# Control a smart outlet using bluetooth?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/control-a-smart-outlet-using-bluetooth/96572>\
**Category:** Hardware\
**Created:** [14 April 2025 20:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/control-a-smart-outlet-using-bluetooth/96572 "2025-04-14T20:45:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CandleTiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90db22/32.png) [@CandleTiger](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/CandleTiger)\
**Post date:** [14 April 2025 20:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/control-a-smart-outlet-using-bluetooth/96572/1 "2025-04-14T20:45:54Z")

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I want to use Node-RED on my victron Cerbo GX to control a smart outlet (for a dump load when my batteries are full)

Using hard-wired relays etc. is too much work in my case, I want to go with a remote controlled outlet, ideally replace the outlet in the junction box, but if needed add some smart outlet dongle. (Would be exposed to outside hot and cold temperatures and dust)

I know this is possible in multiple different ways using WiFi in different ways ([example thread](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/controlling-tasmota-switch-with-node-red/93945)).

I would like to ideally not spend the power running WiFi radios all the time though. Is there any smart outlet that can be controlled by Node-RED using BLUETOOTH connected to the Cerbo GX?

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**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [14 April 2025 21:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/control-a-smart-outlet-using-bluetooth/96572/2 "2025-04-14T21:36:45Z")

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I'm not sure what it is you want to do ultimately.

But reading the thread, I fear you are over constraining yourself.

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [15 April 2025 14:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/control-a-smart-outlet-using-bluetooth/96572/3 "2025-04-15T14:59:08Z")

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> [@CandleTiger](#):
>
> Is there any smart outlet that can be controlled by Node-RED using BLUETOOTH connected to the Cerbo GX?

I'm sure there will be. But BT is notoriously annoying to get working. It also has relatively limited range indoors.

While initially slightly more expensive to set up, using Zigbee would likely be a better option for you. That is still low power and while it does require a controller connected to your Node-RED server, each mains powered zigbee device acts as a mesh repeater.

To use Zigbee with Node-RED, the easiest approach is to use an MQTT broker (normally Mosquitto) and the Zigbee2MQTT service. Zigbee2MQTT auto-discovers your devices and provides a web interface to configure them. You can then both listen to device outputs and control them from Node-RED via MQTT topics.

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**Author:** ![hardillb](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/hardillb/32/12373_2.png) [@hardillb](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/hardillb)\
**Post date:** [15 April 2025 15:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/control-a-smart-outlet-using-bluetooth/96572/4 "2025-04-15T15:13:03Z")

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I'm willing to bet the losses in the power supplies build into the sockets/outlets are such that the actual differences in power usage between a Bluetooth radio and a WiFi radio are negligible.

NodeJS Bluetooth support is not the best, while possible you may have to write your own node to support that specific hardware

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**Author:** ![zenofmud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/zenofmud/32/316_2.png) [@zenofmud](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/zenofmud)\
**Post date:** [15 April 2025 22:30 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/control-a-smart-outlet-using-bluetooth/96572/5 "2025-04-15T22:30:32Z")

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Another option is to use a HS103 plug

> **[HS103 | Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Lite | TP-Link](https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/smart-plug/hs103/)**
>
> Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Lite

I use the `node-red-contrib-tplink` node and have several of them in my house with one of them connected to my coffee pot. I use it to shut off the power to the coffee maker after 20 minutes of being turned on. It fixes the problem I had when I would pour a cup of coffee and forget to turn the pot off. So I no longer come back and see the bottom of the pot is blackened from the remainder of the coffee drying up leaving some scrubbing to do.

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**Author:** ![dynamicdave](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dynamicdave/32/96_2.png) [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)\
**Post date:** [16 April 2025 07:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/control-a-smart-outlet-using-bluetooth/96572/6 "2025-04-16T07:25:35Z")

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Another option is to use a SMART Switch flashed with Tasmota so you can control it via MQTT.  
Here's an example of the switch for the UK market. Variants for other countries are available.

 ![athon_switch_image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/e/8/e8daf125dafd18a8ff2fccf82853062b29665a9e.png)  
I recently posted a detailed tutorial on 'Share Your Projects' you might find useful.

[https://teamwork-int.com/share\_my\_projects/](https://teamwork-int.com/share_my_projects/)

> [@Orange (or Raspberry) Pi Controller](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/orange-or-raspberry-pi-controller/96456):
>
> This tutorial documents the steps to build a controller that will boot-up / shut-down an Orange Pi or Raspberry Pi in a graceful way so as to minimise the risk of losing data or corrupting files. I recently purchased an Orange Pi 5 Pro with a 64GB eMMC and a 512GB NVMe SSD, then installed OpenMediaVault (OMV) on it to serve as a small Network-Attached Storage (NAS) device on my home network. Although OMV provides a web-based user interface for managing the NAS and shutting it down in a controll…

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**Author:** ![craigcurtin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/94ad74/32.png) [@craigcurtin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/craigcurtin)\
**Post date:** [16 April 2025 23:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/control-a-smart-outlet-using-bluetooth/96572/7 "2025-04-16T23:22:11Z")

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If you are really worried about the power overheads of WIFI - being always on and chatty - then you could look at ESP-Now - it essentially uses the WIFI spectrum and the radios built into the mainstream ESP chips to create a mesh network that draws little power. Would be much more reliable than BT and still on mainstream hardware.

But as others have said - with the price of lithium batteries now i would just add another battery and go with mainstream WIFI

Craig

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**Author:** ![paulkeates](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9de053/32.png) [@paulkeates](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/paulkeates)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2025 18:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/control-a-smart-outlet-using-bluetooth/96572/8 "2025-05-01T18:13:41Z")

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Hi - also, if it helps (perhaps only to confirm power draw) there is a full set of Victron nodes that let you interact very well with Cerbo and other Victron devices...

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [30 June 2025 18:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/control-a-smart-outlet-using-bluetooth/96572/9 "2025-06-30T18:14:36Z")

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