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My riding mate has a sauna. He never remembers to switch it on until we're halfway through a ride. He would like it ready when he gets back.
Has anybody got experience of connecting something at home to an app? I know you can work your dishwasher and tumble drier this way.
He's shown me his sauna. It has an outside-mounted 4 pole rotary IP65 switch that connects to a probably 7kw heater.
Yes, you can.
A google for heavy duty wifi switch should give you some joy. Aeotec make a 10kW one IIRC.
Depends how it's wired in though.
This comes up fairly often on smartthings forums and google home user forums.
He needs to Google "Homekit compatible X", where X = the type of switch. There will non-Homekit, slightly hacky ways to do it as well, but I'd start there.
I'll have a look at Homekit
You don’t need HomeKit. The switch will have remote capabilities as part of the app that comes with it.
Can't he just do what the rest of us do and make a sheepish call to his other half?
Edit, obviously I don't ring your mate's other half when I want sauna, that would be a bit creepy and I don't think my SO would be at all happy.
how much 😳A google for heavy duty wifi switch should give you some joy. Aeotec make a 10kW one IIRC.
I would just go for a regular (known quality; I like Shelly stuff) wifi switch and use it in tandem with a contactor to switch a large load. You can get DIN-rail mounted options for both for neatness/ease of installation, presumably the sauna is on it's own circuit?
the problem with this approach is that you start to get more and more "smart" kit, and everything has it's own app, so you end up having multiple different apps & have to remember which does what, which is a bit crap.You don’t need HomeKit. The switch will have remote capabilities as part of the app that comes with it.
At least with HomeKit (other systems are available, of course) you have everything in one place! (Even if a thing isn't HK compatible, you can run a server called HomeBridge which might get it into HK. Home Assistant does the same job, but is more complicated.)
Right. HomeKit and Shelly will get looked at. Now to find an installer (near Penkridge) who knows what I'm talking about.
the problem with this approach is that you start to get more and more “smart” kit, and everything has it’s own app, so you end up having multiple different apps & have to remember which does what, which is a bit crap.
At least with HomeKit (other systems are available, of course) you have everything in one place! (Even if a thing isn’t HK compatible, you can run a server called HomeBridge which might get it into HK. Home Assistant does the same job, but is more complicated.)
All true but OP just wants to control a single device remotely not control his whole house with many devices. He may in the future but for now let’s not confuse him with something he doesn’t need.
Maybe you could point me in the direction of a suitable switch then.
All advice considered.
You don’t need HomeKit. The switch will have remote capabilities as part of the app that comes with it.
the problem with this approach is that you start to get more and more “smart” kit, and everything has it’s own app, so you end up having multiple different apps & have to remember which does what, which is a bit crap.
Yeah, you at least need something that plays nice with one of the big players/architectures.
I've got stuff across 7 or 8 manufacturers, which i have integrated through Smartthings and google home/assistant.
one of the requirements of HK compatibility is that the device is controllable locally - which is a good thing, even if you don’t use it initially. The absolute worst way to go IMO is with one of the cheap WiFi switches which depend on a) internet access and b) operating via Chinese servers. Unfortunately there are many of these!All true but OP just wants to control a single device remotely not control his whole house with many devices. He may in the future but for now let’s not confuse him with something he doesn’t need.
That said, the devices I use (Shelly) [i]aren’t[/i] HK compatible out-of-the-box (although they can be made to be!) and are intended to be used with their own dedicated app, which is very simple but also offers a lot of depth if required (scripting, etc). You do need to be electrically competent to wire/install them though (that is a given though in this case as we are talking about switching a 7kW load!)
I get you like HK but don’t forget the need for a HK hub which is north of £100 for a mini or £299 for full pod unless OP has an Apple TV already. I’m not even sure a HK capable 7kwh switch even exists but I know Google and Alexa one’s do.
For full disclosure I have a very heavily automated house (turn shower on from the car level) based around Alexa and some Siri (Apple TV Hue integration) that does rely on remote services but so does HK. Only one that’s ever been an issue was US based company went out of business so Alexa skill went dark.
I could actually take or leave HK, the point is that in order to get HK certification, the device has to have other desirable qualities (such as local control). No, there might not be an HK capable 7kW relay, but that isn't really the "right" way to do it anyway... much safer to get a known, good quality contactor e.g. BG from Screwfix which you know isn't going to burn your house down! and trigger that via any other low-voltage AC wifi relay.
TBH, i just switch mine on as i roll in through the front door, by the time i've given the bike a quick clean, had a drink and a nana, stripped off, the sauna is 50+ DegC by then, so pretty much ready to hop in.
does the remote control have to isolate the whole building or just switch the live internally (as in, leave the isolation where it is, and have extra live cut on top)? That might narrow the requirements some, as if it was only 3kw you could pretty much run it through a bog standard Kasa switch or something.
I'm more interested as to why BigJohn won't admit to having a sauna. I was willing to believe it was for a 'friend' until he started talking about finding an installer in the local area. That is above and beyond.
Nothing wrong with owning a sauna BigJohn. I have one and its ace!