt running on FS-2 starters. Note that each of the bulbs has a different flicker rate. If you're using a bunch of 4-5 watt bulbs, you could easily run 4 JOLs from each pair of sockets by using dual socket plug-ins. Remember that each pair of sockets is controlled by one starter, so the flicker effect for all lights plugged into that pair will have the same flicker rate. You'd want to avoid having the same flicker in two adjacent JOLs to make the effect appear more random. I'll be using this effect for the fire under my witch's cauldron this year.

Flicker strip demo video by Otaku1031 - Photobucket

Looking at the instructions, it shows the starters being wired off the neutral side. Does it make a difference? Can the starter be wired on the hot lead or does it need to be on the neutral?

Originally Posted by TK421

1. This hack will only work for power strips that have individual sockets. The strips that have molded-in sockets use copper frames to distribute power to the sockets, and won't work for this hack.

I struck out after opening every power strip in the house (I have dozens after a warehouse cleanout at work tossed em).

Any way to tell which ones have the individual sockets whilst staring at them in the store?

Originally Posted by UnOrthodOx

Any way to tell which ones have the individual sockets whilst staring at them in the store?

I would say look for the ones that are usually metal (not molded plastic) and there is a screw inbetween each of the 3 pairs of outlets holding the outlet to the metal case.

You'll see in the video that the strip I used has individual socket pairs, kind of like a wall outlet. I opened three others I had only to find the copper rails inside. Regarding the wiring, I got this note from a member here (Pumpkin Butcher):

Hey Otaku, I just finished your power strip hack and it works great! I did wire it on the hot side. I also used 1/8" rubber grommets where the leads from the starter sockets go through the housing to keep from any issues with nicking a wire on a sharp edge.

Thanks Otaku. That's good to know. Now what would be interesting is to try wiring the same starter and comparing the flicker to see if there is any difference wiring it to the hot vs the neutral. I may have to run to HomeDepot tonight and pick up a few to play with.

While not a power strip, I made something the other day that's probably worth sharing. I bought a single gang blue plastic junction box ($.29), a normal double outlet ($.54), a single gang outlet cover plate ($.39) a two pack of F2 starters ($2.99) and a starter socket ($4.00 landed). All that, along with a computer power cord (with the IEC end hacked off), some wire nuts and about five minutes of my time netted me a self-contained and easy to use double outlet flicker box. I didn't even bother mounting the starter socket... just put in the box with the wires. I did remove the mounting nails from the junction box and snapped off the ears.

You can do the same thing with a double gang blue junction box ($1.49) along with two outlets and two starters to make a box with two independent flicker circuits.

It's quick, easy and best of all, cheap!

I forgot to mention yesterday that I tried the starter on both the hot and neutral lines and it made no difference in the flickering.

Otaku, I am also having no luck in finding appropriate power strips. I just got home after returning a Belkin 6 outlet metal body p/s that I bought last night from HD. It had the screws between each pair of outlets and yet once inside I found that it was wired up with 2 copper rails running the length of the fixture! I went to Lowe's and OSH and found similar units there (or the plastic moulded ones). I have everything else to do this build and can't wait to put it together! Any ideas where I can find a similar p/s?

So, I myself also went out looking for all these parts. The power strip I failed at as well and it's almost like no one around here, commercially, carries the Fluorescent Starter Socket. Before I go out again, does this little box, when fully assembled, work for a Fluorescent light fixture plugged into it? Or should I just loosen the starter already in the Fixture? Thanks guys!