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Timer

We have tried many programmable timers and have always come back to Honeywell PLS timers…. The amount of call backs for them failing is almost 0, they last for years and years, and are quite intuitive to program.

We (the 50 man electrical contracting firm I have the pleasure of being a part of) can’t seem to find a better timer.

We did find however that you get what you pay for as far as the relays inside. These ones are rated at 1500w which is more then enough for your vacuum.

You can turn on and off I think 8x per day.

 
I use Tapo and Kara smart plugs and devices to control lights/plugs etc. I already subscribed to Tapo for my security cameras so it wasn’t any extra cost. Very nice devices, up to 15 amps.

I incorporated motion sensors and linked it all into Home assistant. Might be overkill but having visibility from the phone and the ability to monitor/turn on-off when I’m not home is great
 
Johnwa said:
I use a smart plug for my Xmas lights. You need wifi to set the schedule, but after that I don’t know.. I don’t pay for a subscription and they still work with my iPad turned off so maybe the schedule is stored internally.
Click to expand...
I ran a test and no it doesn’t work without wifi.
 
kevin.decelles said:
I use Tapo and Kara smart plugs and devices to control lights/plugs etc. I already subscribed to Tapo for my security cameras so it wasn’t any extra cost. Very nice devices, up to 15 amps.

I incorporated motion sensors and linked it all into Home assistant. Might be overkill but having visibility from the phone and the ability to monitor/turn on-off when I’m not home is great
Click to expand...

I love home automation integration too! My home and shop have lots of smart integration with various devices. Way more than most people but not even close to enough for me. A half dozen lights, plugs, cameras, thermostat, power monitoring, molly our robotic vacuum, and even my music are all integrated and can be controlled by voice or with my phone locally or remotely. I love it.

I started years ago with X10 stuff, then zigbee, then Zwave, but WiFi is so powerful and ubiquitous now that all those other systems are long gone. For the most part, the arcane setup issues are gone too. All that's needed is home WiFi and one google home device (useful all on its own) and off you go!

Although only one is needed, we actually have 3 Google home hubs - all inexpensive minis. They are setup in the shop, in the kitchen, and in our bedroom. They will play music, walk you through a recipe, answer questions of the moment, and even help me machine with speeds N feeds, metric conversions, and even material properties just by asking by voice.The new AI front seems to do an amazing job of getting you what you really want.
 
Johnwa said:
I ran a test and no it doesn’t work without wifi.
Click to expand...
You mentioned an iPad so I would guess you're using Apple's Homekit technology (the "Home" app). Usually, an AppleTV or HomePod device serves as a hub for the system. The hub communicates with the smart devices via WiFi. Some early devices used Bluetooth for communication but I think only a few old devices may do that now.

More recently, Apple, Google and others have started moving to a standard called "Matter". Matter uses a different radio for communications and device makers are slowly coming out with new versions of their devices that support this protocol. The main advantage is that new devices will work with multiple ecosystems. If your smart plug is very new, it might be compatible with Matter.

I've had a few smart plugs and other devices for about 10 years now. Mostly they are triggered on a schedule: on 15 minutes before sunset and off at 11:00pm. Once in a while, I'll ask Siri to "set Ho Ho Ho" which turns on the Christmas tree lights and some other lights. OTOH, I have old-school motion-sensor switches in a couple of rooms, such as the laundry room. It would cost more and likely be slower to respond to do the same with Homekit (Matter or not).

Craig
 
I have to wonder who they report to I just have the cellphone, computer, and tv to track me listening to every word so they can target me for their profit of which I never see a dime. Same for clothing/merchandise if they want me to wear their logo they can pay me or lower their prices.
How’s that for a rant?
 
Susquatch said:
I love home automation integration too! My home and shop have lots of smart integration with various devices. Way more than most people but not even close to enough for me. A half dozen lights, plugs, cameras, thermostat, power monitoring, molly our robotic vacuum, and even my music are all integrated and can be controlled by voice or with my phone locally or remotely. I love it.

I started years ago with X10 stuff, then zigbee, then Zwave, but WiFi is so powerful and ubiquitous now that all those other systems are long gone. For the most part, the arcane setup issues are gone too. All that's needed is home WiFi and one google home device (useful all on its own) and off you go!

Although only one is needed, we actually have 3 Google home hubs - all inexpensive minis. They are setup in the shop, in the kitchen, and in our bedroom. They will play music, walk you through a recipe, answer questions of the moment, and even help me machine with speeds N feeds, metric conversions, and even material properties just by asking by voice.The new AI front seems to do an amazing job of getting you what you really want.
Click to expand...
Let's see if I have this straight...... No computer controls for the mill and lathe, but you have CNC'd the house, barn, shop and tractor. :rolleyes:
'yer a strange man my friend. ;):p
 
trlvn said:
You mentioned an iPad so I would guess you're using Apple's Homekit technology (the "Home" app). Usually, an AppleTV or HomePod device serves as a hub for the system. The hub communicates with the smart devices via WiFi. Some early devices used Bluetooth for communication but I think only a few old devices may do that now.


