• Slightly off topic--Wifi capable convenience outlet

    From Nate Bargmann@21:1/5 to All on Sun Jan 12 23:00:01 2025
    Hi All.

    As the knowledge base on this list is wide and deep, I am asking to cut
    through the commercial clutter. Ideally, what I would like to find is a
    WiFi (802.11a/b/g) capable device that would plug into the end of an
    extension cord (common US NEMA 5-15 receptacle/plug) and allow me to
    activate power to the connected device (in this case engine block
    warmer) over the network via some scripting and cron jobs.

    Searches invariably lead to a near endless result list of proprietary
    devices and apps and household items that aren't likely to be up to the
    task of being exposed to outdoor elements. Of course there is the Home Assistant forum I can sign up for and ask but I thought I would try here
    first in case someone has already found such devices.

    TIA

    - Nate

    --
    "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
    possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true."
    Web: https://www.n0nb.us
    Projects: https://github.com/N0NB
    GPG fingerprint: 82D6 4F6B 0E67 CD41 F689 BBA6 FB2C 5130 D55A 8819


    -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----

    iF0EABECAB0WIQSC1k9rDmfNQfaJu6b7LFEw1VqIGQUCZ4Q4/AAKCRD7LFEw1VqI GWlGAJwL+2je2BYxoppy0wMlStFZFHCvCQCfSPFXydE1dkDdsagb/wlZx1XZ/IU=
    =PHTT
    -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From =?UTF-8?Q?Rafa=C5=82_Lichwa=C5=82a?@21:1/5 to Nate Bargmann on Mon Jan 13 11:10:01 2025
    This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
    If I understood you correctly, the key problem here is "being exposed to outdoor".

    I think you may search for "outdoor wifi plug":

    https://www.amazon.com/outdoor-smart-plug/s?k=outdoor+smart+plug

    Also, I think there is nothing wrong with that the given solution is proprietary. The only downside is that you have no full control over
    that device (it connects to some external servers and you cannot change
    it), but there is no "subscription" or whatever.

    Regarding "scripting and cron jobs" - such solutions have their own
    smartphone apps which have timers/schedulers etc. so this is enough I
    think - unless you want some device to be activated as a response to
    some Debian OS event ;-) In that case you maybe need some custom
    solution based on Raspberry Pico/Pi - DIY.

    I use many of such "smart plugs" (but only indoor in my case) and they
    work fine.

    Regards,
    Rafal

    On 12.01.2025 10:49 PM, Nate Bargmann wrote:
    Hi All.

    As the knowledge base on this list is wide and deep, I am asking to cut through the commercial clutter. Ideally, what I would like to find is a
    WiFi (802.11a/b/g) capable device that would plug into the end of an extension cord (common US NEMA 5-15 receptacle/plug) and allow me to
    activate power to the connected device (in this case engine block
    warmer) over the network via some scripting and cron jobs.

    Searches invariably lead to a near endless result list of proprietary
    devices and apps and household items that aren't likely to be up to the
    task of being exposed to outdoor elements. Of course there is the Home Assistant forum I can sign up for and ask but I thought I would try here first in case someone has already found such devices.

    TIA

    - Nate

    <!DOCTYPE html>
    <html>
    <head>
    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
    </head>
    <body>
    <p>If I understood you correctly, the key problem here is "<span
    style="white-space: pre-wrap">being exposed to outdoor</span><span
    style="white-space: normal">".</span></p>
    <p><span style="white-space: normal">I think you may search for
    "outdoor wifi plug":</span></p>
    <p><span style="white-space: normal"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.amazon.com/outdoor-smart-plug/s?k=outdoor+smart+plug">https://www.amazon.com/outdoor-smart-plug/s?k=outdoor+smart+plug</a></span></p>
    <p><span style="white-space: normal">Also, I think there is nothing
    wrong with that the given solution is proprietary. The only
    downside is that you have no full control over that device (it
    connects to some external servers and you cannot change it), but
    there is no "subscription" or whatever.</span></p>
    <p><span style="white-space: normal">Regarding "scripting and cron
    jobs" - such solutions have their own smartphone apps which have
    timers/schedulers etc. so this is enough I think - unless you
    want some device to be activated as a response to some Debian OS
    event ;-) In that case you maybe need some custom solution based
    on Raspberry Pico/Pi - DIY.<br>
    </span></p>
    <p><span style="white-space: normal">I use many of such "smart
    plugs" (but only indoor in my case) and they work fine.<br>
    </span></p>
    <p><span style="white-space: normal">Regards,<br>
    Rafal<br>
    </span></p>
    <pre wrap="" class="moz-quote-pre"><span style="white-space: normal"> </span></pre>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 12.01.2025 10:49 PM, Nate Bargmann
    wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:n5anxmyh7bq6grcjxlgvnyahj53xvqdrgnavtujmym3wguh7l5@etmx2ql2jt2a">
    <pre wrap="" class="moz-quote-pre">Hi All.

