I recently embarked on a journey to automate my laundry routine, and I must say, it’s been a game-changer! Let me share my experience and the setup that made it all possible.
The Challenge
Laundry has always been a bit of a hassle, especially when both the washing machine and dryer are in use. I wanted a system that would notify me when both appliances were done, so I could transfer the wet clothes without delay. Plus, I needed alerts even if only one appliance was running.
The Solution
I decided to use TP-Link HS110 smart plugs for both the washing machine and dryer. These plugs allowed me to monitor their power consumption and create flows in my smart home system to detect when they were on or off.
The Setup
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Power Consumption Thresholds
- I set a high threshold (80 for the washing machine and 400 for the dryer) to detect when the appliances were on.
- For turning off, I chose lower thresholds (2 for the washing machine and 100 for the dryer) to account for any residual power usage.
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Variables
- A variable to track the laundry status, incrementing when an appliance started and decrementing when it finished.
- Boolean variables to track if each appliance was busy.
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Flows
- Detection Flows: These monitored power changes and updated the variables accordingly.
- Notification Flow: Triggered when the laundry status variable hit zero, indicating both appliances were done.
The Outcome
This setup has been a lifesaver! I no longer worry about missing the laundry cycle or transferring clothes at the wrong time. The system is reliable and has saved me countless trips to the laundry room.
A Little Tip
When setting up similar automations, don’t rush to choose low thresholds. They might cause false triggers. Instead, observe your appliances’ power patterns and set values that work consistently.
If you’re considering automating your laundry routine, I highly recommend exploring smart plugs and flows. It’s a small investment that pays off in convenience and peace of mind!
Happy automating! 