Note: Smart Tasks were previously called ‘EnergySaver tasks’.
With HomeWizard, you can set up various smart tasks. These allow you to automate switching for the Energy Socket, or for devices like your dishwasher, washing machine, or dryer. Smart tasks can help you save energy and manage your consumption more efficiently. Below, you’ll find an overview of the different tasks you can set up. Tasks can be combined for even more functionality.
Open the “Energy” app and go to Settings > Smart tasks > New Task.
Below is an explanation of the different types of smart tasks available for the Energy Socket, along with examples:
There are many options and use cases when combining the powerful Smart Tasks. They can help you make better use of your self-generated solar power, lower your energy costs, and use energy more sustainably. Read on to learn how to set up these tasks and create your own custom Smart Task.
Timer task
What is a Timer Task?
Easily set timers for the Energy Socket to switch automatically. Select a specific time, sunrise or sunset, and an optional offset, for example, 30 minutes before sunset. You can also choose which days the task should be active. Multiple tasks can be added per Energy Socket.
Switching Times in a Task. Each timer task has an “on” and “off” time that you can set yourself. If you create a timer task and the current time is already past the set “on” time, the task will activate the next day. This also applies to the dynamic pricing task.
Example
Turn off devices at night that you don’t need. Use the Energy Socket with a timer task to automatically switch off devices at night that don’t need to stay on while you’re asleep. For example, set a timer so the Energy Socket turns off every day at 10 PM.
Solar task
What is a solar task?
Want to charge your e-bike, heat your kitchen boiler, or power a device using surplus solar energy? Smart tasks make it possible to control your Energy Socket based on your current solar surplus using the Solar Task.
You can set a threshold for the amount of returned solar power and define a minimum run time (in minutes) for the connected device. The Energy Socket will turn on when the solar surplus (at the main connection) exceeds the set threshold. It will stay on for at least the minimum on-time and then turn off when there is less surplus available.
Example: You want to charge your phone using excess solar energy. Plug your phone charger into the Energy Socket. You want the phone to charge when there is at least 50 watts of surplus solar energy, and you want it to stay on for at least 15 consecutive minutes. You would then set the solar task to 50 watts and the minimum on-time to 15 minutes.
This feature requires a P1 Meter, an Energy Socket, and Energy+.
Five-Minute Delay with solar tasks. With solar tasks, there is always a 5-minute delay before the Energy Socket turns on or off. For example, if you want the Energy Socket to turn on when 2200 watts of surplus is available, that level must be maintained for five continuous minutes before activation.
Smart Washing and Drying with Bosch and Siemens
You can also control dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, and washer-dryer combos that support Home Connect using a solar task, without an Energy Socket and without setting a specific solar surplus threshold.
Examples
Heat a Kitchen Boiler with Solar Energy. Enable a solar task for the Energy Socket connected to your kitchen boiler. Use timer tasks to define the times when you need hot water, ensuring it’s heated when needed and turned off when not, like at night. This lets you prioritize heating with your own solar power. Better for your wallet and the planet.
Charge Your E-Bike with Solar Power and Have It Ready on Specific Days. Enable a solar task for the Energy Socket connected to your e-bike charger. Set a timer task for the nights before you plan to use the bike, so it’s fully charged when you need it. This way, you prioritize charging your bike with surplus solar energy while ensuring it’s ready to go when you are.
Measurement task
What is a Measurement Task?
You can automatically switch your Energy Socket based on its own power measurement or the power measurement from other meters (such as a P1 Meter, kWh Meter, or another Energy Socket).
With a measurement task, you can specify which value to monitor and which Energy Socket should be switched when that value rises above or falls below a set threshold for a certain number of minutes. You can optionally set specific times and days for when the task should be active. This task can be combined with other tasks, and you can create multiple tasks per Energy Socket.
An Energy Socket and Energy+ are required for this feature.
Rises Above and Falls Below. In a measurement task, you can set the Energy Socket to turn on or off when the power consumption rises above or drops below a specific value. However, the threshold must first be reached before the socket can respond. For example, if you want the Energy Socket to turn off when usage drops below 60 watts, it must first have measured usage above 60 watts. If it never goes above 60 watts, it won’t turn off.
Minimum Switching Delay. The minimum switch delay you can set is 1 minute. This means the Energy Socket will always have a delay of at least one minute (or more) for switching based on the associated task.
Examples
Turn Off Devices in Standby Mode. Create a measurement task that monitors the TV’s power usage and turns off the socket between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM when the TV drops below a certain consumption level. This helps eliminate standby power usage for the TV and other connected devices overnight. You can also add a timer task to automatically turn the socket back on the next day before you need the device.
Lower Peak Usage. Create a measurement task to switch off certain devices when the total household power usage is too high. For example, turn off devices when a P1 Meter shows usage above 3500W for 5 minutes. This is especially useful in Belgium, where extra charges may apply for peak consumption. You can also set a second measurement task to turn devices back on when usage returns to normal.
Extend the Battery Life of Your E-Bike. Create a measurement task that turns off the Energy Socket just below the bike’s maximum charging power. When the bike starts “trickle charging” at around 80%, the charging power decreases. You can use this drop as a signal to stop charging above 80%, helping extend the battery’s lifespan. To identify when trickle charging begins, charge your e-bike to 100% once using the Energy Socket. Check the power graph to see when the drop occurs. You can also use a timer task to limit charging to weekends if you don’t use your bike during the week, or vice versa.
Dynamic Pricing Task
What is a Dynamic Pricing Task?
A Dynamic Pricing Task allows you to switch on your Energy Socket when a high amount of sustainable energy is available from non-controllable sources like wind and solar. When there’s an abundance of this energy, such as during windy conditions or on sunny days, it’s better for the environment to use electricity during those times, and energy prices tend to drop.
If you have a dynamic energy contract, you can also take advantage of low-cost periods. When energy supply is high, prices are low, helping you significantly reduce your electricity bill.
The Dynamic Pricing Task identifies times of high energy availability and activates the Energy Socket accordingly. A graph is available within the app to help you see when the most energy is available.
When setting up a Dynamic Pricing Task, you can customize it to your preferences. Set the duration the Energy Socket should stay on (“Time Span”) and whether this duration must be continuous (toggle the “Only continuous hours” option). You can also define the time window and days the task should run. As you adjust the settings, the graph will show when the task will be executed.
Switching Times in a Dynamic Pricing Task. Each dynamic pricing task has a daily “on” and “off” time determined by current energy availability. If you create a task and the current time is already past the day’s calculated “on” time, the task will activate for the first time the following day.
Examples
E-Bike Charging. If you don’t need your electric bike charged at a specific time, the dynamic pricing task is perfect. Plug your e-bike charger into the Energy Socket. Specify how long you want it to charge and whether that time should be continuous. Set the time window or specific days if needed. The graph will show when the most or cheapest energy is available, and your bike will charge during those periods.
Dishwasher. First, install an Energy Socket on your dishwasher. Set the task duration based on how long your dishwasher cycle takes, and enable the “Only continuous hours” option. Optionally, set a time constraint, such as having the cycle finish by 8 AM each day. The graph will show when the most/cheapest energy is available. The dishwasher will then run during this optimal time window.
Note: This example requires a dishwasher that remembers its cycle and resumes automatically after a power interruption.