    As the knowledge base on this list is wide and deep, I am asking to cut
    through the commercial clutter. Ideally, what I would like to find is a
    WiFi (802.11a/b/g) capable device that would plug into the end of an
    extension cord (common US NEMA 5-15 receptacle/plug) and allow me to
    activate power to the connected device (in this case engine block
    warmer) over the network via some scripting and cron jobs.

    Searches invariably lead to a near endless result list of proprietary
    devices and apps and household items that aren't likely to be up to the
    task of being exposed to outdoor elements. Of course there is the Home Assistant forum I can sign up for and ask but I thought I would try here
    first in case someone has already found such devices.

    TIA

    - Nate

    </pre>
    </blockquote>
    </body>
    </html>

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Nate Bargmann@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jan 13 18:50:01 2025
    * On 2025 13 Jan 04:07 -0600, Rafał Lichwała wrote:
    If I understood you correctly, the key problem here is "being exposed to outdoor".

    I think you may search for "outdoor wifi plug":

    https://www.amazon.com/outdoor-smart-plug/s?k=outdoor+smart+plug

    Thank you.

    Coming up with the right search terms seem to be most of the battle when dealing with a large name space like this.

    Also, I think there is nothing wrong with that the given solution is proprietary. The only downside is that you have no full control over that device (it connects to some external servers and you cannot change it), but there is no "subscription" or whatever.

    Regarding "scripting and cron jobs" - such solutions have their own smartphone apps which have timers/schedulers etc. so this is enough I think
    - unless you want some device to be activated as a response to some Debian
    OS event ;-) In that case you maybe need some custom solution based on Raspberry Pico/Pi - DIY.

    As part of the scripting I plan is to monitor the local temperature from
    my weather station and adjust accordingly in ways such as the time to
    power the heater or even whether to turn it off should a temperature
    rise occur through the night. In other words, I intend much more than a
    simple clock timer can provide, but I also have a need that, as I see
    it, is much much less than all the complexity of the home automation
    provides.

    - Nate

    --
    "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
    possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true."
    Web: https://www.n0nb.us
    Projects: https://github.com/N0NB
    GPG fingerprint: 82D6 4F6B 0E67 CD41 F689 BBA6 FB2C 5130 D55A 8819


    -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----

    iF0EABECAB0WIQSC1k9rDmfNQfaJu6b7LFEw1VqIGQUCZ4VQqAAKCRD7LFEw1VqI GbvjAKCJYx3cVExFbooQEhYP1oZS2fdv+wCgqR6QZDDFmU6Z+WwzqfJ8pgiLE2k=
    =9Rli
    -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Charles Curley@21:1/5 to Nate Bargmann on Mon Jan 13 20:00:01 2025
    On Mon, 13 Jan 2025 11:43:04 -0600
    Nate Bargmann <n0nb@n0nb.us> wrote:

    As part of the scripting I plan is to monitor the local temperature
    from my weather station and adjust accordingly in ways such as the
    time to power the heater or even whether to turn it off should a
    temperature rise occur through the night. In other words, I intend
    much more than a simple clock timer can provide, but I also have a
    need that, as I see it, is much much less than all the complexity of
    the home automation provides.

    I have found living in Wyoming with a diesel truck with a 1 kilowatt
    block heater that turning the block heater on an hour before launch is sufficient. I also found that I didn't need the block heater unless the temperature was below about 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

    I solved the problem many years ago by installing an outlet near the
    parking place for the block heater, and controlling the outlet with a
    switch in the kitchen. Life was very simple: get up, put the coffee on,
    check the thermometer. If necessary, turn the block heater switch on.
    An hour later, just before departure, turn the switch off. Unplug the
    truck, and go. Upon return in the evening, plug the block heater in.

    --
    Does anybody read signatures any more?

    https://charlescurley.com
    https://charlescurley.com/blog/

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Nate Bargmann@21:1/5 to All on Wed Jan 29 01:10:02 2025
    Thanks to Rafal I did find the Tapo line (from TP-Link) that uses WiFi
    and can be scheduled through the Tapo app which will do for now. I
    bought some of the P125M and P400M models. The P125M is an indoor unit
    and the P400M is for outdoor use and features two NEMA 5-15R outlets.
    Both models support the Matter automation protocol.

    I'm sure Matter is supported by the Home Assistant project but requires
    IPv6 which is not supported by some of the Ubiquity devices on my LAN.
    However the Tapo app does work with IPv4 which is just fine by me.

    At this time it's not my idealized solution but offers a nice means of
    remote control which should allow me to sleep in a bit later on these
    cold mornings!

    - Nate

    --
    "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
    possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true."
    Web: https://www.n0nb.us
    Projects: https://github.com/N0NB
    GPG fingerprint: 82D6 4F6B 0E67 CD41 F689 BBA6 FB2C 5130 D55A 8819


    -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----

    iF0EABECAB0WIQSC1k9rDmfNQfaJu6b7LFEw1VqIGQUCZ5lxgQAKCRD7LFEw1VqI GX7yAJ9/stLe9mpfi31MxQaQMNIC4EEIVwCfQzciF4upCoxeSAuTYwxrxjbVq88=
    =zsEX
    -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)