WiFi enabled 13A plug?

[Bob Eager]

Lots of places supply a combined 13A plug and socket that can be controlled remotely (with a battery operated wireless or IR remote).

This kind of thing:

Does anyone do the same kind of socket, but with an IP interface and a published API?

(I *don't* want something that only works with an 'app')

[dennis]

belkin wemo?

[Andy Burns]

I've seen various people using a "sonoff" device which is basically an ESP8266 driving a relay, but you can flash it with any arduino code, this chap has done various MQTT, and API hack stuff with them

[Bob Eager]

Thanks for the link. If I had to do it myself, I was thinking of doing it with an ESP8266 (I have one sitting in a drawer in the workshop, together with an Arduino Mini and some relays). I'd just like a quick fix with an over the counter package for this...!

[Theo Markettos]

Do you need wifi? A lot of them are low-power RF (eg 433MHz), with a very simple transmitter (using air gap isolation). These ones have a Raspberry Pi module and library:

Theo

[Andy Burns]

they sell "soap-on-a-rope" versions

and socket versions

and others ...

[Bob Eager]

Thanks. However, it seems to rely on 'their' server, and no mention of an API> I'd like it to work on an isolated network.

[Bob Eager]

Yes, I've used radio ones and they don't seem to have the range. But I'll look at that one, although a Pi is a bit overkill.

I really want a ready made solution, and just do the programming of the 'client'.

[Bob Eager]

Thanks. However:

- a bit expensive per unit

- I don't want smartphone access, but I do want a documented API

- I'm a bit 'off' Belkin these days...!

[spuorgelgoog]

web interface, so may be scriptable using POST and GET?

Owain

[The Natural Philosopher]

A pi with a rack of relays or SCRs running of its parrallel port would be cheaper.

Knocking up a socket daemon to drive it would be relatively trivial.

[Bob Eager]

I could easily do all that. But I'd prefer a nice 'normal' looking appliance side, leaving me to send some UDP or whatever to control it.

Think I'm going to have to look at suitable enclosures. The Pi is overkill, though; an ESP8266 and an Arduino Micro would be enough, with a relay.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Yep. Arduino good enough.

My PI eyed friend prints her own cases for them and PI's. :-)

[Theo]

For completeness I will mention:

Upsides:

• It's a Linux box, you can SSH in and flip the switch via echo 1 > /sys/bus/whatever/port/1

• There's a web GUI so you can do it without a client (or their controller thingy which does all the smartphone junk)

• The Pro version has ethernet as well as wifi

Downsides:

- no UK version, you have to use the Schuko version with an adapter (or suitable cable)

- they run Linux 2.6.15 or 2.6.32 (very old)

- the platform is EOL and they aren't updating them any more, so it wouldn't be a good idea to put one near the internet

- the driver for the power chip is closed-source (ie nobody else can update them either)

- the default password is on all the botnet lists - change it asap

Theo

[dennis]

Wemo