Smart Plugs: Making Life Easier & Smarter

What are Smart Plugs?

Smart plugs are one of the most versatile devices in your smart home. These devices are small, wall-mounted electrical plugs that allow you to control the power of any device plugged into them right from your smartphone. With the ability to wirelessly control lights and appliances, smart plugs provide users with ultimate convenience and energy efficiency. Smart plugs can set schedules, timers and even monitor energy usage, all from the palm of your hand.

Smart plugs are not only great for convenience, but they can also save you money in the long run. For example, with the ability to create schedules, you can set appliances and lights to turn on and off at specific times automatically. By doing this, you reduce the amount of energy wasted by leaving appliances or lights on for long periods. Many smart plugs even offer features that allow you to monitor your energy usage—giving you a better understanding of how you use energy.

What are the Different Types of Smart Plugs?

Smart plugs come in a variety of types to meet different needs. For example, indoor plugs are designed for indoor use, while outdoor plugs can withstand the elements. In addition, appliance smart plugs can control large appliances like refrigerators and washing machines with motors. At the same time, smart power strips provide multiple outlets to control several devices simultaneously. Then we have smart switches and outlets, and while they are not plugs, these devices operate similarly and offer the same benefits.

Indoor Smart Plugs

Indoor smart plugs are among the most popular types on the market. These are the perfect addition to any smart home, offering a variety of features to make life easier. For example, with these plugs, you can easily control and monitor any device connected to it right from your phone. So indoor smart plugs are the perfect solution for automating lights and appliances or monitoring energy usage.

Outdoor Smart Plugs

Outdoor smart plugs provide all the same convenience as their indoor counterparts but can withstand the elements of the outdoors. As a result, they are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who frequently have company over. With these plugs, you can easily control any outdoor appliance—such as a hot tub, patio lights, fountains, and more—right from your phone. Plus, they are weather-resistant and energy-efficient, meaning you can save money while knowing that your devices will be safe from the elements.

Appliance Smart Plugs

Appliance smart plugs are the perfect choice for anyone looking to control or monitor larger appliances that contain a motor. With this plug, you can easily control large electronics and appliances like refrigerators, washers, and dryers. In addition, these plugs can handle the large amperage spikes produced by motors during start-up. They include features such as energy monitoring, scheduling, and more. Thanks to their superior design and features, appliance smart plugs offer a reliable and convenient way to save energy, money, and time.

Smart Power Strip

Smart power strips are perfect for anyone who needs to control multiple devices at once. These strips feature various outlets, all of which can be controlled remotely from your phone. You can create schedules to turn each outlet on and off at specific times, monitor energy usage, and even set power limits for each device. With a smart power strip, you can easily control multiple appliances or electronics with the touch of a button. 

Smart Switches & Outlets

Smart switches and outlets fall into a different category than smart plugs. These devices are less flexible and more of a permanent solution as they have to be hard-wired directly into your home’s electrical system. As such, they require more technical knowledge and skills to install correctly. So, if you are not comfortable, please hire a qualified electrician.

Smart Outlets

Smart outlets are the perfect choice for any location where you always need a smart switch or high-visibility areas where you want to avoid an ugly block showing. These outlets are installed directly into your wall, replacing the existing outlet. However, these outlets usually only have one controllable receptacle, so be aware of that when making your purchase.

Smart Switches

Smart switches are tiny relays meant to fit directly inside electrical boxes. These devices are the perfect choice for people that don’t want to mess with their decor by installing smart light switches. These switches can be installed behind a regular light switch to automate the light. Shelly, Qubino, and Sonoff are the major players in this category.

Heavy-Duty Smart Switches

Heavy-duty smart switches are great for anyone looking for a reliable way to control heavy-duty appliances and electronics. These plugs can handle up to 40 amps at 240 volts, which is more than enough power for most larger devices. In addition, many of these plugs include features like energy monitoring, scheduling, and more, making them a great addition to any smart home.  

What are the Benefits of Smart Plugs?

With all these smart plugs, you can enjoy numerous benefits. Not only can you conserve energy and save money, but you can also monitor and control your devices remotely. Additionally, you can use these smart plugs to make any appliance or device smarter and extend the reach of your protocol network.

Conserve Energy

Smart plugs can be a great way to conserve energy. Using energy monitoring and scheduling features, you can accurately keep track of your energy consumption and take steps to reduce it. Not only will this help you save money on your energy bills, but it will also help reduce your environmental footprint. Furthermore, by controlling your devices remotely, you can also ensure they are not being left on needlessly, adding to your energy savings.

Save Money

Smart plugs are an excellent way to save money. By setting schedules and remotely controlling devices, you can ensure that appliances or electronics are not running when they are not needed, reducing wasted energy. Furthermore, by monitoring the energy usage of your devices, you can quickly identify any that are consuming too much electricity. Then you can take steps to make them more energy efficient. All of this adds up to significant savings on your energy bills. On top of saving money on your energy bills, you can also save money when buying new appliances and electronics. Without having to pay the exorbitant prices of smart devices, you can buy the dumb version and add a smart plug to make it ‘smart.’

Monitor and Control Remotely

Smart plugs provide an easy and secure way to monitor and control your devices remotely. Using a mobile app, you can view the current energy usage of any connected device and set schedules to turn it on or off at specific times. You can also set up alerts to notify you when a device is on too long or when your energy usage reaches a certain threshold.

