Arlec Grid Connect 5 Outlet Smart Power Board Unboxing and Review
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- Опубликовано: 11 июл 2024
- Unboxing, Review, and setup of the Arlec Grid Connect 5 Outlet Smart PowerBoard: www.bunnings.com.au/arlec-gri...
Helpful Links:
Home Assistant: www.home-assistant.io/
Raspberry Pi: www.raspberrypi.org/
Balena Etcher: www.balena.io/etcher/
Music: www.purple-planet.com 
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Another great video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
This reminds me of the time you demonstrated making damper at Bivouac. Nice work, Stu.
Glad you enjoyed it
I'm glad that this works with Tuya. But I'll be using the Smart Life app as I think that's a Tuya alternative. I use it with Alexa Routines in coordination with Lenovo Smart WiFi door/window contact sensors. Thanks for the video.
I've not looked at SmartLife, I'm planning to flash the board with Tasmota or ESPHome in a future video to remove reliance on Cloud Services completely.
There's a significant propagation delay when I trigger all 4 outlets using a master switch entity in Home Assistant.
@@HiveMindAutomation I have done a short video on my RUclips channel of what is possible with Alexa, but now with the customised command action I can have a live view of a camera show up on my Amazon Echo Show 8 when a door or window is opened/closed.
Thanks, yeah, I'm getting one. Maybe an internet order and pick up from Bunnings (I'm in lockdown too!)
Good Luck! Have fun!
Hey Stu, I was wondering once this device is in HA, is it possible to detect when power is passed through (lets say, 300w for a porjector) and thus make an automation from it? (like close the blinds). Once power passthrough stops (projector off) open the blinds. Thanks!
There's no Energy Monitoring on this powerboard, so it can't really operate like that. You COULD use a smart switch to turn on your projector and have the automation for your blinds trigger when that switch triggers.
the relay sounded noisy or was it just your mic setting for the video
thanks for the review I have been looking at the power board but not shore I have a use for 4 plugs I. one place
The relays are definitely not quiet, but being so close to my mic it seemed louder.
All smart plug switches I've tested so far are about the same though.
The Grid Connect range does include Single Smart Plugs as well if you don't have a need for 4 switched outlets in one place.
If you're into Christmas lights, you might find a use case for 4 switched ports soon!
@@HiveMindAutomation thanks
They also have double adaptor type smart plugs which have individually controlled sockets. $29
The light switch relays appear to be that loud also. Thank you. Back to binging.
I have a arlec power board but doesn’t seem to work with an extension lead, for example I have it plugged into the power and then an extension lead going from the powerboard to an appliance but it doesn’t work. Have you found this too?
Can't say I've tried but that sounds REALLY weird
Do the outlets have energy meters like other Arlec power products? The single port relay products have power meters...
No, the Powerboards do not include Energy monitoring.
I'm yet to find a Smart powerboard with Energy Monitoring. I've only seen one "Double Adapter" with Energy Monitoring, and it was aggregated across both ports, rather than exposing individual socket power metering which I would have preferred.
Smart power boards used to mean a master plug that would trigger the other 3 to turn on, for use in home theatres. ( When the TV comes off standby, all the other devices turn on.
Would this plug be able to do that?
Not out of the box.
If you integrate with Home Assistant or another home automation platform you could run automations based on things being turned on and off, but there's no load detection or energy monitoring built into this, so it's not available natively and would need the "Master" Load to be detectable in another method.
If I tell it to turn switch 1 on which is let's say, a diffuser, will it then give power to that outlet or will it give power and turn on the device as well? Otherwise, when I give the voice command do I still then need to go up to the device to turn it on?
It's going to depend on what's plugged into it.
It'll be the same behaviour as if you were turning a wall-switch on/off.
So if the device needs you to press a physical button on the device to start, then yes, you'll need to get up and press the button.
However, if it's got a "hard" on/off switch that you can leave in the on position - like a lamp/floor fan for example - then you won't need to switch 2 things.
So I have one that has usb outlets on it as well and they're working but the powerboard won't itself is showing no lights (apart from the usb blue indicator). I can't get it to power on at all.
Does the Master power switch on the board itself do anything?
Is it not showing up in the App?
I just got one of the USB ones and filmed a video about it so that's coming through the pipeline.
Idk why, but for some weird reason I cannot connect the Google assistant to each port, is it possible? Like giving commands like turn on TV or turn off? Because every time I say turn on TV turn all the ports on but not the TV on
I don't know how Google Assistant handles Grouping across different devices. Without more info on your setup it's pretty hard to know what's going on. Also worth noting that a lot of TV integrations aren't good at turning ON from off if they go into a sleep mode where the "smart functions" are also asleep.
Can you control each socket individually by voice using Alexa and Google?
I've read that with another brand's smart powerboard you can only turn on or off ALL the sockets at once with your voice.
YES!
If you give each port a unique name, you can use Alexa to switch each individual port using that name. Obviously you'd want the names to be easy to remember and easy for Alexa to understand.
@@HiveMindAutomation THANK YOU 🤗😊
Oh by-the-way, is it still working okay?
Yeah, it's still working pretty well. I keep threatening to pull it apart and put Tasmota on it but never get there.
Mine just stopped working except the always on socket. no lights, nothing. Took it apart and found no evidence of arcs or burn marks.
That's no good. Maybe the ESP-8266 unit failed and that's why it's not working.
It is possible to install Tasmota on these as well.
According to the internet, Maybe.
As with any installation of non-standard firmware, your mileage may vary, and you'll definitely void any warranty you have.
I'll be Attempting a Tasmota install in the future and I'll be sure to film it
@@HiveMindAutomation I can confirm you can install Tasmota on these. I have bought a couple and installed Tasmota. I have also bought a few Arlec smart bulbs and installed Tasmota on those as well.
@@JustinYoung0 Awesome! There's some accessories I definitely want to try out.
@@JustinYoung0 did you OTA flash them
@@rrrrrrrr290 Yes, I used tuya-convert.
I returned mine due to the noise and the buzzing noise when the switch is on.
Yes, the relays are very clunky and mine makes a "Coil Whine" noise. But it's tucked away somewhere so it doesn't bother me. I'll be taking it out and Flashing it with Tasmota when I get time.