Best smart switch for wife's curling iron?

My wife insists on keeping her expensive curling iron. It does not have auto-off. And she left it on again today. Options?

Smart plug that reports power. Rule that triggers with power level and turns off after x minutes. THIRDREALITY Zigbee Smart Plug with Real-time Power Monitoring,15A Smart Outlet, Zigbee Repeater, ETL Certified, ZigBee Hub Required,Work with Home Assistant,Compatible Echo Devices and SmartThing: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement

We do something similar with a mini crockpot. The plug stays attached to the appliance. I actually use a WiFi plug for the oatmeal timer because unplugging it does not affect the ZigBee mesh. Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini 15A, Smart Home Wi-Fi Outlet Works with Alexa, Google Home & IFTTT, No Hub Required, UL Certified, 2.4G WiFi Only, 1-Pack(EP10), White - Amazon.com

US (may also work eleswhere):
Single: Tapo P110M Matter. Features for you through Tapo phone app: Auto Off Timer and power protection. (I own) (Just bought two on Amazon for ~$20.)

Multiple. Tapo P306 (uses community Tapo integration): Six outlets with three controllable and three always-on with three USB outlets (controlled as one switch). Has auto-off timer on controlled outlets. Installs over standard wall-outlet. (I own)

Smart outlet: Tapo P210M Matter (replaces current outlet). auto-off and power protection. (I do not own) Should install in Hubitat as matter device (I have installed the P316 six-outlet power strip successfully by installing and then changing driver (in Hubitat) to the multi-endpoint.)

Auto-off: Once set in Tapo phone app, always on until you visit Tapo phone app and turn-off.

Zooz zen04 also has auto on and off

1 Like

Make sure whatever switch you decide on is rated for the wattage of the curling iron.

Not all smart switches are designed to handle the full 15A available on standard residential circuits (or 1800W).

4 Likes

New wife?

6 Likes

I use a smart plug and the contact sensor on my bathroom door for this exact issue. If she opens the door the curling iron turns off.

1 Like

This is the sort of thing where IMO doing something that will reinforce the correct behaviour (turn iron off manually) is better than automating it. Such as a voice or push notification.

I've had a TP-Link (Kasa) plug fail in the worst possible way (short of starting a fire) : randomly cycling with short and long cycles. Don't rely on these cheap devices for safety.

4 Likes

There is no need for a "smart" switched outlet. Just use one of these (worked for my wife's iron):

3 Likes

Absolutely check the current draw on the curling iron compared to 80% of the capacity capacity of the smart plug to be safe. Although I am certain the appliance has a much lower reading than 1800 Watts. Or it would be more of a hair vaporizer than a curler.

4 Likes

Mine has curlers that she was doing the same with. I am using a sengled zigbee outlet. Wife wasn't sure at first but now she loves that she can just say "turn on curlers" when she is turning on the shower. I have rule that runs and shuts them off if they stay on for an hour with an anouncement saying "curlers left on shutting off". It seems that after a few times of her hearing the announcement, she actually turns them off most of the time now.
Sengled Smart Plug, S1 Auto Pairing with Alexa Devices, Energy Monitoring, Smart Outlet Remote Control, 15A Smart Socket, 1800W, Timer & Schedule, Bluetooth Mesh Smart Home, No Hub Required, 4-Pack

If you go down this path hopefully your wife will make sure the curling iron is ready to be turned on and not laying down or sitting on something that will melt or worse

1 Like

I use the ZEN04's on an espresso maker and several electric area heaters. They are set via the device parameters to turn off 30 minutes after turn on. I don't really use them in rules, just as a safety thing.

1 Like

Fashion is cyclical, just a matter of time before ‘80s hairstyles are back in full force.

2 Likes

I use a Samsung SmartThings zigbee outlet (F-OUT-US-2) for the same purpose. Here's what it looks like:

And here's an eBay link for someone who is selling two of them.

I like it because it has a physical/replaceable 15A fuse in the outlet.

I know you use webCoRE, but here's what I use in Rule Machine to control the outlet.

2 Likes

I'll use anything that will help protect my house from burning down! :slight_smile: I do also like working with RM and Basic Rules, so your help is appreciated.

1 Like

You might think I am joking, but I am not.

https://www.dyson.com/hair-care/hair-stylers/airwrap-id/straight-wavy-amber-silk

I have tested the rating (I forget what it is offhand) of the ZEN04 several times.
It actually works. :slight_smile:
Just shuts off.

1 Like

Like others I would go with a plug in smart switch like a ZEN04 or equivalent. I like the suggestion to configure the auto off (parameter 2) in the ZEN04 so if the hub messes up the plug will shut down anyway. You can duplicate the shutoff in a rule as well. She can leave the switch on the iron forever "on" and just press the button on the ZEN04 to turn it on. Or as others have suggested automate the turn on as well.

I just watched a YouTube video about smart plugs with Third Reality claiming to have zero crossing switching. Given it uses mechanical switching contacts (relay) I am a bit suspicious of zero crossing effectiveness (maybe they engage relay coil a couple msec before zero to allow contacts to close??) but if they went to that trouble presumably it has some value. Zero crossing was more typically for Triac switching. I thought it was a clever idea for a relay output though.

Also I would derate by 80% when using these plugs. So 1440-1500W watt max for a 15A plug. Just to be on cautious side of things.

2 Likes

Maybe not a smart plug at all but a smart outlet with which you replace the wall receptacle. Hopefully the GFCI sensing is dealt with some where else. That way where is no extra protrusion on the wall. I use one of those in the garage ceiling controlling the power to the door opener. One outlet is switched and one is not.

Thanks everyone for the helpful information. I had a spare Zooz ZEN04 LR 800 ZW available and I connected the curling iron to that and set a parameter to turn the switch off after 30 minutes. When that happens, the echo dots in that location announce that the curling iron has been turned off. Time will tell if the WAF allows this to continue.

Just as a backup to the device parameter, I also wrote a Basic Rule that if the Zooz turns on and stays on for 31 minutes, then turn it off.

2 Likes