that's a fun project. i'd be a little concerned about the servos failing to fully switch the switches or placing wear on them, maybe a dangerous failure mode where it is switched into and left in an in-between state unattended that could lead to a fire hazard.

you can buy smart outlets with the correct connector, just look for 20A versions. (honeywell, at a minimum, sells one).

https://prod-edam.honeywell.com/content/dam/honeywell-edam/h...

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EvanAnderson an hour ago | parent [-]

The lack of feedback from the AC unit makes using a switched outlet potentially problematic. You really need to know the state of the compressor cycling before you go mucking with turning it on and off. (At least this was the case with the refrigeration compressors I am familiar with from my youth.) A current sensor could provide feedback but that goes beyond a regular smart switch.

	▲	a-dub a minute ago \| parent [-]
		i don't think that's true. i still have a thinkeco ac modlet that coned sent me years ago as part of some kind of "make your ac smart" promotion. if you turn those knobs to the off position while the compressor is running, does it actually go into some kind of orderly shutdown or does it abruptly cut power to the compressor?