Anyone know how to use a smart plug?
Discussion
I don’t know if I’m getting this right. I bought two smart plugs, one for my dishwasher and one for my washing machine. I’ve got one of these energy tariffs which has very low electricity cost during the middle of the night. I’d obviously like to set up my dishwasher to run at the times when electricity price is obviously extremely low.
I’ve set this up on the app, but somehow nothing happens. And here I am thinking how can it? The dishwasher is off and I haven’t preset a program so how can I switch on my dishwasher?
Is anyone here remotely Techy and could explain if this works or not. Thank you!
I’ve set this up on the app, but somehow nothing happens. And here I am thinking how can it? The dishwasher is off and I haven’t preset a program so how can I switch on my dishwasher?
Is anyone here remotely Techy and could explain if this works or not. Thank you!
Dishwashers and washing machines almost always have delay-start timers built into them for exactly this sort of thing. I guess it's conceivable yours don't, but 'cheap power at night' has been a thing for a long time - as has the desire to have the washing machine finish shortly before you are able to empty it, so clothes don't sit damp and creased for ages.
You can use the smart plug for other things - shutting the TV/sky box/DVD player/soundbar (etc) off overnight, for example..
You can use the smart plug for other things - shutting the TV/sky box/DVD player/soundbar (etc) off overnight, for example..
If you’re dishwasher or other appliances don’t have delayed starts then these may work-
https://amzn.eu/d/jm0UORK
Switchbot physical smart button. Will press a button or rocker switch on a timer
https://amzn.eu/d/jm0UORK
Switchbot physical smart button. Will press a button or rocker switch on a timer
This worked 20 years ago when you turned the machine on by turning a dial that was a physical switch , but not now.
Those physical button pressers might work, but you might also find that the buttons are too stiff, you can't mount the buttons rigidly enough and the buttons are on the door edge, hidden an inaccessible. You'll also have to contend with the fact that most dishwashers will default to their eco setting on power-on, which doesn't clean anything properly, so likely you need a 2 or 3 button press combination to get the right programme.
I'd think the most robust approach is going to be to open the switches up and solder some extra wires on and back to a smart relay, then put something like Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi to run a timed sequence of button presses. But this is a lot of faffy messing around!
Those physical button pressers might work, but you might also find that the buttons are too stiff, you can't mount the buttons rigidly enough and the buttons are on the door edge, hidden an inaccessible. You'll also have to contend with the fact that most dishwashers will default to their eco setting on power-on, which doesn't clean anything properly, so likely you need a 2 or 3 button press combination to get the right programme.
I'd think the most robust approach is going to be to open the switches up and solder some extra wires on and back to a smart relay, then put something like Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi to run a timed sequence of button presses. But this is a lot of faffy messing around!
paulrockliffe said:
This worked 20 years ago when you turned the machine on by turning a dial that was a physical switch , but not now.
Those physical button pressers might work, but you might also find that the buttons are too stiff, you can't mount the buttons rigidly enough and the buttons are on the door edge, hidden an inaccessible. You'll also have to contend with the fact that most dishwashers will default to their eco setting on power-on, which doesn't clean anything properly, so likely you need a 2 or 3 button press combination to get the right programme.
I'd think the most robust approach is going to be to open the switches up and solder some extra wires on and back to a smart relay, then put something like Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi to run a timed sequence of button presses. But this is a lot of faffy messing around!
Sorry, but Those physical button pressers might work, but you might also find that the buttons are too stiff, you can't mount the buttons rigidly enough and the buttons are on the door edge, hidden an inaccessible. You'll also have to contend with the fact that most dishwashers will default to their eco setting on power-on, which doesn't clean anything properly, so likely you need a 2 or 3 button press combination to get the right programme.
I'd think the most robust approach is going to be to open the switches up and solder some extra wires on and back to a smart relay, then put something like Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi to run a timed sequence of button presses. But this is a lot of faffy messing around!
The chap can't figure out a smart plug, so the answer is to take his dishwasher apart, solder stuff into the switches, then set up a RPi to schedule his dishwashing?
deckster said:
paulrockliffe said:
This worked 20 years ago when you turned the machine on by turning a dial that was a physical switch , but not now.
Those physical button pressers might work, but you might also find that the buttons are too stiff, you can't mount the buttons rigidly enough and the buttons are on the door edge, hidden an inaccessible. You'll also have to contend with the fact that most dishwashers will default to their eco setting on power-on, which doesn't clean anything properly, so likely you need a 2 or 3 button press combination to get the right programme.
I'd think the most robust approach is going to be to open the switches up and solder some extra wires on and back to a smart relay, then put something like Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi to run a timed sequence of button presses. But this is a lot of faffy messing around!
Sorry, but Those physical button pressers might work, but you might also find that the buttons are too stiff, you can't mount the buttons rigidly enough and the buttons are on the door edge, hidden an inaccessible. You'll also have to contend with the fact that most dishwashers will default to their eco setting on power-on, which doesn't clean anything properly, so likely you need a 2 or 3 button press combination to get the right programme.
I'd think the most robust approach is going to be to open the switches up and solder some extra wires on and back to a smart relay, then put something like Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi to run a timed sequence of button presses. But this is a lot of faffy messing around!
The chap can't figure out a smart plug, so the answer is to take his dishwasher apart, solder stuff into the switches, then set up a RPi to schedule his dishwashing?
It's not as hard as it sounds, I reckon 90% of the people that have enough between the ears to think about how to do it could put vaguely the right stuff into Google to work it out if they really wanted to do it. I've no idea if it's worth the time and hassle to the OP or not.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff