Curiosity teardown: smart plug
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- Опубліковано 6 лип 2023
- Another Dollarama find! This time it's a Sylvania SmartPlug.
I assume it's a clearance item.
This is another of those IoT thingies that refuses to work without signing onto some app and letting a random cloud server take control.
Clearly I'm not going to allow that, but it's still interesting to look inside and see what makes it tick.
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This isn't the only way to do it.
It's probably not the best way to do it.
But it's how I did it. - Наука та технологія
Ah the click of death - obviously built by Iomega :-) Using grips as a hammer will get you stood in the naughty corner and only bread for tea (no jam)!
Very interesting teardown, thanks. And, yes, there does look to be a burn mark in the case corresponding to the damaged component. Some superglue and return it for refund ;-)
If only Dollarama accepted returns.
I have 3 similar devices, but they came with an RF remote control. There are 6 buttons two for each device, On and Off. No app needed. 👍
That's the better way to do it.
Much simpler and more secure. Remember the S in iot stands for secure and the I stands for I will spy on you. Convert it or use a rf based one and then boom, no weird cloud spying on you anymore. We are already spied on enough with our apps, windows, google, Microsoft and when you have iot with cloud server also a random server somewhere in a different country also spying on you. Rf switches for ever! Its just simple and genius even rc cars use rf they dont need a weird app to control it.
It didn't want to be opened!
A while ago I needed a way to include a Current transformer into a small package and to add a circuit to its output that would send a (wired, not wireless) signal to an Arduino whenever a woodworking shop power tool was turned on.
The idea was to have one of these for each power tool that was connected to a dust collection system, The Aduino would know which machine it was and then open and close appropriate "Blast Gate(s) and turn the dust collector on.
So I bought one of those smart plugs (similar but not identical to yours). I had t work pretty hard to shoehorn all the components in, but it works. I had never planned to actually use the "smart plug" feature, by the way.
I feel like the box could be a little smaller. It looks like all the other ones I have.
I hope its cheap
These are sold at the dollarama dollar stores across Canada. Seems they received a massive overstock shipment of ledvance/SYLVANIA product and are offloading it for next to nothing at their stores. This gear is surprisingly good quality and is being retailed for peanuts!
As for its size - it’s much better quality than the typical garbage you get nowadays, and they’re using name brand components of a decent size to ensure it can survive putting out a full 15 amp (or 1800 watt) load without overheating…
Did you notice the relay ratings? 15A 125v or 16A 250V. Usually the current rating is higher at lower voltages, here it doesn't make sense. For that reason I would be very hesitant to run it anywhere close to 15 amps.
I wouldn't trust this type of device with more than half of it's rating, just as a matter of course.
@@pileofstuff for sure I would use this with maybe some lamps something low wattage use !
JFYI, i too dont buy in to the 'cloud assisted' IoT devices that turn in to expensive paper weights after a year, but a *lot* of them, like this plug most probably, are controllable via free and Open Source ESPHome BT Relays and/or cheap Zigbee/Z-Wave USB sticks and open source software like Home Assistant. You can make use of these devices with out submitting to the cloud hive mind. ;)
100%. You can communicate with these openly, and like mentioned don’t need a proprietary home base or internet connection for them to work…
I got a cheap smart plug from the supermarket, they put in a Realtek controller so I couldn't flash it to ESPHome.
One way i found to get that sort of case open is to grip them diagonally in a vice and gently squeeze until i hear cracking, change to different diagonals to break both sides ;)
(diagonal from top left to bottom right etc)
I have a couple of plugs I opened that way, Araldite and car filler proved useful for making good afterwards. The ultrasonic welded ones don't surrender easily.
Unfortunately, I don't have any pliers (or a vice) big enough to get this thing into diagonally.
I did try hammering on it in that orientation, though, with no significant result.
Dremel, Cut off wheel - Done and fun
Ransom ware by any other name !
Big Clive recently had a similar issue.
. ;)
i wonder where the shunt resistor is to get power flow
After all of the dark (good) beers, lager would be like water
Nearly.
FYI- Dollar tree will exchange items with a receipt. Dollarama will not refund/exchange anything.
Handy to know.
Though Dollar Tree rarely has any interesting electronics these days.
Hola, tengo el mismo dispositivo pero no puedo agragarlo en la aplicacion, me puedes ayudar?
I wonder if Home Assistant can talk to these without logging in.
Dunno. I suppose it's possible, but I haven't spent enough time with HA to figure out that level of things yet.
@@pileofstuff You'll need a Bluetooth dongle. I am running HA on a RasPi and it talk to Bluetooth devices. If I can find one of those cheap I should try it.
Yep, you can use an iPad as a home base (and no internet connection is required)…
Just fyi, like the led the app is only used for initial setup - to allow you to facilitate connecting the device to the smart home appliance or control module of your choice. Once done you not only don’t ever use the app again, you can delete it. These things don’t spy on you… Just your imagination running wild my friend…
That's my kind of Beer.
There's a beer out there for everyone's taste!
Your Canada's answer to Big Clive Lol
Not a good comparison, Clive doesn't care what he drinks as long as it has alcohol in it.
Are these power relays typically double pole double throw?
There is no reason for them to be, but I suspect if DPDT relays are less expensive they might use those.
I’m curious if it’s safer with DPDT if neutral is disconnected along with hot. I’m EE but not edu in the high power side.
@@sh91899 Assuming the outlet you are plugged into is wired properly, then there should be no potential on the neutral when the hot is disconnected.
Of course, that assumption may be problematic...
the clicking cold be pairing mode
Not according to the limited information in the manual.
@@pileofstuff teah once you said you blitzed on of the parts on the board .....
I’m thinking repurposed surplus Bud Light.
It's got a lot more flavour than that.
Did you notice that you plugged in in backwards? (L to N and N to L because you left out the ground pin)
Shouldn't make any practical difference.
DOOD!
Might as well drink Bud Light; they're giving it away for free.
Sometimes a guy has to step out of his comfort zone.
But I doubt I'll be taking this particular step again
another tax write off...
That looks awfully like a skid mark inside the casing, possibly your spudgering skills are not the guilty party. p.s. while not a lager drinker I would shun any beer brewed with rice.
It was an experiment.
@@pileofstuff I trust you washed your mouth out with a real beer afterwards. I'm just debating the Chocolate stout or the Ruby porter as my post prandial treat or possibly both.
Promo_SM