Cheap and Cheerful Smart Temperature sensors that work with smart plugs

Pickers · 25 Aug 2020 at 13:43

As per my (rather to the point) title, I wondered if anyone knew of a cheap way to monitor temperature in say, a cabinet, and switch on/off a heater plugged into a smart plug.

Reason being, fermentation in the garage in the winter - need to maintain a steady temperature using a heater...

Any ideas/solutions?

Jez · 25 Aug 2020 at 14:36

You just need to buy a thermostat plug....very simple, and cheap

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 25 Aug 2020 at 15:04

Ive got one of them tube heaters in my greenhouse that has a thermostat built in.
Used in spring for germination/keep the frost off

Semple · 25 Aug 2020 at 15:31

Yes piece of cake.

Aqara temperature/humidity sensors will do your measuring. You'll need a hub that talks zigbee, and some automation software to trigger your smart plugs based on certain temperature thresholds.

Pickers · 25 Aug 2020 at 16:11

Jez said:
You just need to buy a thermostat plug....very simple, and cheap

I figured that, but the plug isn't in the cabinet I need to heat.

Semple, this is what I was thinking. Have Google home hub and Phillips hue hub...

Pickers · 25 Aug 2020 at 16:46

Jez said:
You just need to buy a thermostat plug....very simple, and cheap

Ah nope, sorry, I see. plug with an RF temp sensor, Jobs a good'un!

Pho · 25 Aug 2020 at 19:04

Careful. A lot of smart plugs won't be rated to the high current of a heater.

How far between the plug and where the sensor is? I have a Sonoff TH16 with the Si7021 sensor which is on a 60cm cable. The TH16 can switch 16A (3500W).

Do yourself a favour and grab an FTDi chip programmer for about £3 and flash the Tasmota firmware onto it, it's really good. They even have a really nice basic thermostat script you can use. I used this with a 2KW heater and it works really well.