Simple WiFi plug cover. Uses old tungsten carbide end mills for weights. Plug ties to home assistant to trigger heater for cat houses.
  • 186 points thisdesignup

    This is a cool solution. Although I can't help but think the combination of electrical cables and outdoors seems like the time to use something that is rated for it. Electrical boxes for this specific use do exist and are IP rated.

    water proof electrical box made for loose plugs

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    45 points TruckTires

    They also have wifi plugs meant for outdoor usage too

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    6 points LetsTryThisTwo

    Could you (or anyone) drop an image? HomeDepot is blocked in the EU

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    6 points HerrDoktorHugo

    Homer D. Poe, tear down this wall!

    https://imgur.com/a/ByvlInE#1FxUuJy

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    3 points LetsTryThisTwo

    Thank you good person!

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    10 points TheGoldenTNT

    I find it so amusing that home depot completely block access from outside the US…

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    11 points LetsTryThisTwo

    I thought it was just in the EU. I assumed it meant, they just REALLY harvest data and have zero interest in following GDPR

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    8 points nw0915

    If they don't have any stores/sell into the EU they why would they both putting resources into verifying compliance? Just easier to block access 

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    -2 points LetsTryThisTwo

    Sometimes people from other countries travel to the US - prior to y'all lot electing the current president, at least. Sometimes United Staters travel abroad, too.

    I, for one, frequently purchase stuff from stores in the US, and just have them shipped to a friend's place and collect when we meet up.

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    -1 points TheGoldenTNT

    Reddit try not to make it political challenge

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    1 points Dethstroke54

    I mean no one can buy things so why deal with GDPR issues lmao.

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    3 points g713

    Never seen that big one before

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    5 points Independent-Bonus378

    What do you mean? There is cabinet sized ones if you need?

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    1 points Harrier_Pigeon

    There are ones bigger than vehicles out there

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  • 46 points conflagrare

    Indoor electronics aren’t rated for outdoor temperature…. Doesn’t necessarily mean it will definitely die, but I can assure you the manufacturer never tested It.

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    3 points JPhi1618

    I had a 1st gen indoor WeMo switch on my (covered) porch for 5-6 years and it never had an issue. It can work. I put it out there planning to replace it with an outdoor plug when it died, but it never did.

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    1 points oskich

    Given a proper sealed moisture-free enclosure they will generate enough heat by themselves to keep healthy. I had a router in my cold garage for years without any trouble, even at sub-zero temperatures.

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  • 9 points thebendahl

    Tell me more about these cooler cat houses my wife is going to make me build (in addition to adding heaters to our wood one) when she sees this…

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    3 points g713

    They are made from Plano storage trunks. Got the at academy sports. The door is printed. Nothing special

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  • 17 points Tohightothinkofaname

    Sir, WiFi is wireless.

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    12 points PrimaryPineapple

    Don't be silly, the "wi" stands for wires. 

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  • 15 points hurubaw

    While the print is kinda nice, PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. That plug and cables are not correct IP rated, this is an electrical accident waiting to happen. Get a IP rated plug and cables, and even those will likely need to be in an enclosure like that so that they do not get direct rain.

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  • 22 points hunglowbungalow

    This is NOT a functional print. Please get something outdoor rated and approved.

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  • 3 points Hackerwithalacker

    Is buying a 5 axis and trying to machine hardened steel to break a couple endmillls necessary for the build?

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  • 2 points Tank_Gloomy

    I might be missing something, because I have never done this kind of installation. What would prevent you from simply hooking the whole thing up to the wall and then carrying the cable wherever you want instead of having it on the floor? I feel like you're exposing it way too long to water, animal piss and whatnot.

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    1 points g713

    In this case, the outdoor power pod does not have room for the Wi-Fi shut off. It has to be put in line.

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  • 4 points Durahl

    Wife ( looking out of the Window ): "Honey..."
    Husband: "Hmm?"
    Wife: "What's the IP Rating of that Plug Cover?"
    Husband: "Mhh... Dunno? 22 or so I guess? Why?"
    Wife: "Well... It's pouring down quite badly and I'm a bit concerned about the Cats"
    The Cats

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  • 5 points onefouronefivenine2

    Tungsten carbide can be recycled

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    5 points SeymoreBhutts

    My local buyer is paying $16/lb right now for clean carbide, such as op’s used end mills. I get using what you’ve got, but selling a handful of them would buy op enough lead for 100 of these boxes or whatever projects they have lined up next.

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    1 points deviantbono

    Yeah, let me just grab all my old tungsten carbide end mills real quick.

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    0 points raaneholmg

    Or repurposed :) Both are great

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  • 2 points Ok_Pound_2164

    You have forgotten to account for weather changes.
    Not just the black box being an oven in the sun, but also high humidity during rain and fog, which will corrode and short the parts.

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    0 points g713

    You can’t see it, but there is a dielectric covering most of the openings for the Wi-Fi adapter. But you can only really do so much. This thing will only be in place during the winter when it’s gonna be below freezing.

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  • 1 points Eric-702

    What brand plug is that?

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    2 points 7lhz9x6k8emmd7c8

    Sonoff S31 Lite, i guess.

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  • 1 points AnySecretary5954

    What about the heat? Doesnt this wifi device get hot?

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  • 1 points Eulalia543

    What program/system is this? (The home assistant that allows if/then statements)

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    1 points g713

    It’s called Home Assistant

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  • 1 points fr00ty_l00ps_ver_2

    I sometimes forget that professional quality endmills are huge. I was expecting a pile of 1/4” bits in a compartment in the print, not that chonker

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  • 1 points __phil1001__

    That's not a suicide reverse plug is it?

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    1 points IsaacNewtongue

    It's an extension cord..

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    1 points __phil1001__

    It looks like an extension cord on both sides which is why I wondered

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    2 points IsaacNewtongue

    If you look closer, the extension cord is round, and the output cord has 2 molded conductors.

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  • 1 points BillH_nm

    The 'old school' solution would be a brooder house thermostat. Plug has a small bi-metallic thermostat built in (1880s technology) -- cycles on at 34F/1C and off at 40F/4C $15-20 at Tractor Supply. That's what we use to run our heater in the greenhouse. You can get digital versions nowadays as well, but about 5x the price.

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  • 1 points cptninc

    Why not keep the switch indoors? You already have suitable extension cords to reach.

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  • 1 points SmolzillaTheLizza

    Hand, resourceful, and functional. I say this fits the sub well. Very nice 😁

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  • 0 points svknight

    Sign me up for outdoor cat care inspo. There's a TNR'd start that has come around a few times I wouldn't mind making cozy through the winter!

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    1 points VintageLunchMeat

    r/catdistributionsystem

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  • 0 points LinusThiccTips

    That looks like a Sonoff S31. I’ve been using one outdoors in a weatherbox for 2 years to control water pumps, it still works fine and it went through 0F winter days.

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