Home automation to incorporate grow lights

[Keif]

Home automation and grow lights.

Hello-

I am running a digital 150w ballast and I would like to add it to my list of home automation appliances. This would allow me to control the lights via wifi, just like the other things in my apartment (TV, lights, thermostat). The plug goes into an outlet and then can be controlled from your smartphone. You can monitor the usage and even use this as a timer.

Question is-
Do you think it would be safe to run the 150w on this plug?
http://reviews.cnet.com/small-appli...emo-insight-switch/4505-14091_7-35827492.html

Are there any risks? I don't want it to fry the outlet or pop a circuit if the light is used on a timer with the app.

Please let me know if you need any other information.

Thanks for your help, please excuse any typos as I am on my phone.

 

[tenthirty]

A Mi Casa Verde Vera would be a better choice.
http://www.micasaverde.com/controllers/

 

[Jhhnn]

A 150W light only draws ~1.25A, so any home automation device rated higher than that will work fine. A washing machine draws several times as much current.

That's not really much power at all. If you were using a 1000W lamp, you'd need to be a lot more concerned.

 

[habeeb]

lights are on a set timer.. not like you can turn it on or off when you want.. what do you want to control about a set schedule?

 

[Keif]

I live in an apartment and grow stealth. It would be nice to shut it off if I know I have a smoke detector test, etc.

I also think it would be great to use on my fans and just in general to have a remote control box.

Thanks for the input and I will check out that other site too.

 

[Keif]

To anyone that was curious, I purchased this wifi plug and it is working great! It is used as a timer through my iphone app and I cant complain, its exactly what I was looking for. So much in fact that I just ordered a couple more for my flowering box.

 

[Keif]

Another tip for these switches-

You can use ifttt.com and automate these lights to do certain features such as texting you if the lights get shut off or on, or programming them to turn on when the sun rises. It is calculated every day per the actual time of sunrise via IFTTT weather app.

I will be using this feature come spring to have a mock outdoor grow indoors.

Thanks.

 

[Phaeton]

Does this mean a thirty hour day could be run? As in 18/12?

Or have the lights lose 8 minutes a day from 18/6 down to 12/12 then hold steady?

Infra red on and off in the morning, UVB on and off at noon, and IR on and off again at dusk all from a single controlling source sounds intriguing to say the least.

 

[Keif]

Yes, I could technically run them at whatever period I wanted to.

The sunrise / sunset grow will be done beginning of spring / late winter.

I like your ideas for different spectrums at different times, that would be possible with a few controllers.

 

[Keif]

I just wanted to update this thread that I am still rocking this controller and I LOVE it. It has saved my ass a couple times when I was at work and the landlord needed to get in for a leak. I just hit the button on my phone and killed everything in the cab.

I have bought a couple more and now use them on fans and the master power for my cabinet as well as the lights.