Craig
Click to expand...
Nope. I have an app that allows schedules to be set. But with the app closed everything continues to work. I’m now wondering where the schedule is stored, what happens with loss of power etc .
 
Johnwa said:
Nope. I have an app that allows schedules to be set. But with the app closed everything continues to work. I’m now wondering where the schedule is stored, what happens with loss of power etc .
Click to expand...
"Nope" to which part?

I should have been more clear. The Home app is not the only one that interacts with Homekit. Most device manufacturers also supply an app to help users enrol and set up stuff. None of these apps has to be "open" for schedules or Siri commands to work. Your hub device maintains the schedules and does much of the communication with the devices. Otherwise, schedules would fail to work when your iPad is away from home or powered down.

Even the AppleTV that is a hub does not need to be "on". The guts of an AppleTV are always running when connected to power. Switching it on and off just changes whether it is sending sound and images to the connected device(s). Same for a HomePod but it is always listening for Siri commands. Come to think of it, so is the AppleTV.

What brand of smart plug do you have? I guess there are some that work with an iPad but don't use Homekit. Maybe?

Craig

(Maybe going too far into the weeds, but...if you have multiple hub devices, say 2 HomePods and 3 AppleTVs, they all mirror the Homekit settings and schedule data. Somehow they decide which one is the primary one that will be controlling the automated devices. If the primary hub becomes unavailable, another hub will get 'promoted' and take over as primary. Cool! With an element of disturbing?)
 
@trlvn I’m not using HomeKit. I do use Google home but my plugs are not compatible with it
so I am using a dedicated app to control and set schedules. The schedule continues to work even with my iPad powered down. I assumed schedules were stored internally, I’m not so sure anymore as they do need wifi to work. This might be only to get a time signal or they’re getting the scheduled commands off the internet. Since I’m not paying for a service it should be just the time but who knows!
 
140mower said:
Let's see if I have this straight...... No computer controls for the mill and lathe, but you have CNC'd the house, barn, shop and tractor. :rolleyes:
'yer a strange man my friend. ;):p
Click to expand...

Lemme see if I can help you understand my strangeness.

I was a pioneer in both computer hardware and software. I helped bring robotics to the auto industry. Cadcam and I are sick of each other. I don't want anything to do with it anymore. On the contrary, manual control of my machines is both soothing, therapeutic, and rewarding.

Besides, manually operating the stuff in my house are all just single events that I am happy to control via a voice command or do remotely when I am not home. Why get up out of bed to turn lights on and off, why drive all the way home to activate or deactivate alarm functions, and why go out in the snow in my pajamas to check the barn temperature or see if I remembered to turn on the alarm? It's easier to just ask my phone or activate them laying in bed. And the list goes on.

Lastly, I don't have autosteer in my tractor. Just guidance.
 
Get me a beer! One of the best wireless devices ever!
IMG_0485.gif
 
Susquatch said:
Lemme see if I can help you understand my strangeness.

I was a pioneer in both computer hardware and software. I helped bring robotics to the auto industry. Cadcam and I are sick of each other. I don't want anything to do with it anymore. On the contrary, manual control of my machines is both soothing, therapeutic, and rewarding.

Besides, manually operating the stuff in my house are all just single events that I am happy to control via a voice command or do remotely when I am not home. Why get up out of bed to turn lights on and off, why drive all the way home to activate or deactivate alarm functions, and why go out in the snow in my pajamas to check the barn temperature or see if I remembered to turn on the alarm? It's easier to just ask my phone or activate them laying in bed. And the list goes on.

Lastly, I don't have autosteer in my tractor. Just guidance.
Click to expand...
As long as you don't take offense and understand that I am an obsessive, compulsive smart ass and I have little to no control over it. :cool:
..... Trust me, you don't have the market cornered on strangeness, I am a charter member, and I don't recall seeing you at any of the meetings. :rolleyes: :p
My biggest fear with all of this connectivity is that we seem to quickly forget how to do the mundane things that make life go 'round.
 
whydontu said:
Is it bad that I was idly thinking about how to add a tachometer to my new hand-cranked drill press? I am considering seeking professional help…
Click to expand...

I think you are joking, but..... JIC, just count your crank revolutions in a minute........ Then correct for gear ratio. Should be spot on.

Or figure out what you want and go faster or slower till you get there.

I have a manual rev counter too. I think there is also one on my wife's bike..... With one of those you can get a readout without feeling guilty.

But ya, you might help......
 
140mower said:
As long as you don't take offense and understand that I am an obsessive, compulsive smart ass and I have little to no control over it.
Click to expand...

No worries. I love your smart ass sense of humour. It's pretty bad when I start smiling before I even read whatever you wrote!
 
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