Hey everyone! I wanted to share my recent experience with the Shelly 1PM Gen4 switch and how it’s transformed the way I manage my hot water cylinder. 
I’ve always been on the lookout for ways to optimize my energy usage, especially since electricity prices can be quite steep here. After some research, I decided to give the Shelly 1PM Gen4 a try, even though I wasn’t entirely sure how it would integrate into my existing setup. Let me walk you through my journey!
The Goal
I wanted to automate the heating of my hot water cylinder during off-peak hours when electricity is cheapest. Specifically, I aimed to have it turn on at 3:00 AM and shut off once the water reached the desired temperature. The challenge was ensuring it didn’t cycle unnecessarily throughout the day, which would drive up my energy costs.
The Setup
I started by connecting the Shelly switch to my hot water cylinder. Using the Schedules feature in Home Assistant (HA), I set it to turn on at 3:00 AM. That part was straightforward and worked like a charm! 
The Challenge
The next part was a bit trickier. I needed the switch to turn off automatically once the water reached the set temperature. This had to be based on power consumption dropping, not just a fixed time. After some digging, I realized I’d need to use the Actions feature in HA or possibly write a custom script.
The Solution
I spent hours researching and experimenting. I discovered that by monitoring the power usage of the hot water cylinder, I could set up an automation in HA to turn off the switch when the consumption dropped below a certain threshold. This meant the system would only run long enough to heat the water to the desired temperature, then shut off automatically. 
The Result
The outcome has been fantastic! My hot water cylinder now operates efficiently, only running when necessary and saving me a good chunk of money on my energy bill. Plus, the Shelly switch has been incredibly reliable, and I love how it integrates seamlessly with HA. 
A Few Tips
- Start Simple: If you’re new to this, begin with basic scheduling and gradually introduce more complex automations.
- Monitor Closely: Keep an eye on your energy consumption patterns to fine-tune your settings.
- Leverage Community Resources: Don’t hesitate to reach out to forums and communities for guidance. There’s a wealth of knowledge out there!
I’m thrilled with how this setup has worked out and can’t recommend the Shelly 1PM Gen4 enough for anyone looking to optimize their home’s energy efficiency. 
Let me know if you have any questions or if you’ve tried something similar! Happy automating! 