Does this exist? Remote control switch

We have a pressurised hot water system with a big hot water tank with an immersion heater. We don’t use the immersion heater often, but it can come in useful sometimes when the whole family of four (including two teenage girls) want to shower around the same time. The thing is, the switch for the immersion heater is in the garage (where the system is) and it is a bloody faff to get to. Is there such a thing as a remote control switch that is app-based so I know when it has activated without having to go out to the garage (the only way in is via the garage door – we don’t have internal access).  TIA.

Could you move the tank to where the tumble drier is? 😉

I was going to suggest any Smart Plug but I’m not sure there are any up to handling that current. I have one with a 1kw fan heater plugged in but it’s never in for more than 15 minutes.

Have you tried Googling “remote control switch”?

Could you move the tank to where the tumble drier is? ;-l

Ha! Ha! It’s because of where the bloody HW system is that we can’t get power closer to where the tumble drier is!

something like this?, you’d need a sparky to fit it unless you deem yourself competent

@somafunk – That looks along the right lines (and similar to stuff I have found) but I’m not sure how I would know if it successfully switched the heater on (unless Alexa confirms it during operation).

Edit – having read the reviews, it seems to have an app so I assume that will confirm successful operation. Thank you 🙂

You could wire up a webcam pointing at the switch

(I use Google Assistant and it confirms switch status).

Switchbot ?

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/switchbot-robotic-smart-switch-pusher-white-10257189.html?istCompanyId=bec25c7e-cbcd-460d-81d5-a25372d2e3d7&istFeedId=4d7eb93e-055f-499d-8ee5-1cdcc50d67d1&istItemId=marprpprw&istBid=t&srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~2084+(Shopping+Ads)+Home+%26+Family+SBRE+-+PMAX~~Exact~71700000118501106~&mctag=gg_goog_7904&kwid=GOOGLE&device=c&ds_kids=&tgtid=2084+(Shopping+Ads)+Home+%26+Family+SBRE+-+PMAX&&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA9bq6BhAKEiwAH6bqoBFh5xV-C_NNQHVAQPgJmqBG1U82yWlRO0PL14iWMs2CRlsLFJdRCxoCb-oQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I would want something that can switch 16 Amps as in my experience of immersion heater timers, those that are rated for 13 Amps don’t last, but the 16 Amp ones do.

Yeah Switchbot do a good range for that sort of thing

Shelly do a lot of different wifi controllers. You can fit them to the device to on your consumer unit. Loads of different options.

https://shellystore.co.uk/

Was going to suggest Shelly. Much better than some xgtttd Chinese generic (even if the same chip inside).

16a relay is £12

Shelly Plus 1

Yeah I’m a big fan of Shelly relays. I think the belt-and-braces approach for something with a high load is to use a contactor (from Screwfix etc) which you trigger using a WiFi relay.

The Chosry switch linked to earlier is only 13A which I wouldn’t touch for this application. Also it uses Tuya for Smart Control which means you’re dependant on internet access & Chinese servers!

The Shelly relays is also dependant on internet access (although not Chinese!) unless you have something like Home Assistant set up. I see Switchbot now make a Matter relay which in combination with their hub should give you local control I think i.e. not dependant on internet access (although WiFi is still required for most of these solutions)

I wouldn’t use the Switchbot virtual finger thing for this application (although they are cool!) as they don’t provide any positive feedback without the use of other equipment.

You could wire up a webcam pointing at the switch

(I use Google Assistant and it confirms switch status).

love a ridiculously hi-tech approach using lots of processing power to solve a simple problem 🙂

We use the older rf versions of the Quinetic controllers/switches and they work well for lights.

I see the current versions have a wifi interface, would guess that would work?

I’ve never heard of ‘Chosry’ as a manufacturer of electrical accessories, and as a consequence wouldn’t touch them with the proverbial. My experience is that equipment with a high current draw needs its control gear/switches choosing carefully, and imo Chosry doesn’t qualify.

Shelly ftw

Also it uses Tuya for Smart Control which means you’re dependant on internet access & Chinese servers!

I’ve got some switches that work via the Tuya app, they also claim to work with a load of other devices (alexa, google, etc) so I presume it’s some fairly open standard?

The app won’t let you switch it until it’s established a connection, so it can’t appear to have switched but not switch if you see what I mean.

We use the older rf versions of the Quinetic controllers/switches and they work well for lights.

I see the current versions have a wifi interface, would guess that would work?

lol, always assumed Quinetic was decent kit – I see they’ve gone down the Tuya route for WiFi control (grimace emoji)

it uses Tuya for Smart Control which means you’re dependant on internet access & Chinese servers!

Yeah, when the shit really hits the fan, @johndoh and his family will be subject to tepid showers.

I’ve got some switches that work via the Tuya app, they also claim to work with a load of other devices (alexa, google, etc) so I presume it’s some fairly open standard?

it’s not open no, Tuya will license smaller manufacturers to use their system when they can’t/won’t develop their own. It’s extremely common now though amongst cheaper (especially Chinese obviously!) manufacturers. What most people don’t realise though is that if said smaller manufacturer goes bust/stops paying/upsets Tuya somehow then all those associated devices will suddenly stop working too!

Alexa/Google integration is a bit of a red herring as you still need to go via the Tuya servers (by linking your Amazon/Google account). If the device supports Matter (still fairly new) then you can have local control but you’ll need a hub of some kind. (This applies only to WiFi devices, Tuya also make a lot of Zigbee devices which is the protocol Hue & some Ikea stuff uses which is always fully locally controlled)