@CatalinaWOW see below
@nctnico agreed!
@ianb, well why not (all 100)? Nice feeling if you go on holiday and you can switch
everything off (thats needs to be off)? If you could do monitoring, you see exactly what uses what. The plugin versions are all proprietary. All wireless (which gives big problems since you need to be within range). Not truly cheap. If you have a 25 sockets and need to update you need to buy 25 new + your IFTTT solution needs probably updating as-well. And TBH there all pretty ugly (IMO)
OK, well hear me out? ;-)
Since there
seems to be no solutions (yet)
Anyone up for some open-source h/w ?
If you split the functionality, its pretty simple: there are switches and sockets.
BTW a socket could also be also something you would use for direct connecting: a ceiling lamp, fan, etc. (without the plug)In essence a switch is a trigger. So a trigger can be generated via different ways:
- Mechanical (human flips a swich)
- Software (Andriod, iOS, Apple Home Kit, Webpage, etc..)
- Sensor (Light, Sound, Movement, Smoke, Rain, Sun, Wind, you name it...)
- Timer
- ?
Once a trigger fires, its send a message to a "basic controller" (could be a Arduino, Raspberry, PLC, .... ). The controller "flips the relay" by putting a message on the power line (i.e. SWITCH-X => ON/OFF/TOGGLE). The socket receives the messages and "acts" accordingly.
Each switch and socket has it own address, and with software the possibilities are then endless (IFTTT):
- group sockets and bind them to a single switch
- different switches control multiple sockets (i.e. in a hall you have multiple switches: ground + 1st floor and any of those switches will turn on/off all lights in the hall/stair-case)
- ...
Now the sockets seems to the (my) main issue. You need a socket, a relay, dc power (for the relay) and you need some minimalistic circuit that can respond to a command (comms).
The commands a socket should understand:
- status? (is it on or off)
- switch on
- switch off
- toggle
- (usage: watt)
- ....
And obviously it should be
built-in version.
I know you can send communication over the mains. But can you miniaturise a circuit in such away that: the relay, power and communication circuit can get in inside (behind) the socket? If you can "throw" in a current meter, then for the energy-minded you can measure (log) each socket (optional).
I have seen the power sockets that contain already USB power, so a socket with some DC circuitry (for a built-in socket) is apparently possible. I have also seen already sockets with WIFI/RF controller. Now if we can fiddle in "Power Line Communication (encrypted?)" to toggle the relay :-)
NOTEThe problem with all the current WIFI / RF controlled versions is that is just a matter of time before someone can hack it (if not already). The technology that has now built bluetooth, wifi, rf, etc. needs to be replaced in the near future simply because of (potential) security issues (and updates in protocols). Also wireless will always have signal reception problems (under certain conditions) that are eliminated with wires).
Therefor, i think, a wired solution with a single "central" means: only update the "central software" or replace it with a new peace of h/w. It also leaves you the choice to not use any wireless technology. Anyhow, you will not need to replace your sockets, switches and triggers!
I do realise, that wired solution is also not "hack proof", but at-least it means a hacker needs physical access (which is a a extra boundary). The last thing i wish is that some script-kiddie plays
with a house, if it would be a remote operated x-mas tree