How to control a power socket from a RasberryPi

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › How to control a power socket from a RasberryPi

LesF

151 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 19

Topic # 223609 8-Oct-2017 13:10

I have a RPi managing jobs on my 3D printer, using Octoprint for the manager and a webcam for checking that it hasn't messed up.

When a job finishes I can tell the app to disconnect from the printer, which drops the USB connection and hopefully always leaves it with heaters turned off, but I would also like to be able to switch off the main power supply to the printer.

I have looked at some home automation power plugs which have a wifi remote control, are any of these able to be controlled via a RasberryPi running Linux?

What safe and reliable options would you recommend?

Ge0rge

193 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 74

Trusted

Reply # 1879367 8-Oct-2017 13:31

If you're telling the app manually (ie it's not doing it automatically at the end of the print run) to disconnect, perhaps a WeMo switch might be an option? then, after you've told the RPi to disconnet, use the WeMo app to turn the switch off as well.

LesF

151 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 19

Reply # 1879382 8-Oct-2017 13:49

Cool, there is a command-line tool for that NPMJS belkin-wemo-command-line-tools

I would like to make this part of a web interface, so that I can leave a large print job running when I go out. Also making a camera mount with pan/tilt controls using Arduino gear, which will be the main focus of that web interface (ooh a pun).

Try Wrike: fast, easy, and efficient project collaboration software

frankv

2249 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1072

Reply # 1879530 8-Oct-2017 21:26

I have the 12V supply to my 3D printer go via a RPi-controlled relay board. The relays are good for 10A, so I use one relay for the heated bed supply and another for the printer (and a third to turn LED lighs on/off). These relays are able to handle 250V AC, so you could do that too. However, I'm wary of working with mains, just because it's legal to play with 10A@12VDC, but not 0.5A@230VAC, so it doesn't destroy your insurance cover.

I'm sure you could control a Wemo (or similar) from a RPi. With a bit of luck, you should be able to Google protocols and maybe even find a RPi app that does it for you. I've reverse-engineered some Wifi-controlled LED controllers by using Wireshark to capture how a supplied phone app talked to the device. Simple UDP one-way messaging.

Tinkerisk

287 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 55

Reply # 1879571 8-Oct-2017 23:50

LesF:

What safe and reliable options would you recommend?

I'm using 'fhem' on a RPi3. You can integrate nearly everything (regarding function AND of the shelf systems) - already existing and even new (i.e. Ikea, Hue, Heater Systems, Audio, TV, ...) stuff to it ... and: it's open source.

It mostly uses commercial 868MHz, 433MHz or even wired components with their relevant protocols - IP as well (I'm not familiar with your allowed frequency ranges).

If you don't fear CLI and some kind of initial familarization effort it's perfect for you and expandable ... https://fhem.de/

Edit: I forgot to mention 'Alexa', if you Claim to have that 'women' in your house as well ... ;-)

Have fun!

Nope, English isn't my mother tongue. But that's why I'm here.

lchiu7

4822 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 82

Trusted

Reply # 1880503 10-Oct-2017 17:48

One person supports this post

Probably not quite what you want but I control electrical outlets using plugin wall modules from Dlink and Insteon via Alexa (and Google Home) to a RPi running OpenHAB and HABridge.

System One: Popcorn Hour A200, PS3 SuperSlim, NPVR and Plex Server running on Gigabyte Brix (Windows 10 Pro), Sony BDP-S390 BD player, Pioneer AVR, Raspberry Pi running Kodi and Plex, Panasonic 60" 3D plasma, Google Chromecast

System Two: Popcorn Hour A200 , Oppo BDP-80 BluRay Player with hardware mode to be region free, Vivitek HD1080P 1080P DLP projector with 100" screen. Harman Kardon HK AVR 254 7.1 receiver, Samsung 4K player, Google Chromecast

My Google+ page

https://plus.google.com/+laurencechiu

chimera

278 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 53

Subscriber

Reply # 1881984 11-Oct-2017 15:19

One person supports this post

Sonoff is your best bet. They rock.

https://www.banggood.com/DIY-Wi-Fi-Wireless-Switch-For-Smart-Home-With-ABS-Shell-p-1019971.html

+ hack to this firmware...

https://github.com/arendst/Sonoff-Tasmota/wiki

then easily control via wifi