Make Any Appliance/Device Smart

Smart plugs are an excellent way to make any device smart. Connecting the device to a power source and using a compatible mobile app allows you to control your devices from anywhere easily. You can create schedules to turn the device on or off at specific times, monitor energy usage, and even set power limits for each device. They make it an ideal choice for anyone looking to conveniently control their devices without buying expensive smart appliances.

Extend Protocol Network

Smart plugs can not only help you control your devices remotely and conserve energy, but they can also extend the reach of your protocol network. By using a smart plug between two devices further away from your hub, they will act as a repeater and improve the strength of your wireless connection. That allows you to connect more devices to your hub, giving you greater flexibility and convenience. Furthermore, it makes it possible to control any remotely located device without worrying about signal strength issues.

What Features do Smart Plugs Offer?

Smart plugs offer a wide range of features to make your home smarter. For example, with energy monitoring, you can quickly track your devices’ energy usage and set power limits to ensure they’re not running unnecessarily. Multiple receptacles also allow you to control multiple devices from one plug, making it even easier to manage your devices. You can also disable local controls to prevent anyone from tampering with the device, and voice control allows you to control your devices using voice commands.

Energy Monitoring

Energy monitoring is one of the most powerful features that smart plugs offer. By keeping track of your energy usage, you can identify and address any appliances or devices that use too much power. You can also set power limits to ensure that devices are not running unnecessarily. In addition, with energy monitoring, you can tell when appliances like washers and dryers are running and when their cycle is complete.

Multiple Receptacles

With multiple receptacles, you can control multiple devices from one smart plug. It gives you extra convenience and eliminates the need for separate plugs for each device. You can also set up schedules for each device or group them to control them simultaneously. As a result, you can easily switch between devices, making your life much easier. Furthermore, this makes it easier to track which device uses how much power and keeps you from overloading a single outlet.

Disable Local Control

Some smart plugs also offer the ability to disable local control. It ensures that no one can tamper with the device. It’s imperative if you have young children in the home as it prevents them from accidentally changing the settings. Furthermore, it makes it harder for people to access your devices without your permission, significantly increasing their security.

Voice Control

Smart plugs also offer voice control, allowing you to control your devices with voice commands. It makes it easier to manage your devices without having to access the app and makes your life even more convenient. Integrating with your preferred voice assistant allows you to set up routines and access your devices from anywhere in your home. Furthermore, it gives you even more control over your devices, so you can decide when and how to use them.

Smart Plug Considerations?

There are a few things to consider when deciding which smart plug to buy:

1. Ensure the plug is compatible with your home’s hub and protocol.
2. Consider the price and look for one that fits your budget without compromising quality or features.
3. Please pay attention to the form factor and ensure it fits in your outlet without blocking access to other receptacles.
4. You also want to look for independent certifications, such as UL and ETL certification, indicating that the product has been tested and found safe.

Hub Compatibility

Regarding smart plugs, hub compatibility is an essential factor to consider. Unfortunately, not all plugs are compatible with all hubs, so it’s vital to ensure that the one you choose is compatible with your home’s automation system. If you need more clarification, it’s best to check with your smart home hub’s manufacturer or look for compatibility information on the product’s website.

Protocols

When choosing a smart plug, it is crucial to consider the protocols compatible with it. Different hubs will support various protocols, so it is vital to ensure that the plug you choose is compatible with your home automation system. Additionally, each protocol has its advantages and disadvantages, so it is essential to make sure you choose the right one for your needs. For example, Zigbee and Z-Wave are both popular protocols. Still, Wi-Fi is the most common, so it is essential to consider which will work best for your home.

Price

Price is always an essential factor to consider when buying a smart plug. Fortunately, a wide range of prices are available, so it’s necessary to shop around and find a plug that fits your budget without compromising on features or quality. Generally speaking, the more features the plug has, the more expensive it will likely be. However, some budget-friendly options are available, so it’s worth comparing prices and finding the one that works for you.

Form-Factor

Form-factor is another critical factor to consider when buying a smart plug. It’s essential to ensure that the plug fits in your outlet without blocking access to other receptacles. It can be especially important if you have multiple devices to plug in. Additionally, some plugs may be too large for specific outlets, so checking the product’s size before buying is essential.

Independent Certifications

Finally, when shopping for a smart plug, paying attention to any independent certifications the product may have is essential. UL-certified and ETL certified are the most common independent certifications, indicating that the product has been tested and found safe. Additionally, some plugs may have other certifications, such as FCC-certified or Energy Star certified. Hence, ensuring that your product has all the necessary certificates is essential. Doing so will ensure that your devices are safe, secure, and energy efficient.

Potential Uses

Once you have selected the correct smart plug to fit your needs, you can begin to explore the potential uses of a smart plug. For example, smart plugs can automate lights, air conditioners, and other electronics. They’re also helpful for creating schedules, allowing users to set specific times for their devices to turn on or off. Check out the list of potential use cases below.

• Lamps
• Fans
• Dehumidifiers & Humidifiers
• Hot water recirculaters
• Air conditioners
• Heaters
• Washers
• Dryers
• Monitor appliances
• Holiday lights
• A/V equipment
• Coffee maker
• Lawn sprinklers
• Pool pumps
• Outdoor lighting
• Televisions
• Computers
• Game consoles
• Pet feeders
• Slow cookers
• Routers
• Cameras
• Air purifiers
• Parental controls
• Optimize charging
• Eliminate vampire draws