Switch controlled by Alexa

forgotmyname

Mnoee said:

Edit: just actually clicked the link of what you've been using and seen it's just a switch, I thought you meant plug with smart switch. Maybe their standalone switches are fine, but I'll leave my comment incase it's helpful for anyone else. 

My partner used Tapo plugs for his fish tank lights, just on a timer, no alexa or similar, and both had mechanical faults within a year. It's not difficult to find advice online to hit them against walls/window ledges if and when they stop working, which does seem to 'fix' them for a while. 

He's switched to a non smart timer now, so unfortunately I can't recommend something good, but just a mild warning against the budget tapo ones!

Yeah it makes me wonder why they still use old fashioned relays when you can electrically switch the devices on/off which is longer
lasting and more reliable.  You can cheap SSR's that switch many amps so a syb 13Amp plug using an SSR and not relays should
be available close to current prices.

Luckily my Tapo ones always work through the Tapo App, it's just Alexa who responds with OK and does nothing until you pull
power from the plugs completely. Stupid when most people use them because they are inaccessible.  We keep an old phone
with the App on connected to the WiFI only for those times when Alexa is playing dumb.

FreeBear

forgotmyname said:

Mnoee said:

Edit: just actually clicked the link of what you've been using and seen it's just a switch, I thought you meant plug with smart switch. Maybe their standalone switches are fine, but I'll leave my comment incase it's helpful for anyone else. 

My partner used Tapo plugs for his fish tank lights, just on a timer, no alexa or similar, and both had mechanical faults within a year. It's not difficult to find advice online to hit them against walls/window ledges if and when they stop working, which does seem to 'fix' them for a while. 

He's switched to a non smart timer now, so unfortunately I can't recommend something good, but just a mild warning against the budget tapo ones!

Yeah it makes me wonder why they still use old fashioned relays when you can electrically switch the devices on/off which is longer lasting and more reliable.  You can cheap SSR's that switch many amps so a syb 13Amp plug using an SSR and not relays should be available close to current prices.

An SSR that can handle 13A or more is quite a large package and considerably more expensive than a relay. SSRs also have a leakage current across the switching terminals, and don't handle over voltage conditions too well.

That said, many of these Chinese produced smart switches use really cheap relays that are optimistically rated. If they claim a 16A switching capability, I'd cut that in half just to be on the safe side.

Oh, and a relay can switch both AC and DC, which most SSRs can't do.