Smart Power Plugs, recommendations please

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Smart Power Plugs, recommendations please

cyril7

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#270182 27-Apr-2020 14:46

Hi, after a couple of smart plugs mainly for timer and remote switching of <2kw heaters in the coming winter.

Obvious contenders are the TP-Link Kasa and the D Link units. Are there others I should look at and whatever models do folk have any comments re the apps that come with them or Google Home integration etc.

As you can tell from the products mentioned above I am looking in the <$40 per unit range.

Cheers in advance

Cyril

richms

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#2472105 27-Apr-2020 14:49

Bunnings ones are fine. Set them up in tuya smart app rather than the arlec one, so that if you add other brand stuff later on you can use the one app for all of them. If you use the arlec app you will only control the arlec stuff from the app.

We don't have the range that they get in Australia here, they get some nicer ones that arent as inconsideratly wide, and some with energy monitoring in them but its not the sort of thing I would bother importing.

Richard rich.ms

Chippo

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#2472108 27-Apr-2020 14:57

I'm using a range of the TP Link Kasa plugs with Home Assistant. Some with or without Power Monitoring, and a 3 port power strip.

I bought these in particular because i wanted the power monitoring, in a device widely stocked in retailers.

I find they're all very reliable and were very easy to integrate (also a local polling API as well - which is always nice). But pushing above the top end of your per-plug budget.

I work for a Hosting Provider - But my opinions are my own.

cyril7

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#2472127 27-Apr-2020 15:27

So re the tuya app, I take it you can still not use that, but onboard the device via the Arlec app, then once that is done add it to Google Home, would that achieve the same level of wider compatibility.

With Google Home I take it you can do all the scheduling/timer actions etc from within that, once you have added the device, correct? Sorry to sound a bit dim on this but so far have not spent much time looking at GH and what it can do, guess I better sooner that later

Cyril

richms

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#2472130 27-Apr-2020 15:32

Do it all in tuya. It seems to download a control for each device so when I open the arlec plug it has the arlec UI in there. The tuya Google and Alexa skill gets all devices

Richard rich.ms

cyril7

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#2472131 27-Apr-2020 15:36

Thanks Richard, the Arlec devices do seem to be the right price for me :), I will take your advice and onboard them to Tuya and then onto GH.

Cheers

Cyril

davidcole

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#2472184 27-Apr-2020 16:22

A Lot of people like the tuya based ones because you can reflash them and that means you can control via something that isn’t their official app. Ie home assistant, homebridge (Apple homekit), openHAB, or node-red.

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richms

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#2472186 27-Apr-2020 16:28

When I looked at it, tuyaconvert isnt working right now because they are actually doing firmware updates securly now. Tuya seems to have a reliable cloud and app tho so no to worried in the short term, and at least smart plugs are able to be opened to manually flash if needed - unlike lightbulbs which will be destructive to open mostly.

Richard rich.ms

cyril7

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#2472187 27-Apr-2020 16:28

Hi, thanks David, yes just run down a rabbit hole following through the IoT world, but yes from what I can see Arlec and tuya is the right place to start for what I need.

Cheers

Cyril

everettpsycho

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#2472199 27-Apr-2020 16:36

I'm using the Bunnings one with the arlec app, never crossed my mind to use another app. We use them with Google home anyway. We've set it up to have 3 heaters off them then one feeds a powerboard for our bedside lamps. Added a routine in Google home to turn on all the heating so when our electric kiwi hour of power starts we can turn then all on and off quickly without having to run around the house. Tempted by another 4 pack but not certain exactly what I'd use them for but I'd find a use somewhere.