WiFi enabled switch for immersion heater

[voicey]

I'm hoping for some recommendations here please.

I keep a flat in London which I visit infrequently. The water is heated with a 3kW immersion heater. At the moment I switch the immersion on when I arrive and off when I leave - but this means I do need to wait for hot water when I first arrive. I would like the ability to remotely switch the water on when I'm on my way so I have a tank full when I arrive.

Has anyone had experience with a product that will help with this? I would like something tried and tested - not too keen on turning up to a fire because I bought a cheap bit of tat that couldn't handle the load. Or something that keeps dropping the connection.

Cheers....

[M1AGM]

I use cheap wifi smart plugs off amazon. I buy the ones that work with the smart life app as its all free. I use them for various duties and looking at one now on my desk is rated to 16A so enough I expect for an immersion heater (not a sparky so happy to be proved wrong). Over a few years some of them have failed and been replaced but they are not very expensive and an easy solution.

[Baldchap]

Shelly almost certainly have something appropriately rated to ensmarten your immersion heater.

[Shnozz]

I could do with something similar and came across this post elsehwere:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/65...

[21TonyK]

I've got the old version of this and its worked fine for 3+ years.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WiFi-Fused-Spur-Connectio...

[Mr Pointy]

21TonyK said:

I've got the old version of this and its worked fine for 3+ years.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WiFi-Fused-Spur-Connectio...

Have you looked at the reviews?

[Shnozz]

Mr Pointy said:

Have you looked at the reviews?

Indeed. Multiple examples of exactly what my concerns are!

[voicey]

Mr Pointy said:

Have you looked at the reviews?

This is exactly what I'm trying to avoid!

[33q]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09P88YF2W?ref_=ppx_hz...

I've been using this since Febrary 2024

[voicey]

I've just found something that might work here.

I had a thought that I don't want a wifi controlled switch, rather a wifi controlled contactor. I'll reach out to these guys and see what they say.

[netherfield]

33q said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09P88YF2W?ref_=ppx_hz...

I've been using this since Febrary 2024

From that well known brand xuelili

[IanA2]

voicey said:

I've just found something that might work here.

I had a thought that I don't want a wifi controlled switch, rather a wifi controlled contactor. I'll reach out to these guys and see what they say.

I'd be interested to know how you get on with that as it looks like the only one I've seen (and I've been looking a while) that won't burn the house down.

[outnumbered]

I recently looked for a suitable commercial product and ended up making my own (based on the same MSE thread someone referenced above). It uses a Shelly smart relay to switch a 20A contactor that actually turns the immersion on and off. This is it partly assembled.

[21TonyK]

voicey said:

Mr Pointy said:

Have you looked at the reviews?

This is exactly what I'm trying to avoid!

Depends on how much load they are putting on it.

Like I said, I have had a similar one in daily use for 3 years with a 3Kw immersion on it.

Or pay a bit more, I had 20+ timeguard units on storage heaters many years ago without issue.

https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/5034630-1...

[21TonyK]

voicey said:

Mr Pointy said:

Have you looked at the reviews?

This is exactly what I'm trying to avoid!

Depends on how much load they are putting on it.

Like I said, I have had a similar one in daily use for 3 years with a 3Kw immersion on it.

Or pay a bit more, I had 20+ timeguard units on storage heaters many years ago without issue.

https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/5034630-1...

[voicey]

voicey said:

I've just found something that might work here.

I had a thought that I don't want a wifi controlled switch, rather a wifi controlled contactor. I'll reach out to these guys and see what they say.

The company came back to my enquiry and confirmed that it'd be suitable. I have just ordered the 32A version so plenty of headroom. I'll report back once it arrives.

[Mr Pointy]

21TonyK said:

Depends on how much load they are putting on it.

Like I said, I have had a similar one in daily use for 3 years with a 3Kw immersion on it.

Or pay a bit more, I had 20+ timeguard units on storage heaters many years ago without issue.

https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/5034630-1...

Not really. Any item connected to a UK ring should be designed to carry 20A continuous current & it's perfectly obvious that there are so many people having serious issues with that item that it shouldn't be on the market.

Fortunately the OP seems to have found a much better product.

[biggiles]

I have a Smart-life/Tuya smart switch connected to an immersion, it's been working for over 5 years. It's a DIN rail "meter" one - apparently rated for 50A. A DIN rail gives me some confidence it's better than a dodgy ebay one.

[Watchthis]

Timeguard FSTWIFI is exactly what you need

[b14]

Fingerbot to turn on the existing switch?