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Remote control socket.

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Itsallaguess
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Re: Remote control socket.

#250290

Postby Itsallaguess » September 8th, 2019, 11:31 am

Snorvey wrote:
With winter coming over the hill, it's time to dig out the slow cooker. There's nothing like coming home after work to the smell of something that has been gently cooking away for the day.

And that's the problem. A day is too long - even on the 'low' setting. And if we're running late, the food is overcooked and too dry and if we put it extra water, it turns to mush.

We know from weekend usage, it's best to turn it on at about 10.30 ish in the morning, although that can vary.

So I'm looking for a plug/socket that I can turn on via an app from work (if such a thing exists). Looking on Amazon, there seems to be a plethora of devices that seem to do what I want, but I wouldn't mind a recommendation from someone on here.

If it helps, I have a Google Home device?


I had a similar dilemma for our outside Christmas lights last year.

Any solution needed to be stand-alone, and not use any type of 'hub' or require Google Home or Alexa, as I don't have anything like that other than my wireless router. I wanted something that I could both 'instant remote' on and off and also that I could set regular time schedules for.

In the end I bought a TP-Link Smart-Plug (HS100) and it delivered everything that I needed and worked reliably with very easy set-up and control.

The TP-Link Smart-Plug (HS100) model that I have is currently £15.99 on Amazon -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Required-Control-Devices-Anywhere/dp/B07CKVZFGX

There is another TP-Link Smart-Plug model, the HS110, that has built in energy-monitoring technology, so you can monitor and record power-usage over time, which might be an advantage for some uses. They are currently £18.99 on Amazon -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Required-Control-Devices-Anywhere/dp/B07GWWRK1C

I use my Android phone to control mine, and the app is very simple to use. I don't think I'd particularly want to control anything that's too high-power with something like this, but I would have no problem recommending the above for relatively low power applications like a slow-cooker, which normally use power in the 100's of Watts, rather than kW's.

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

xeny
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Re: Remote control socket.

#250302

Postby xeny » September 8th, 2019, 12:04 pm

I'm also very happy with the various TP-Link smart plugs I own.

They can definitely be controlled from the Echo ecosystem, and https://www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/ ... lect-local documents how to use them with Google Home.

Dod101
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Re: Remote control socket.

#250304

Postby Dod101 » September 8th, 2019, 12:08 pm

Can you not just use a simple timer plug so that the slow cooker comes on at a time of your choosing without the need for remote control? After all you might forget to do anything about it.

I have this for a hot water circulation pump and it works without me doing a thing about it.

Dod

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Re: Remote control socket.

#250321

Postby pochisoldi » September 8th, 2019, 2:23 pm

Snorvey wrote:With winter coming over the hill, it's time to dig out the slow cooker. There's nothing like coming home after work to the smell of something that has been gently cooking away for the day.

And that's the problem. A day is too long - even on the 'low' setting. And if we're running late, the food is overcooked and too dry and if we put it extra water, it turns to mush.

We know from weekend usage, it's best to turn it on at about 10.30 ish in the morning, although that can vary.

So I'm looking for a plug/socket that I can turn on via an app from work (if such a thing exists). Looking on Amazon, there seems to be a plethora of devices that seem to do what I want, but I wouldn't mind a recommendation from someone on here.

If it helps, I have a Google Home device?

Cheers

Snorvey


Keep it simple:
Buy a 24hr plug in mechanical timer - one with 15minute segments.
Set it to the current time, push in/pullout the segments to set the on/off time, bingo.

£4:
https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-24-ho ... /p/0142473

£5:
https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-24- ... 763_BQ.prd

servodude
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Re: Remote control socket.

#250639

Postby servodude » September 10th, 2019, 4:00 am

pochisoldi wrote:
Snorvey wrote:With winter coming over the hill, it's time to dig out the slow cooker. There's nothing like coming home after work to the smell of something that has been gently cooking away for the day.

And that's the problem. A day is too long - even on the 'low' setting. And if we're running late, the food is overcooked and too dry and if we put it extra water, it turns to mush.

We know from weekend usage, it's best to turn it on at about 10.30 ish in the morning, although that can vary.

So I'm looking for a plug/socket that I can turn on via an app from work (if such a thing exists). Looking on Amazon, there seems to be a plethora of devices that seem to do what I want, but I wouldn't mind a recommendation from someone on here.

If it helps, I have a Google Home device?

Cheers

Snorvey


Keep it simple:
Buy a 24hr plug in mechanical timer - one with 15minute segments.
Set it to the current time, push in/pullout the segments to set the on/off time, bingo.

£4:
https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-24-ho ... /p/0142473

£5:
https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-24- ... 763_BQ.prd


Do both! ;)
Have the mechanical timer coming on to power the smart plug
- which you can then turn off via your phone to avoid the risk of overcooking when you get stuck in the pub

actually most smart plugs will allow you to schedule a start and stop anyway (i think storing it locally on the device)
- so give you the best of both worlds (as long as your wifi holds up)

which has got me thinking about whether there's smart plugs that use "powerline" for comms (as I've already got those installed to provide wifi points)

- sd

Dod101
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Re: Remote control socket.

