I bought a couple of Ikea E2206 sockets, mostly to monitor energy consumption. So far I am happy with the results.
However, for security reasons I want to install a few sockets in places where there should not be an option to turn the socket off, at least not remotely. I have read about clamps, which seem to do just that but are quite a bit more expensive and more difficult to install.
Are there inexpensive solutions like the E2206 with the option to (physically or permanently) disable the switch, possibly through an alternative firmware?
Just hiding the option would not fit my needs
As far as I’m concerned, there are currently three main options:
- Shelly power metering device to be placed behind the socket
- ESPHome based power metering plugs without relays
- most notably the ESPHome plug by Athom, they also offer a Tasmota-based variant
- Some solution with power clamps
- either ready to buy, e.g., Shelly EM or - rather for the breaker box - some Shelly Pro devices (e.g., Shelly Pro EM-50)
- or build something by yourself, probably ESPHome is also the way to go
I have a Shelly PM Mini Gen3 and multiple Athom no-relay ESPHome plugs. Both solutions are pretty solid. The plugs are a bit easier to set up, the Shellys require an electrician to install, but are the cleaner solution afterwards.
Keep in mind maximum power / currents when choosing the right solution.
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Thank you! I wouldn’t have guessed that the Athom plugs have no relay as the product picture looks like they have a button, but I think I’ll get a few of those first
Let us know how that goes.
There is definitively some kind of button, but it is not for controlling any relay (there is none 
).
I think it is either for resetting the device or has no function at all and is just there to cut production costs because the no-relay-version is an adaption of the relay-version.
if you are just worried about having the socket turned off/on from HA, you can hide or disable that entity so it cannot be easily toggled.
I’m more worried about the relay failing and the critical load not having power.
Shelly also announced the Shelly Plug PM Gen3, which would be similar to the Athom ones, at the IFA trade show this year, but there haven’t been any information post that yet.
Update: The sockets arrived today. They announce themselves as ‘athom-without-relay’. I agree with Gunnar that they probably share the layout with another version.
The button on the side clearly suggests that it is used to turn the socket on and off. It’s not doing that, though. That’s probably a standards violation in many jurisdictions, so they would be unusable for anything official.
The button still has a purpose, long-pressing will factory-reset the device. It also blinks during setup.
Setup is straightforward. Connect to the socket AP and then tell it to connect to your own Wifi, add it in ESP and that’s that. It exposes a whopping 22 entities
Sensors
Apparent Power
Current
Energy
Power
Power Factor
Reactive Power
Total Energy
Total Energy Since Boot
Voltage
Configuration
athom-without-relay-plug-nnnn Internet Access
Factory Reset
Restart
Safe Mode
Diagnostic
athom-without-relay-plug-nnnn
Connected SSID
IP Address
Last Restart
Mac Address
Status
Uptime
WiFi Signal dB
WiFi Signal Percent
Except for the mislabeled button I am pleased. Power measurement matches the Ikeas.
Edit: They use less space than the Ikea and may be a better fit in tight places
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