Remote WiFi controlled outlets?

TheEngineer

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I’ve gone back and forth on my thinking about these. I like the idea of them as a last resort fall back option. Say a port on your controller gets stuck on and the heater thermostat is dead, you can remotely kill the outlet. I don’t know what happens if these are on a switched outlet though.

The part that worries me is reliability of the switch itself. What if it sticks on/off? Does the company need to exist for me to reach the outlet from off my WiFi network?

I’ve thought about getting a pair for my RODI so I can use an IFTTT setup to turn it off when the bucket is full or after some set time.
 
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Cornerboy

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Yeah. I'm not sure how they would dude turning on and off a dozen times today, but I'm thinking to turn off a heater and turn on a fan in the event of emergency it seems like a very interesting option
 

bdejong1112o

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I use them. I have one that controls my sump light and is linked to my google home. This was so i can voice turn on and off the lighting in my sump while i tinker in there.

The shape does take up a little more that one slot depending on the plug size. See picture. The others run lights in different areas, even the christmas tree. They have worked good sonfar and are a good price.

20180114_113525.jpg
 
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Cornerboy

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I hadn't thought about the size. I'm glad to know it works for you!!
 

TheEngineer

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reelss

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I have used smart outlets in my freshwater application with great success. I control my lights, filters and powerheads. You can create schedules and routines and have them integrated with Alexa. For example: "Alexa, feeding time" will shut off all powerheads and wavemakers.
 

Finhead

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I use them to control my the T5's from my hybrid fixture. They work really great IMO easy to setup create a schedule and control with your phone, and there tiny.
 
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Cornerboy

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Cornerboy

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I have used smart outlets in my freshwater application with great success. I control my lights, filters and powerheads. You can create schedules and routines and have them integrated with Alexa. For example: "Alexa, feeding time" will shut off all powerheads and wavemakers.

You can create schedules too?!?! That's cool!! How do you do it Reelss?
 
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Cornerboy

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I use them to control my the T5's from my hybrid fixture. They work really great IMO easy to setup create a schedule and control with your phone, and there tiny.

So there is an app for your phone i guess, is that right Finhead? Simple on/off scheduling i'm assuming. This is exciting. Thanks!!
 

reelss

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You can create schedules too?!?! That's cool!! How do you do it Reelss?

I have smartthings for home automation. It comes with lots of apps that can be used for scheduling your smart devices. For example, on my freshwater set up, the powerheads run between 7 AM and 7 PM for 20 minutes every hour.
 

BigHildy53

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If you want controllable outlets without the expense of a controller, I suggest looking at SmartThings, or similar, smart home options. Allows more possibilities.
 

Fishguywc

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I bought some generic ones on Amazon to turn on/off my two t5 channels. I've used them now over a year and they have worked really well. The "App" is UCSmart Home and has basic on/off and timers where you can set as many points as you'd like. It only works on a 2.4ghz network (my router has a 2.4 and 5g channel) so you have to be on that network to connect with the controllers. Over the year the only issue has been a couple times they dropped off the network and they had to be re-paired and re-programmed and a couple times they didn't switch so i had to do it manually. I'm thinking about getting a few more and i've recently seen wi-fi power strips with multiple connected outlets so i may give that a try. For a controller on the cheap I think they work great.
 
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Cornerboy

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I have smartthings for home automation. It comes with lots of apps that can be used for scheduling your smart devices. For example, on my freshwater set up, the powerheads run between 7 AM and 7 PM for 20 minutes every hour.
That's cool!!
 
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Cornerboy

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If you want controllable outlets without the expense of a controller, I suggest looking at SmartThings, or similar, smart home options. Allows more possibilities.

That is exactly what im thinking... I'll take a look for sure!! Thanks!!
 
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Cornerboy

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I bought some generic ones on Amazon to turn on/off my two t5 channels. I've used them now over a year and they have worked really well. The "App" is UCSmart Home and has basic on/off and timers where you can set as many points as you'd like. It only works on a 2.4ghz network (my router has a 2.4 and 5g channel) so you have to be on that network to connect with the controllers. Over the year the only issue has been a couple times they dropped off the network and they had to be re-paired and re-programmed and a couple times they didn't switch so i had to do it manually. I'm thinking about getting a few more and i've recently seen wi-fi power strips with multiple connected outlets so i may give that a try. For a controller on the cheap I think they work great.
Thanks for the info!! A power strip would be really cool :)
 

Neo Jeo

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I would never rely on them for a heater. I have a wemo and when it did a firmware update it defaulted off. If the power goes off and back on it defaults to off. Just not enough trust in it.
 

Fishguywc

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Fudsey

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I wonder if you could use this as a wave maker for powerheads?
 

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