As you can see from the photo above, a smart plug is very easy to setup and it sits between your power socket and electronic device. Once setup, you can then control the power supply to the device over a WiFi connection. Some of the best rated smart plugs offer a variety of functionality such as scheduling, energy monitoring, actions and so much more.
Do Smart Plugs Need WiFi?
In short, yes they do. Smart plugs work over a stable WiFi connection and a smartphone application. Depending upon the plug you choose, they may or may not require a “hub”, which enables the plug to connect to your internet connection.
For example, the Hive Smart system requires a hub, which you can then use to connect various plugs and even their smart thermostat for heating. Therefore, it’s a good idea to buy all of your smart home devices from the same brand.
How Do Smart Plugs Work?
Once you have plugged the smart plug into a socket and connected it to your WiFi, you will want to understand exactly how a smart plug works. Using the Hive Smart Plug as an example, you will firstly want to begin by setting the plug a distinctive name so you know exactly what the plug is used for.
In this example, we have connected our smart plug to outdoor security lights at the front of the house (video below). The reason for using a smart plug for these lights is due to the fact that we wanted them to remain on at night but also turn off via pre-set schedules so they aren’t on all night.
Once you have named the plug, you can then play around with the various functions that the plug offers. The Hive system allows you to turn it on and off remotely (in the left photo) and also schedule the light to turn on at specific time periods. For example, we have set the lights to turn on between 6 and 7 in the morning and again between 5 and 11 in the evening. Other functionality includes actions i.e. turn on for 20 minutes, energy monitoring and much more.
Below is a quick video of how easy it is to control the smart plug remotely from your phone:
Smart Plug Ideas
Smart plugs are highly versatile and they can be used for almost anything that can include:
- Indoor/outdoor or garden lighting at night
- Limiting the time your kids use electronics (watching TV or playing on games)
- Controlling and monitoring devices remotely (i.e. when you are holiday)
- Providing peace of mind that certain electronics are turned off (i.e. hair straighteners or the iron)
- Turning on a fan at night whilst trying to sleep during a hot summer nights (i.e. schedule it to stay on for 1 hour).
- Scheduling certain lights to turn on and off to give the illusion you are at home when you are on holiday
- Controlling any electric blankets so they don’t stay on all the time.
- Resetting devices that have malfunctioned (i.e. outdoor security cameras)
- … and so much more
Are There Any Drawbacks?
One of the main disadvantages of using smart plugs is the fact they rely on a stable internet connection. Depending upon where you use them, you will also need to have a strong signal strength if the plug is far away from the WiFi router.
Another minor drawback is that they do look quite bulky due to the internal components inside of the plug. However, most come in neutral colours and often come with modern lights to display when the plug is on or off.
Conclusion
Smart plugs can be used for so many things and they really are a great purchase. We strongly recommend purchasing smart plugs that offer scheduling because they open the door for some many different possibilities. They are a low cost way to turn your home into a smart home and they certainly won’t disappoint.
