I’m trying to bypass the timer on a plug box so I can control it directly with a smart plug. Any ideas on how to do this?
Open it up and share a picture of the wiring setup.
Chances are the wires connect to a basic circuit board. You could cut the wires and either splice or solder them back together to disable the timer. I’ve done it this way in the past with no issues, but be cautious because some boards might have resistors or other components to regulate voltage.
I’m not a professional, just sharing what’s worked for me most of the time.
@ZOLAH
Credit for using voila correctly.
Haha, thanks! I think it’s the first time I’ve actually used it right in a sentence. Usually, I just go, “et voila!” and hold something up for fun.
Edit: spelling
You mean voila as opposed to?
People often type viola (maybe autocorrect?), or variations like vollah… kinda like the whole ‘bon appletea’ joke.
@Sara
Autocorrect did change it three times before giving up.
ZOLAH said:
@Sara
Autocorrect did change it three times before giving up.
Pro tip: if you use the French accent (voilà), autocorrect won’t mess with it.
ZOLAH said:
@Sara
Autocorrect did change it three times before giving up.
Pro tip: if you use the French accent (voilà), autocorrect won’t mess with it.
Voilà!
Just keep it switched on, then plug it into a smart outlet.
James said:
Just keep it switched on, then plug it into a smart outlet.
If it’s like other lights I’ve had, pressing the button might set it, but if power is cut, it could reset. Try setting it on twice for an ‘always on’ setting, but it might reset once the plug is off. Worth a shot, though.
@Jason
Got it, makes sense.
James said:
Just keep it switched on, then plug it into a smart outlet.
Unfortunately, it does reset each time I turn the smart plug on or off.
You could snip the wires at each end of the box and connect them back directly.
AnitaSqwimbex said:
You could snip the wires at each end of the box and connect them back directly.
That’s a solid backup, but I wonder if there’s a way to rewire the board inside so the on/off switch still works independently and doesn’t rely on the smart plug every time. Thanks for the suggestion!
@Julius
If you want the switch option, you can get an inline power switch for $5-$10. For example, Helunsi Inline Switch (2 pack) - White Lamp Cord Button for appliances. Here’s one on Amazon: https://a.co/d/fbuqTUh
@AnitaSqwimbex
Or you could get a smart switch to replace the timer directly. You can find cheap Zigbee options on Aliexpress, which also have physical buttons.