Can you add support for connected outdoor 220V devices to a smart home?

On our most recent IoT Podcast, Howard called in with a pergola problem. He’s remodeling his backyard and adding a pergola with hanging heaters in it. The problem is that most of the heating solutions require a 220 Volt power load and Howard is wondering what smart devices, preferably with dimming capabilities so he can control the heat level, will work for his new pergola.

Howard’s best bet is to consider the Shelly 2.5 relay module, which can be wired into an outlet. However, in this use case, the module also requires a contactor from Shelly, in order to monitor and control the circuit.

Using the relay alone could be a potential electrical hazard, so you’ll want both. A Shelly representative told us to “Think of it like the starter motor on your car’s engine – the Shelly product is the starter motor and the contactor is the car’s engine.” It also might be worth having an electrician do the installation, just to be safe and / or contacting Shelly directly for this particular implementation

The idea of a dimmer switch to control the heater output is another challenge entirely, however. Typically, these switches don’t work well with appliances that use fans. The main reason? Fans require variable power loads, generally needing the most power upon startup to get the fans moving. Some outdoor heaters have fans and some don’t.

One option would be to consider heaters that have integrated connectivity in them and are designed for variable speeds. The downsides here are cost and integration, however.

Heaters we looked at as potential solutions were priced near $1,000. And most of the options you’ll find in this space use proprietary software or apps, meaning they may not integrated well with an existing smart home solution. Given this is a fairly niche use case, you’re not likely to find an off-the-shelf product that is inexpensive and works with your smart home ecosystem, unfortunately.

To hear Howard’s question, as well as our discussion in full, tune in to the IoT Podcast below:

Update: Added information about Shelly’s contactor product that will make the relay work properly and safely. The original post only mentioned using a Shelly relay, which in this particular use case, would not be a safe solution by itself.