Is there a way to turn on large numbers of IoT devices remotely?

Question

I have a lot of IoT devices that I am currently working on (read playing with). One of my biggest headaches is turning on the ones I need without climbing under my desk and plugging in a lot of wires. I looked at IoT controlled power switches but that is going to get very expensive very fast for a large number of distributed devices (really, a $20 power switch for a $5 micro computer?). Obviously once they are deployed in large numbers (~100 at a site) the desk climbing will no longer be an option.

I would also like to be able to turn them on (from fully off) from anywhere that there is internet. We can safely assume that most will turn on when power is restored.

Hopefully, someone has a better solution than mine.

Answer 1

In as much as there is a 'standard' solution I suspect it's going to look like a Wi-Fi enabled microcontroller attached to a relay or MOSFET. Something somewhere has to be on 24/7 if you want round-the-clock control over your outlets.

I've made a bunch of internet controlled sockets using ESP8266 ESP-01S modules (not the ESP-01, which has less memory) and cheap Chinese relay boards. You need one relay per controlled device, but can add dozens of relays to each ESP-01S if you make use of something like the MCP23017 I2S port expander. As you're dealing with mains voltage you also need to factor in the costs of sensible enclosures. The ESP-01S serves up a basic web interface with on/off buttons that toggle the relays, which serve power up to your devices.

If you build them yourself (particularly if you sell them to other people), you are very likely, over time, to rack up production, support and maintenance costs a long way over the $20 per switch you mention in your question. If your only goal is to DIY the whole thing, rather than being cost effective, then this is how I'd approach it.