Smart Plugs in the studio - good idea?

[Drew Stephenson]

For me one of the biggest arguments against 'smart' anything is that, unless the OS is open-source, you're always at the whim of the manufacturer going bust or just withdrawing the service.
Now that's obviously no big deal for a set of sockets but you are entering the arena of 'products you think you bought but actually you've just licensed'. And that makes me nervous.

That being said, I had a set of RF plugs and they all stopped working in less than two years. So now I have to walk all the way over to the plug socket, maybe as much as 5 feet, and turn it off at the wall.

[ef37a]

For me one of the biggest arguments against 'smart' anything is that, unless the OS is open-source, you're always at the whim of the manufacturer going bust or just withdrawing the service.
Now that's obviously no big deal for a set of sockets but you are entering the arena of 'products you think you bought but actually you've just licensed'. And that makes me nervous.

That being said, I had a set of RF plugs and they all stopped working in less than two years. So now I have to walk all the way over to the plug socket, maybe as much as 5 feet, and turn it off at the wall.

Well my plugs have lasted longer than that Drew (you did check the 12V battery?) but in any case mate! Bugger me, they are only about a score for a set of three so even if you needed to replace them every two years STILL cheaper than a fancy bloody watch!
I do agree about "smart things" Who knows when the Ruskies are going to take it over!

Dave.

[The Elf]

For me one of the biggest arguments against 'smart' anything is that, unless the OS is open-source, you're always at the whim of the manufacturer going bust or just withdrawing the service.

It's only a few sockets and bulbs. Not enough outlay to worry about.

The last smart sockets I bought (for my Christmas lights) were 6 quid each!

[Sam Spoons]

It vibrates on my wrist, pretty effective TBH.

My timer vibrates my chest and is also pretty loud. It cost a tenner. Your watch?

Dave.

A bit more than that TBF it was an unnecessary indulgence but I've worn it very day since I bought it about 7 years ago and it does a lot more than time the cooker... (It even tells the time )

[ManFromGlass]

We just installed a wifi thermostat, gov’t rebate etc etc
I’m sitting here watching it just waiting for some 6 year old hacker in some foreign country to start messing with it and all the money I would have saved by using it. . .

I’m not ready to even consider smart plugs yet.
Signed,
A. Luddite Jr.

[Arpangel]

For me one of the biggest arguments against 'smart' anything is that, unless the OS is open-source, you're always at the whim of the manufacturer going bust or just withdrawing the service.

"Smart" normally means exactly the opposite, in my book, will someone please tell me where all this is leading? I can tell you where it’s leading, straight to the bank, for all those making this stuff, they are riding the wave right now, on the back of a lot of gullible punters, trouble is, we get to rely on this stuff, there are so many eggs, in modern technology, that are being put into just one big vulnerable basket.

[BigRedX]

Yes Mark I have become old and forgetful as well so when I put me pie in the oven I have a timer I hang round my neck.

Dave.

You are Flavor Flav and I claim my £5.00!

[Hugh Robjohns]

I had a new boiler installed a few years back which came with a Hive WiFi thermostat. Not once have I felt the need to log in and adjust it from afar....

We have electric underfloor heating in our 'Garden Room' and the original thermostat decided to die just before the really cold spell we had before Xmas.

It was a stupidly elaborate thing with a scheduler providing six different settings during each day and night. All a bit pointless with the thermal lag involved in heating up the heavy flooring.

So I tried to find a simple thermostat that just set a single temp, like we have in the kitchen and works perfectly. But no, it seems no one makes them anymore, and almost all of them are now remote WiFi controlled things that cost a small fortune and are largely pointless. My electrician eventually found a reasonably modest manually programmed thermostat with manageable day/night and week/weekend options.

I just bought a new four-slot toaster to replace a 15 year old one with burnt out heating elements. I reckon the next one will be Internet enabled, cost five times as much, need a firmware update as soon as i take it out of the box, and become obsolete after two years...

[MarkOne]

For me one of the biggest arguments against 'smart' anything is that, unless the OS is open-source, you're always at the whim of the manufacturer going bust or just withdrawing the service.
Now that's obviously no big deal for a set of sockets but you are entering the arena of 'products you think you bought but actually you've just licensed'. And that makes me nervous.

