Smart plug for use with IEC C13 outlets

Seen_Canary

Hi,

I have a number of the ESPHome Smart Plugs for appliances that plug directly into the wall, but the majority of my computers, networking equipment, and similar electronics are behind UPSs (mostly directly but some via PDUs) and so aren’t using a power lead with either a UK or EU plug but rather an IEC C14.

I’m aware that I could monitor the supply to the UPS but I’d prefer more granular monitoring of the connected devices and I can already pull total draw figures from some of the UPSs. Using an IEC C14 to UK plug adaptor looks clunky and wastes quite a lot of space in what can be rather cramped environments.
Monitoring is of a higher importance than switching, so if need be the button and relay could be omitted.

MichaelMKKelly

Seen_Canary

Just some thoughts:

I haven’t seen any off the shelf IEC “smart plugs” as of yet. Something like that would be really cool in theory but I am not sure on the general demand for it.

For now the easiest solution is probably to wire a Shelly Device inline on the power cable in a junction box.

Shelly 1PM Mini Gen4 - If you want to be able to switch
Shelly EM Mini Gen4 - if you want monitoring only

Then something like this: https://thepihut.com/products/quickfix-jb-u-maintenance-free-junction-box
Add a wago to connect all the neutrals together.

Another direction (with some self promotion going on here…) could be:

I made a custom internal PDU for my mini rack which uses a ESPHome power monitoring board and CT clamps from one of these: https://www.athom.tech/blank-1/6-ch-energy-meter-made-for-esphome

I cover it a bit in the power distribution section of a write up I did on my mini rack here: https://gist.github.com/MichaelMKKelly/a2ea968952bfa1d3b85350cd0ccb8e9d

AAllport

Thanks for the suggestion @Seen_Canary,

Funnily enough, had a similar conversation last week regarding other options for slim smart control.
Something like the “Sonoff ZBMini”, in the form factor of a “Sonoff Basic”, would be ideal.

MichaelMKKelly Something like that would be really cool in theory but I am not sure on the general demand for it

Unfortunately, this is one of the main blockers 🙁
For now, I’d definitely recommend the Shelly + Junction Box approach.