#250642

Postby Dod101 » September 10th, 2019, 6:23 am

pochisoldi wrote:
Snorvey wrote:With winter coming over the hill, it's time to dig out the slow cooker. There's nothing like coming home after work to the smell of something that has been gently cooking away for the day.

And that's the problem. A day is too long - even on the 'low' setting. And if we're running late, the food is overcooked and too dry and if we put it extra water, it turns to mush.

We know from weekend usage, it's best to turn it on at about 10.30 ish in the morning, although that can vary.

So I'm looking for a plug/socket that I can turn on via an app from work (if such a thing exists). Looking on Amazon, there seems to be a plethora of devices that seem to do what I want, but I wouldn't mind a recommendation from someone on here.

If it helps, I have a Google Home device?

Cheers

Snorvey


Keep it simple:
Buy a 24hr plug in mechanical timer - one with 15minute segments.
Set it to the current time, push in/pullout the segments to set the on/off time, bingo.

£4:
https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-24-ho ... /p/0142473

£5:
https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-24- ... 763_BQ.prd


That is of course precisely what I was recommending above. They seem to be foolproof. Snorvey though would like the remote control, electronic version as he explained.

Dod

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Re: Remote control socket.

#251162

Postby AF62 » September 11th, 2019, 7:00 pm

Itsallaguess wrote:In the end I bought a TP-Link Smart-Plug (HS100) and it delivered everything that I needed and worked reliably with very easy set-up and control.

The TP-Link Smart-Plug (HS100) model that I have is currently £15.99 on Amazon -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Required-Control-Devices-Anywhere/dp/B07CKVZFGX

There is another TP-Link Smart-Plug model, the HS110, that has built in energy-monitoring technology, so you can monitor and record power-usage over time, which might be an advantage for some uses. They are currently £18.99 on Amazon -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Required-Control-Devices-Anywhere/dp/B07GWWRK1C


The advantage of the HS110 is that with the energy monitoring is you can actually see from the energy consumption the socket has turned on, whereas with the HS100 you have to trust the app is telling you the correct thing.

Probably not an issue here, but might be more relevant for other applications.

Snorvey wrote:And if we're running late, the food is overcooked and too dry and if we put it extra water, it turns to mush.


You can also connect the TP-Link plugs to IFTTT (https://ifttt.com/) so you should be able to set location based triggering if you wanted, i.e. automatically turn it on or off when you are at a certain location.

Itsallaguess
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Re: Remote control socket.

#252227

Postby Itsallaguess » September 16th, 2019, 3:18 pm

Just a heads up for anyone interested in the TP-Link energy-monitoring version of these Smart Switches (the HS110's) - a twin-pack is currently available from Ebuyer for just £29.99 -

https://www.ebuyer.com/912085-tp-link-hs110-wi-fi-smart-plug-with-energy-monitoring-twin-pack-hs110-twin-pack

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

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Re: Remote control socket.

#252276

Postby AF62 » September 16th, 2019, 6:43 pm

Itsallaguess wrote:Just a heads up for anyone interested in the TP-Link energy-monitoring version of these Smart Switches (the HS110's) - a twin-pack is currently available from Ebuyer for just £29.99


They also tend to be the sort of thing that is a Black Friday deal (that was where I got mine) if waiting a few weeks is an option.

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Re: Remote control socket.

#259616

Postby AF62 » October 23rd, 2019, 10:53 am

Itsallaguess wrote:Just a heads up for anyone interested in the TP-Link energy-monitoring version of these Smart Switches (the HS110's) - a twin-pack is currently available from Ebuyer for just £29.99 -

https://www.ebuyer.com/912085-tp-link-hs110-wi-fi-smart-plug-with-energy-monitoring-twin-pack-hs110-twin-pack


Now on Amazon at £25.99 for a twin-pack (or £20.99 if you use the discount code GIFT05 - check at https://www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=18707828031 to see if eligible) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Requir ... B07GWWPM9B

Or the energy monitoring version for £14.99 a single plug - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Monitoring-TP- ... B07GWWRK1C

Itsallaguess
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Re: Remote control socket.

#259686

Postby Itsallaguess » October 23rd, 2019, 4:04 pm

Snorvey wrote:
The plug was used in anger for the first time yesterday.

The missus turned it on from her work at around 10.30am and by the time we got home at the back of five the food smelled great and was pretty much cooked to perfection.

The slow cooker bowl was much easier to clean as well.


Good stuff Snorvey - which one did you get in the end, the HS100 or the HS110 with the energy-monitoring?

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

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Re: Remote control socket.

#266279

Postby Itsallaguess » November 22nd, 2019, 1:26 pm

Three TP-Link HS100 units for £30 via this Argos offer for anyone interested in this thread -

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/6254269/specialoffers/E31315

Offer ends December 3rd.

I'll be getting mine out in a couple of weeks for the outside icicle lights....

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

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Re: Remote control socket.

#266280

Postby Infrasonic » November 22nd, 2019, 1:29 pm


Itsallaguess
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Re: Remote control socket.

