Home Automation

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Home automation is the residential extension of building automation.

It is automation of the home, housework or household activity.

Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), appliances, security locks of gates and doors and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security.

Warning: Working with electricity can result in injury, property damage, or even death if it is not done properly. Please keep this in mind while assisting others. If you are not sure about what you are doing, hire a licensed professional.

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Is there any device that can turn itself off with a timer after it detects current flowing? (alien.top)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I have an electric patio heater that I sometimes forget to turn off after using. In addition to a fire hazard, it costs a lot of money to keep it running overnight if I forget. However, it also doesn't turn on when you power the outlet on. You have to hit the button on the heater to turn it on, so a normal smart plug won't be able to automate turning it on and off. Is there any kind of device that could be programmed to sense when current starts flowing through the plug and start a timer to automatically turn it off in 1 hour?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

3 options

add a timer that controls the outlet. you have to set the timer 1,2,4,8 hours and then turn on the heater. heater will turn off after set time.

I have done this with my infrared heaters in my deck ceiling. but have the timer controlling power to z-wave dimmer switches. I didn't want them on all night if the kids forgot to turn them off.

option 2 is a z wave plug that detects current and automatically shuts off after a set time.

option 3 is a zwave plug and have it set to turn off at say 10pm every night. I do this with my heat tape.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

You know option 3 is kinda compelling and never occurred to me... I'm typically out there at predictable times with the dog so I could just use a regular smart plug with a schedule to turn off at set times. I mean if it turned off at 10pm it might not catch it as quick as possible but it would certainly be better than letting it run overnight.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

You could even get one of those plugs with an analogue timer in that case.

But if you already have some kind of home automation set up, a lot of smart plugs can measure current going through it, so you could just set up a rule to turn it off at 10pm, or combine with a motion detector to turn off if the room has been empty for 10 minutes.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

You can set up a routine for a smart plug that will turn it off after a time period after being turned on. You can add a routine to power on the smart plug at the times you expect to be out. You can also use a motion sensor to turn on the plug.

After the smart plug turns on you will still need to turn on the heater unless you can mount a smart button pusher to push the button for you.