Is there a simple device I can buy that I can place between an electrical outlet and an electronic device that would disable power following a power outage, so that once power goes off even for a second, it stays off until I manually reset it?

What is it your trying to do or protect ?

I have a "smart" light bulb, which I program to gradually light up in the morning (have blackout curtain because of bright street lights). The problem is that when power goes out and comes back on, the bulb resets and the light turns on. I am trying to prevent bright light shinning in my face in the middle of the night, and I am willing to sacrifice my morning gradual waking for the day to avoid that. Where I live, the power has been very unstable lately.

So a device that would cut off power would prevent the light from turning on in the middle of the night. If I can't find anything like that, I guess I'll have to pick up a UPS and keep the power supplied to the bulb through minor power interruption, although that would cost a fair amount of money.

I assume this light is controlled by some electronic timing device. Power that timing device through a normally open latching relay. Pick that relay with a momentary switch.

Or buy a small computer UPS to plug that into ( a battery backup not a surge protector)... if that's all its powering it would last through a fairly long power interruption and even work if the power outage is when you need to get up.

How often does the power go out? I have a similar situation with X-10 controllers, but the power doesn't go out all that often.
Are you concerned about these outages?

I assume this light is controlled by some electronic timing device. Power that timing device through a normally open latching relay. Pick that relay with a momentary switch.

Thank you for your answer.

The "smart" light bulb contains LED light sources and a control system that communicates over wifi, so that the light can be controlled from a smart phone or a computer. On/off times can also be scheduled. However, if the power is reset, the bulb reverts to "dumb" mode, and simply turns on. I was hoping that there was a simple inexpensive product that could preempt that.

I have a basic understanding of what latching relays and momentary switches are, but I do not see how they would be deployed in this case. Could you please explain in more detail?


Or buy a small computer UPS to plug that into ( a battery backup not a surge protector)... if that's all its powering it would last through a fairly long power interruption and even work if the power outage is when you need to get up.

Thanks for the suggestion. Getting a UPS is my backup plan. It really is the ideal solution, but it comes a cost (at least $60 for something that I can prevent from beeping through the night when power is less than ideal). I was hoping that there was a simple inexpensive device that would work.


How often does the power go out? I have a similar situation with X-10 controllers, but the power doesn't go out all that often.
Are you concerned about these outages?

Thanks for answering. There have been at least six momentary outage in last three days, and those had nothing to do with weather. I live in the LA area, and with the expected strong El Nino and resulting storms, I foresee many more in the upcoming months. In the grand scheme of things this is nothing more than a minor annoyance. But it would be nice if it could be eliminated with an inexpensive product.

I have a basic understanding of what latching relays and momentary switches are, but I do not see how they would be deployed in this case. Could you please explain in more detail?

With a latching relay in the electrical circuit to the light itself, once power is lost the light will not come on again until you press the momentary switch again.

With a latching relay in the electrical circuit to the light itself, once power is lost the light will not come on again until you press the momentary switch again.

That's fantastic. Thank you!