Yea so I have some aquariums / hydroponics that I’d like to measure the energy use as well as control individually with timers. Probably looking for a combination power bar with a wall outlet meter.
I see lots of power bars that have 1 timer for 4 outlets, but none that let me control outlets individually.
Meanwhile all the outlet meters I’m seeing have apps and give me spyware vibes.
Not categorically against “smart” stuff, but I’m hesitant to use anything with wifi connectivity that isn’t “privacy community approved.”
I already have mechanical timers Looking for upgrade suggestions.
If you only want total energy use for the whole strip, I’d use one meter at the wall and a set of individual timers. I don’t know of any dumb product that has individual timers and a power meter. You’d probably have to get a smart strip for that.
So that will basically be my last resort. Outlet meter > Power Bar > Mechanical Timers for each outlet. Issue it’s it’s a bit bulky/pricy.
I’m not categorically against “smart” stuff. But I don’t know enough to discern which ones aren’t a cybersecurity vulnerability.
If it’s on the Internet or a local network, it’s a potential vector for compromise. More exposure, more risk.
You can still buy mechanical timers for individual outlets, which are about as dumb as they can get. No connectivity, not even the simplest computer inside those.
I have those but it’s rather bulky solution. Figure I can’t be the first person to wanna do this.
I’ve also experienced Switchbot outlets before and wish I could recommend them, but they broke after a year or two and they’re not exactly private. Although they do hold timing instructions on-device, I believe.
I see similar outlets that offer an open protocol and are made by a no-name brand, but with the rise in sketchy smart TV sticks, I wonder how safe a network-attached device would be.
Size-wise they’re still all pretty horizontally bulky too.
See like if I could flash my own software onto a device like that I’d be fine with a “smart device”.
I just wanna know for sure what’s running in my house. Feel like any IoT device is just begging get some undisclosed malicious hardware/software from the manufacturer.
I’ve used a combination of a 12 plug adapter + mechanical timers on my aquariums. You just don’t plug into every socket, skip one between each timer, alternate on sides like a checker board and the bulk of the timers don’t matter. One power adapter I found even had larger spacings on one side for this purpose.
In all likelihood that is the setup I’m gonna have to go with.
My gripe is that I already own several (bulkier) mechanical timers. So it feels really redundant to buy several outlet ones just to make it more compact.
Can’t get a basic Kill-A-Watt anymore?
smart stuff but entirely under your control, I use this z-wave power strip and it’s…fine, usually works, sometimes have to repeat a command to have it toggle an outlet tho.
ZigBee home assistant setup?