#266289

Postby Itsallaguess » November 22nd, 2019, 1:56 pm

Snorvey wrote:
A good deal but apart from turning on a light if we were on holiday say and the slow cooker, I can't think of anything else to use them for.


I agree that they've got fairly niche applications, but given that one of those niche applications, certainly for me anyway, is for Christmas tree lights and external icicle lights, and given that it's nearly December, then I thought it might have been a useful offer for anyone in a similar position who was perhaps waiting for a good entry-price.

Hope you're still using that slow-cooker Snorvey - which is another great winter application...

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

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Re: Remote control socket.

#266293

Postby Infrasonic » November 22nd, 2019, 2:10 pm

Another niche use (that I'm going to try out soon ) is for automating a portable electric oil filled radiator that I use during extra cold periods as spot heater in my flat. It's got a thermostat, I just want to be able to turn it on remotely an hour or so before I get home (which varies in time enormously). The rest of the flat is on individual wall heaters with individual thermostats but a 'dumbish' central control panel.

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Re: Remote control socket.

#266307

Postby Infrasonic » November 22nd, 2019, 2:58 pm

Snorvey wrote:I thought about that too but would a heater not be a bit heavy on the juice?

It's a fair jump from running a few leds or a slow cooker


Oil filled is pretty efficient and it's in addition to the low settings on the other heaters, so a bit of a lift rather than megawatts of volcanic heat...

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Re: Remote control socket.

#266313

Postby kiloran » November 22nd, 2019, 3:15 pm

Infrasonic wrote:Oil filled is pretty efficient and it's in addition to the low settings on the other heaters, so a bit of a lift rather than megawatts of volcanic heat...

Aren't all electric heaters pretty much 100% efficient? Oil-filled just means they slowly build up to a gentle heat (and slowly lose heat after switch-off), rather than the quick, direct heat from a bare element.

--kiloran

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Re: Remote control socket.

#266319

Postby Infrasonic » November 22nd, 2019, 3:40 pm

https://www.cse.org.uk/advice/advice-an ... om-heaters

Electric room heaters
These include ‘radiant’ bar fires (below, picture 1), warm air heaters (2), oil-filled radiators (3), fan heaters (4), and halogen heaters (5). They are all expensive to run and not appropriate as a main heat source.

Electric heaters are all considered to be 100% efficient (i.e. they turn all the electricity they use into heat), but some are more expensive to run than others because they provide more heat. The cheapest are halogen heaters and oil-filled radiators; the most expensive are bar fires and fan heaters.

If you have to use an electric room heater, use it only when necessary and consider the following:

Use a timer if it has one, if not, you can buy a timeswitch for the plug from a hardware shop.
If the heater has a thermostat make sure it’s not turned up too high.
If you are on Economy 7, avoid using it for long periods within the peak hours if you can. It's better to use night storage heaters that are charged at night.
The table below shows typical running costs for a range of electric room heaters. The actual costs will vary as electricity prices change, but what's important is how they compare with each other.

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Re: Remote control socket.

#266330

Postby mc2fool » November 22nd, 2019, 4:25 pm

Infrasonic wrote:https://www.cse.org.uk/advice/advice-and-support/room-heaters
Electric heaters are all considered to be 100% efficient (i.e. they turn all the electricity they use into heat), but some are more expensive to run than others because they provide more heat. The cheapest are halogen heaters and oil-filled radiators; the most expensive are bar fires and fan heaters.

Errrr, right ... and in case that isn't that a statement of the dead obvious they go on to list a 2kW Radiant bar fire costing 28p/hr vs a 1.2kW Halogen heater costing 17p/hr.

So, the halogen heater is 60% of the cost of the radiant bar fire to run ... and produces 60% of the heat. How about that... :roll:

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Re: Remote control socket.

#266373

Postby Infrasonic » November 22nd, 2019, 6:09 pm

Pedant Friday, never as popular as Black Friday...

Looking at the BIG picture around heating always helps (wood for the trees to maintain the fuel pun), it's all to do with losses.

In fact just this morning someone in a top floor corner flat at my development with huge windows was moaning about having to have their heating on virtually flat out for very little effective return. We had a chat about secondary glazing, roof insulation, future building regs in light of Grenfell affecting any leaseholder modifications they might want to try etc.

I'm in a different situation, first floor, commercial shop unit underneath with lots of lovely heaters on all day (8.30am until about 6pm), neighbors on both sides and above, windows front and back only.
So I have my fixed wall heaters set very low, they occasionally come on during the day (unless it's baltic outside obviously), and it gets a bit chilly early evening as I lose the benefit of the shop units heat below and the general air temperature drops.

So the plan is to have the oil filled radiator switch on about an hour before I get back (which varies greatly), on a thermostat setting slightly above that of the fixed heaters, leaving it in whatever room I deem the priority each morning. I can then manually adjust the wall heaters thermostats on an individual room basis as needed when I get home.

I want to try and minimise any safety/regs/insurance issues with having a free standing heat source on when I'm not there, which was partly why I chose a portable oil filled radiator in the first place (I've had it about twenty years). Everybody happy now? :D


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