ISO a smart plug that can handle a 20A A/C.
I found one listing on Amazon, but it looks to sketchy for me to believe it.
TIA
I'll share my solution:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06X8Z255M/ I used this for a 240V 20A circuit. It can do 40A, so nowhere close to overloading it.
https://www.grainger.com/product/6CVA2 Nice enclosure for the above.
Honeywell RTH8580WF was already situated in the same room as the air conditioner. It had been used until then only for heating.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002MPPTBQ This was optional and installed just in case a thermostat malfunction required a bypass or if the receptacle would be needed for something else during the heating season.
Cut the cable going from the breaker panel to the NEMA 6-20 receptacle somewhere in the basement and installed the contactor there.
Ran a two wire thermostat cable from the thermostat to the contactor.
Turned on the air conditioner to low fan, highest cooling setting. This is an older air conditioner with knob controls. This solution may not work well for units with electronic controls.
This has been working beautifully for three years. I also collected some electric company rebates when I initially hooked it up, plus annual rebates for agreeing to participate during energy conservation events when they raise the temperature a bit to save electricity during high demand.
While a smart plug will allow you to turn it off and on with a schedule or remotely, using the thermostat can do all that plus give control over the temperature.