Is there anything that I can install inline with an electrical cord to power it on and off remotely – like a smart plug, but without a receptacle. I want to be able to wire an electrical cord into it and have it cut (or not) the current in the circuit.
Basically, I want to be able to control a set of exterior GU10 recessed lights independently with code (ideally via Home Assistant). If I can’t find a smart exterior GU10 bulb that I can control remotely, my next best option to wire up traditional GU10 recessed downlights with traditional bulbs, and then control those remotely. I could run each one back to a central point and control them with a relay attached to a r-pi, but if there’s a way to not have to run all the wires to a central point, to wire a smart wireless relay into each light, and yet still control them from Home Assistant or code that I write myself, that’d be way more convenient.
I haven’t had much luck finding the right kind of product. When I look up smart switches, I mostly find things that look like switches that sit on the wall, but that can then be hooked up to your smart ecosystem to control things like smart lights. That’s useful for other purposes, but not for what I want.
Anything else I should consider? Anyone using anything like this that they’re happy with? On a quick scan of the forums sounds like some people have the Sonoff switch, but it has to be flashed (meh), and I didn’t fin da lot on the insteon or ener-j.
Sonoff POW2 (has power monitoring, more expensive, can be purchased with Electrical Authority Compliance in Australia). https://www.itead.cc/sonoff-pow-r2.html
When flashed with Tasmota or ESPhome firmware both work exceptionally well with HA. It is very easy to flash them.
As @tom_l said, sonoffs are pretty handy and pretty small to fit anywhere (check out Shelly alternatives for an even smaller/different form factor)
Imho, if you just need basic on/off functionality (i.e. you dont want to hook up other sensors on the sonoffs) there is no need to re-flash them.
You can use them out of the box with the following components:
This, which needs internet connection to operate, meaning you will still have functionality through their original app - if needed- but if your internet goes down or if you dont want to have them exposed, it doesnt work for you.
This requires no reflashing of the sonoffs and works locally
The first works really well for my needs but i haven’t had the oportunity to personally test out the second yet.
This got me thinking, is there some inline relay that works over powerline ethernet (or whatever that is called) and not wifi? that would be a nice option if you have power cables running but no wifi coverage ^^
You’re right, that’s not terrible – Shelly is €8 shipping to my home for a four pack, adding up to something like CAD$20 per switch if I got a 4-pack of Shelly 1s, which is by no means a deal breaker if the Shelly’s the right product.
The sonoffs are just fine and a cheaper. The Shelly have a different form, so they are smaller and a lot easier to hide, e. g. behind a wall switch. All my regular light switches use Shellys, so I can use Google to turn on/off all my “regular” lights aswell as use the regular switches. Huge benefit compared to smart light bulbs which you cant turn on via voice/assistant when the switch is switched off.
