Phase 1 (AUTOMATION Expansion) OLD Timer to Smart Plug Upgrade
So I've been deeply researching, experimenting, Evaluating all the Automation Options.
Trying to find the Best Control, Loweest Price, Minimal Cloud Dependancy, but Full Capabilities.
I tested a FEW of these.
I was really confused at the start, but am learning quickly.
I still haven't decided on
what HUB, or if Any Comercial Hub, but WINK-2, Samsung Smart Things are possibility. Z-Wave is my preferred choice since it's going to be supported for a Long Time by COMMERCIAL solutions.
Even played with OPENHab (free Hub), but it may be a (deadEND for now) in Canada since Alexa Skills not yet available. (Also I hear in USA it's not stable)
But I fell in love with the
Low Cost Mini Wifi Plugs.
So much that I replaced a few of my Mechanical Timers.
They work on Wifi, Have an App, work with IFTT, Alexa....But not needed.
They will work Standalone. So you can set your Timer ON/OFF schedule, and the do their work once SET thru App.
What's great is the Mechanical Timers lose their time Setting on Power Failure. The Mini Smart Plug get time back after they power up.
Even my old Battery backed-up timers, eventually go bad after batteries die.
These small ones don't take up any more than the size of the AC plug.
Much more to play with before I make final Selection.
IT WILL BE A MIX of technologies, each for a specific need. Certain things need to be 100% reliable, other convenience.