Abstract: Electrical equipment such as a personal computer includes a plurality of internal components which require different voltages including low voltages of about five volts for operation. The different voltages are supplied by an internal power supply, with a voltage regulator, which is itself connected to an appropriately transformed high voltage supply typically from an in-the-wall source. Peripherals such as a FAX/modem, CD ROM, or tape recorder are powered by cables plugged into mating sockets in the face of the computer housing. The sockets, in turn, are connected to the appropriate outputs of the internal power supply to obtain appropriate voltage power directly from the host computer in the absence of a transformed connection to a house supply. A switch is provided at each of the sockets to vary the voltage there.

Abstract: Electrical equipment such as a personal computer includes a plurality of internal components which require different voltages including low voltages of about five volts for operation. The different voltages are supplied by an internal power supply, with a voltage regulator, which is itself connected to an appropriately-transformed high voltage supply typically from an in-the-wall source. Peripherals such as a FAX/modem, CD ROM, or tape recorder are powered by cables plugged into mating sockets in the face of the computer housing. The sockets, in turn, are connected to the appropriate outputs of the internal power supply to obtain appropriate voltage power directly from the host computer in the absence of a transformed connection to a house supply. A switch is provided at each of the sockets to vary the voltage there.