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Also consider if you need the ability to monitor how much energy a device connected to the smart plug is using, and if so, does the smart plug work out the subsequent cost if you enter your energy tariff details, too. Pros: Inexpensive; compact; easy to set up; usage monitoring Cons: Can only set schedules by room not device; really designed just for lighting It also allows you to set up schedules for turning power on and off. These can also be countdown timers and – most usefully for lights – schedules based on sunset and sunrise which you can customise to your heart’s content. It can’t monitor how much electricity is being used, but it does support Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT, which are more useful features for a lot of people. It’s just a shame that the instructions aren’t particularly clear on how to set this up.
The big difference with an outdoor plug is that it should be outdoor rated - and this one is, but only up to IP44. This means you can't drop it in the pool (which hopefully you weren’t planning on) but it also won't hold up under a heavy downpour. It will handle temperature extremes though, from -10°C up to a balmy 40°C. Unfortunately, they are designed to pair only with the Alexa app. However there are various ways in which they can be made to work with some select third-party apps such as Google Home. Setting up timers is possible using the Scenes tab in the app, but creating a schedule is more complicated than in other apps, such as TP-Link’s. Pros: Inexpensive; wide compatibility; 5 smart outlets in one Cons: No energy monitoring; app needs workEve energy is the best plug for anyone who has Apple products in their lives. It’s a well-built, highly effective gadget which works brilliantly with Apple HomeKit and its Siri personal assistant. To control the plug when you’re not at home you need an Apple Home Hub, in the form of either a HomePod or Apple TV, and you need an iPhone to use it. Thread compatibility has arrived recently with this latest version – thread technology is designed for smart home applications to improve connectivity so they are more robust and more responsive. It means that there’s no need for a central hub. Instead, compatible devices work together as a mesh network (the more Thread devices, the stronger the network).
First off, it works using Wi-Fi, meaning that you don’t need a hub. It also has all the features we’ve come to expect in the best smart plugs. It’s Alexa and Google Assistant compatible, so you can use voice commands for basic controls.You can turn the switch on and off via the Apple Home app in iOS 10, or using the Eve app. There’s a button on top for manual control as well. Rather than using Wi-Fi, the switch uses Bluetooth. This makes it easy to set up and also means you don’t need to have a hub connected to your router. However, it does limit the range over which it can be controlled. It will work in most UK homes, but if you want to control it when away from home, you’ll need an Apple TV (3rd generation or later) or a spare home-based iPad (newer than iPad 2) running at least iOS 8.1. Enter the time of day you would like your smart plug to turn off. Plus, you can set it up to have this schedule repeated as much as you want.
Another point to note is that the MiHome Wi-Fi Smart Plug supports 13 amp devices, whereas some of the cheaper offerings are limited to 10 amps – or less. Enter the time of day you would like your smart plug to perform the specific action. Note: You can set it up to perform this action as repeatedly as you want. They might look like an ordinary adaptor or extension lead, but they can do so much more, connecting to your wifi and letting you manage your gadgets from an app on your phone. When choose the best smart plug for you, there are a number of aspects that should be considered before plumping for a particular model Routines are generally set to operate at a specific time, but they’re actually pretty flexible if you want to do something more in depth, like turning things off after they’ve been on for a specific time. For example, if you know that you’re always out of the house within an hour of waking up, you can set your Routine so that everything that has been switched on is turned off again an hour later. That way, you don’t need to worry about shutting things down before you head off to work.They work like most any other smart plug to let you automate whatever's plugged in using timers, schedules, and scenes. Plus, handily for outdoors, you can have it turn on at sunset and off at sunrise (or vice versa). These outdoor plugs can also be added to HomeKit, Alexa and Google Home systems to sync up with other devices and for voice control. Pros: Detailed energy monitoring; excellent app; works with HomeKit and Siri Cons: Expensive; iPhone only; some range issues The Meross features two grounded, heavy duty outlets attached to a 26cm long outdoor cable that plugs into an outdoor outlet. Each Meross outlet can be controlled individually by your phone or voice, or simultaneously using the manual switch on the plug. This very simple routine will now automatically turn on your bedroom light when you say “Alexa, good morning”, and then one hour later the lights will automatically turn off. You can easily add other devices and actions to this routine, like getting a weather report or turning on your coffee machine. You can even chain a few wait commands in there to have an ongoing routine that turns things on and off according to the timers that you’ve set up.
It uses the same MiHome app as Energenie’s other products and, if we’re brutally honest, it’s one of our least favourite apps because of its clunky interface. Make sure you don’t mistakenly install Xiaomi’s MiHome app: look for the Energenie one instead. The plug is really designed as an accessory to add lamps to your Wiz smart lighting setup – and the app has a circadian rhythm feature where you can set all your Wiz lights to help you relax or wakeup. But you can put anything you want into this compact smart plug and turn it on or off, set a schedule for it or create a scene. There’s also a vacation mode that will simulate presence for you. Start by thinking about how the smart plug is installed. Most smart plugs simply connect to an existing outlet, but there are some available that replace your existing outlets. These smart plugs look stylish, but they require much more DIY expertise, so you may have to employ a professional. While it can be a little fiddly getting it set up, once you’ve got your Routines going, they can really make your life easier and save you a lot of time. You’ll never have to worry about whether you’ve left the oven on again, as you can be sure that you’ve already told Alexa to turn it off for you (though you don’t need to tell whoever you’re using it as an excuse that, of course!).Tap “Rules” then “Create Rule” and enter name(optional), start time, and end time(optional). You can also choose to make the smart plug repeat the specific timer action by tapping on the S( Sunday), M( Monday), T( Tuesday), W( Wednesday), T( Thursday), F( Friday), and S( Saturday) buttons below. Otherwise, tap on the plus icon next to “Add Action” and enter the action you would like your smart plug to perform, for example, “ Turn Off The Lights.” However, the Eve app is built to work with the whole Eve range, not just a smart switch, and you can make all your gadgets work together using Scenes. It’s powerful, but it could be easier to use. If you only want to use it to operate a switch from the comfort of your bed or schedule times to switch lights and appliances off and on, you only need the Bot itself, but if you want to create scenes, you’ll also need a
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