That being said, I had a set of RF plugs and they all stopped working in less than two years. So now I have to walk all the way over to the plug socket, maybe as much as 5 feet, and turn it off at the wall.

There are basically two home based IoT protocols. Zigby and Z-Wave. And while they are both proprietary, they are well documented and there are a number of Raspbery Pi based DiY bridge projects out there on the interwebs. Should Philips decide to dump Hue sometime down the road, I'm sure the community would quite quickly step up.

[ef37a]

Hugh, one of my jobs as a R&TV apprentice was the repair of domestic appliances.
I readily confess it was a job I detested but I have changed the elements in toasters and in smoothing irons* and kettles. Some of these appliances were 10 or more years old, in the mid .60s! This is a state we must get back to, that of repairing stuff.
Note Hugh, I am not blaming you for buying a new toaster. I doubt you could have found anyone to fix the old one or if the elements would have been available. *Clothes irons need a test device to setup the thermostat. I doubt if they are made any more?

We will soon need a third Earth.

Dave.

[jaminem]

My basement studio has a separate ring main controlled from a master switch outside the door

Aha! I also have this so thats not a bad shout.
Except that its inside the studio and stuck behind a massive semi permanent bass trap.

Bugger.

[Sam Spoons]

Didn't think that through did we

[Hugh Robjohns]

I have changed the elements in toasters and in smoothing irons* and kettles. Some of these appliances were 10 or more years old, in the mid .60s! This is a state we must get back to, that of repairing stuff.

Completely agree. I did investigate the DIY repair options but couldn't source the correct heater filament cards. And a shop repair quote was more than a new one... which is completely bonkers but such is the power of Chinese manufacturing.

I wonder how long Western civilisation could last if China stopped making and shipping goods...

[The Elf]

I wonder how long Western civilisation could last if China stopped making and shipping goods...

I have a feeling we're going to find out...

Now I'm the pessimist!

[ef37a]

This forum is jinxed!
After banging on about how reliable RF switches are, this morning I could not turn my bedroom lights off. RC battery had died.

However, it shows perhaps how reliable these things are that the "23 A 12V" battery had dropped to only 4.7 volts off load. My guess is that digital kit would stop working well before a near two thirds voltage drop and they tend to be more power hungry to start with.

Dave.

[jjlonbass]

Perhaps, but your remote control handset is most definitely a digital system - it will probably contain a low power microcontroller of some description.

John

[The Elf]

...and from the opposite side of Sheffield I've just asked a delivery company to take a parcel to a neighbour. Technology giveth and technology taketh away.

[ef37a]

Perhaps, but your remote control handset is most definitely a digital system - it will probably contain a low power microcontroller of some description.

John

That is as well may be John but it only gets powered up when I push the button! Digital systems are powered and 'listening' all the bloody time.

Dave.

[Folderol]

In general automated systems that you can use from the couch are bad for you. Our bodies were 'designed' for movement - lack of which causes many well known problems.
Picking up the remote and pressing a button doesn't count as movement

[ef37a]

In general automated systems that you can use from the couch are bad for you. Our bodies were 'designed' for movement - lack of which causes many well known problems.
Picking up the remote and pressing a button doesn't count as movement

I quite agree Will but 99.99% of the functions of my TV and recorders can only be effected from the RC. BTW, I have opened up one of the remotes in the interest of 'science' and there is a single SMT chip marked HS 2303-PT and A4DGO. The former number relates to a 10 amp power control device. I can find the A4DGO but not what it is used for.

Dave.

[Sam Spoons]

It's obviously an A4 Digital Gadget Operator chip

[Sam Spoons]

Ooh, now I'm worried, what if it's an A4 Digital Government Observer chip

[ManFromGlass]

You are safe because . . . . It’s the gov’t

[Folderol]

You are safe because . . . . It’s the gov’t

Exactly!
If it was from the government it would have cost the GDP of a small nation, would not be available for the nest 3 years, would consume more power that the rest of your appliances combined, and would arbitrarily change it's function without notice

[Sam Spoons]

My mind is at rest, and, as a bonus, it will power all my appliances for at least a year on a single CR2032 button cell so it's saving me a fortune in electrickery