diff --git a/pico-dashboard/comms/http_client.py b/pico-dashboard/comms/http_client.py
index e69de29..0cc45d0 100644
--- a/pico-dashboard/comms/http_client.py
+++ b/pico-dashboard/comms/http_client.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+import json
+
+
+class HttpClient:
+    def __init__(self, requests_module, base_url="http://192.168.4.1"):
+        self.requests = requests_module
+        self.base_url = base_url.rstrip("/")
+
+    def get_status(self):
+        response = self.requests.get(f"{self.base_url}/status")
+        return response.json()
+
+    def set_relay(self, relay, enabled):
+        state = "on" if enabled else "off"
+        response = self.requests.get(f"{self.base_url}/relay/{relay}/{state}")
+        return response.json()
diff --git a/tests/test_pico_core.py b/tests/test_pico_core.py
index 53943b7..389e61b 100644
--- a/tests/test_pico_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_pico_core.py
@@ -228,3 +228,66 @@ def test_communication_service_records_errors():
     service.poll()
 
     assert state.last_error["message"] == "invalid_json"
+
+
+class FakeResponse:
+    def __init__(self, payload):
+        self.payload = payload
+
+    def json(self):
+        return self.payload
+
+
+class FakeRequests:
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.urls = []
+        self.responses = []
+
+    def get(self, url):
+        self.urls.append(url)
+
+        if self.responses:
+            return FakeResponse(self.responses.pop(0))
+
+        return FakeResponse({"ok": True})
+
+
+def test_http_client_get_status():
+    from comms.http_client import HttpClient
+
+    fake_requests = FakeRequests()
+    fake_requests.responses = [
+        {"type": "status_response", "battery": {"soc": 82}}
+    ]
+
+    client = HttpClient(fake_requests)
+
+    payload = client.get_status()
+
+    assert fake_requests.urls == ["http://192.168.4.1/status"]
+    assert payload["type"] == "status_response"
+    assert payload["battery"]["soc"] == 82
+
+
+def test_http_client_set_relay_on():
+    from comms.http_client import HttpClient
+
+    fake_requests = FakeRequests()
+    client = HttpClient(fake_requests)
+
+    payload = client.set_relay("starlink", True)
+
+    assert fake_requests.urls == ["http://192.168.4.1/relay/starlink/on"]
+    assert payload == {"ok": True}
+
+
+def test_http_client_set_relay_off():
+    from comms.http_client import HttpClient
+
+    fake_requests = FakeRequests()
+    client = HttpClient(fake_requests)
+
+    payload = client.set_relay("fridge", False)
+
+    assert fake_requests.urls == ["http://192.168.4.1/relay/fridge/off"]
+    assert payload == {"ok": True}