Home Automation

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Home automation is the residential extension of building automation.

It is automation of the home, housework or household activity.

Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), appliances, security locks of gates and doors and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security.

Warning: Working with electricity can result in injury, property damage, or even death if it is not done properly. Please keep this in mind while assisting others. If you are not sure about what you are doing, hire a licensed professional.

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Convert tumble dryer to wifi start/stop (alien.top)

submitted 1 year ago by OkIndependent3268@alien.top to c/homeautomation@selfhosted.forum

4 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hopefully this is the best place to post this.

I have an old tumble dryer that works really well but isn't wifi connectable. I want to look at converting it, somehow, so I can remotely start/stop via an app on my phone and maybe use some form of automation to take advantage of one of these variable electricity tarrifs.

The dryer starts via a fairly heavy push button on the front and does have a delay function but its only 3, 6 or 9 hours.

I think the best option is to put a wifi switch inline with the push start but if anyone else has done this i'd be grateful for any advice on how to go about it or devices to use.

cheers

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[–] undeleted_username@alien.top 3 points 1 year ago

Let's forget about the delay for now. Unplug the appliance, push the button, and plug the appliance again; if it starts running, all you need is a "smart plug"... if it does not start, things will get more complicated.

[–] funkbruthab@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

What grants power to it… the combination of a rotary time dial plus a push button? Is it all smarter electronics, just not wifi enabled?

If you can make it “always on if it has power” you can do a smart plug (if you can find one capable of supplying and breaking dryer load repeatedly… gas? Might not be too difficult. Electric dryer? That’s a tall order for a smart switch), if it isn’t able to be set up this way I don’t think you’re going to be able to feasibly get this to work.

[–] kichckcc@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Fingerbot / Switchbot

The question is whether he will be able to press the button that poses a lot of resistance...

https://moeshouse.com/products/smart-bluetooth-fingerbot

[–] OkIndependent3268@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I did wonder about the switchbot but that why I mentioned the rather resistive start button. Might just get one to try though.

A smart plug won’t work sadly as the dryer won’t restart once power is restored. No rotary dials either. It’s all electronic.

Thanks for the replies. Let’s see how the switchbot goes