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Comment by orthecreedence | Hacker News Reader

I have a question for the home automation crowd. Are there any wifi switches (wall-wart style that don't need to be embedded in the wall) with an open spec or open source that I don't need a custom app with a weird protocol to talk to?

I'd really like to wire up some automated switches but after days of research, found that just about every wifi-enabled switch requires some bullshit android app that requires phoning home to a third party. I'd like to keep everything LAN-only.

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This doesn't answer your question but I've been reliably using 433Mhz rf outlets[0] with homebridge and now with homeassistant with millisecond response times using Siri or browser at almost 100% success rate for years. I'm using twelve of them, and adding another is just adding one line to my config file.

[0]https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Household-Appliances-Unlimit...

Thanks! I actually have these already, I didn't even think they could be automated though. What do you use as the transmitter (I'm assuming you don't have a robot arm pressing the button on the remote ;))?

A decade ago, I soldered a relay directly on the remote to achieve this. It looked terrible with wires hanging out, but it still worked reliably.

Now I just use cheap rf emitters from amazon (you may have to solder an antenna to increase range). As soon as I got an AppleTV, all my switches became available outside my LAN, thanks to Apple Home without having to worry about security.

https://www.amazon.com/Gowoops-433Mhz-Transmitter-Receiver-A...

You're probably going to have a hard time finding consumer networked light switches that run on anything that isn't a wireless protocol. It's been a minute since I did any of this kind of work, but as I recall it, most US building codes forbid high-voltage (for residential values of the term, meaning ~120V wall supply) and low-voltage cabling from being run in the same conduits or boxes. That makes Ethernet and any other wired protocol (that isn't powerline) impossible, at least unless you're OK with risking your network cabling becoming live at mains voltage, and/or not getting a payout from your fire insurer if your house ever burns down.

In any case, good luck!

I'm looking for something like this: https://www.amazon.com/RockBirds-Required-Function-Control-A...

Except, doesn't require a custom android/ios app. I do want wireless protocol, but once the switch is networked, I want to be able to control it without some middle-man app that is phoning home outside of my network.

There are many options. For the wireless part my suggestion is to use zwave or zigbee devices as both protocols are open and widely used.

You can use a raspberry pi with a controller and Home Assistant (or equivalent) or an Athom homey which is not fully open but freely programmable.

Option: https://xiaomi-mi.com/sockets-and-sensors/xiaomi-mi-smart-so...

And Ikea will release zigbee wall plugs this year, their gateway uses the open coap protocol (no need to use their app) and as said you can also use any zigbee controller you want.

Fibaro sells zwave wall plugs, but there are others.

Finally sonoff has wifi plugs which can be flashed with open firmware.

No need to wait for Ikea (expect for probably lower price)

Innr smart plugs

https://www.athom.com/en/store/product/innr-sp120-smart-plug...

Look for the X10 protocol.

Problems with it: - doesn’t work across phases, but I believe there is a ‘bridge’ for that. - noise ie from switching power supplies on the lines can be a problem. Use filters / better supplies.

MyStrom has a simple web interface which I talk to with a bash script — but they come with Swiss plugs only AFAIK

Yes, this is exactly what I'm looking for...a wifi switch with a documented REST API. I am in the US, but maybe I can get an adapter ;).

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