I have an electric patio heater that I sometimes forget to turn off after using. In addition to a fire hazard, it costs a lot of money to keep it running overnight if I forget. However, it also doesn’t turn on when you power the outlet on. You have to hit the button on the heater to turn it on, so a normal smart plug won’t be able to automate turning it on and off. Is there any kind of device that could be programmed to sense when current starts flowing through the plug and start a timer to automatically turn it off in 1 hour?
Just get a timer plug. Start the plug then start the heater. Getting it to turn off is easy. But turning ON then OFF is going to take some HA with relays or solenoids because of the mechanical switch requirement. Be simpler to just buy new heater with built-in timer.
3 options
add a timer that controls the outlet. you have to set the timer 1,2,4,8 hours and then turn on the heater. heater will turn off after set time.
I have done this with my infrared heaters in my deck ceiling. but have the timer controlling power to z-wave dimmer switches. I didn’t want them on all night if the kids forgot to turn them off.
option 2 is a z wave plug that detects current and automatically shuts off after a set time.
option 3 is a zwave plug and have it set to turn off at say 10pm every night. I do this with my heat tape.
You know option 3 is kinda compelling and never occurred to me… I’m typically out there at predictable times with the dog so I could just use a regular smart plug with a schedule to turn off at set times. I mean if it turned off at 10pm it might not catch it as quick as possible but it would certainly be better than letting it run overnight.
You could even get one of those plugs with an analogue timer in that case.
But if you already have some kind of home automation set up, a lot of smart plugs can measure current going through it, so you could just set up a rule to turn it off at 10pm, or combine with a motion detector to turn off if the room has been empty for 10 minutes.
You can set up a routine for a smart plug that will turn it off after a time period after being turned on. You can add a routine to power on the smart plug at the times you expect to be out. You can also use a motion sensor to turn on the plug.
After the smart plug turns on you will still need to turn on the heater unless you can mount a smart button pusher to push the button for you.
The shelly range of devices can do this. Shelly i3 or i4 can detect current. Different Shelly devices have built in timers, i think. Several do 240v switching. Do some combination of this and you’ve got your solution.
You’ll need a smart plug or outlet that supports power monitoring and a hub. You then need to make that a rule.
I have not seen anything with that but I have a suggestion that might work out.
I have a reptile light bar that has it’s own clock that runs 2 internal circuits (Hate it - tempted to rewire both circuits to always on). Occasionally I take the lizard out, turn off the lights at the Kasa power strip button, give him a bath and let him roam the office for a day. I have the power strip programmed to turn that socket back on after 10 pm, well before the clock needs to turn the lamps back on the next morning so it doesn’t live off he little battery all night. That works fine for my needs.
Just get a plug with enough wattage to handle the heater and schedule it to turn off sometime over night, every night and turn back on before you would usually visit the heater to turn it back on. Or you could just leave the socket off and manually turn it back on when you want to use the heater.
You can do this with any Smart Life compatible smart plug with energy monitoring. Here’s an automation rule I can set up with it.
You have to hit the button on the heater to turn it on
Properly programmed Fingerbot/Switchbot will press this button according to a schedule.
If you want to complicate it, you can add a presence sensor to control the bot. The sensor will detect whether someone is in a given area and if not, tell the bot to turn off the device.
Why over complicate it?
https://www.nsiindustries.com/product/60-minute-in-wall-twist-timer-white-faceplate/
I use esphome for this.
Example- the exhaust fans in my bathroom, are on an automatic timer, that kicks off as soon as you leave the bathroom.
Timer itself runs on the shelly which toggles the light/exhaust fan. So, even if home assistant has to reboot, or goes unavailable, the plug still gets turned off automatically.
