Terence EdenNov 8, 2023

Those of you who have a #SmartHome, what are your use-cases for smart plugs?

Most of my electrical things aren't just on/off.

I've got a light, a fan, and an electric blanket which can be controlled from the plug.

Other things (like TV, kettle, etc) need interaction after the power is turned on.

Have you found any good uses for #IoT plugs?

(Not interested in rants about security & privacy, thanks.)

Show threadBen CNov 8, 2023
@Edent my old stereo amp is plugged into the tv, but draws about 35w when idle. Home assistant pings the TV IP and turns on the amp when it’s on and off when it’s been off for 5 minutes.
Show threadKimNov 8, 2023
@bencc @Edent Off the top of my head:
-Powering up the antique LaserJet when CUPS sends a print job, then powering down after 10 minutes at idle power.
-Using power consumption to provide visual notification when the kettle/washing machine finish.
-Turning heaters and lights off when there's nobody in the room.
-Power-cycling the microwave at 13:01 every day so the hilariously bad (drifts by several minutes in a week) clock stays accurate.
-General monitoring of various items' power consumption, fed into rrdtool for graphing.
-Lazy control of fan heater from the other side of the room.

I've also got assorted Shellies, smart sockets and smart bulbs doing mildly clever things with ceiling lamps.

Some of this stuff became seriously useful when my partner was recovering from hip surgery. Control of heat/light from bed, automatically turning the bathroom light on when I was emptying the commode, etc.
Show threadNatalyaDNov 9, 2023

@kim's partner here... @Edent @bencc

The automated lighting makes a huge difference to me (admittedly has extra PIR tech). I have arm impairments and have found not having to 'reach for light switches as much' helps hugely.

I'm also part-vampire (migraines) so being able to dim lights from a web interface is brilliant.

During surgery recovery I could turn the lights & fan heater on/off without having to reach sockets/switches and risk falling over (which would have been v unsafe for me).

Show threadBen C
@NatalyaD @kim @Edent PIR operated lights are the best. We’ve solved that with hue but being able to have the landing light come on automatically at low brightness at night is so helpful. I love the microwave hack too.
Nov 9, 2023 at 4:36amWeb
Show threadKimNov 9, 2023
@bencc @NatalyaD @Edent It's an objectively terrible microwave, which in spite of its rusting habit seems disinclined to fail in a manner that justifies replacing it with a less terrible microwave. I'm impressed that anyone can make a digital clock that's so bad.

(Obviously nothing will compare to the Circa-1986 Sharp that I inherited from my gran, via a decade of being stored in a damp garage. That was bulletproof, ergonomic, really good at heating things at low power, and used the mains frequency to tell time.)
Show threadNatalyaDNov 9, 2023
@kim @Edent @bencc tbf the Microwave hack is a pain in that the time on it is now wrong before 1pm or if we've been out. I just ignore it's clock for something else reliable.