SMART PLUG COMPLETE BUYER’S GUIDE

What Your Smart Plug Can Do

Generally, smart plugs are inexpensive enough to buy one for every electrical outlet, if you wish. Some might have multiple outlets, like a power strip, so that you can plug as many as 8 household products into a single smart plug. You’ll find some on the market that works with your home’s Wi-Fi or are easily integrated into such wireless communication protocols as Z-Wave or ZigBee. Here’s some idea of what you can do with your smart plugs.

• Help keep a more secure environment –If you go away for the weekend, you leave lights on to discourage unwanted visitors. This makes sense at night but can be a waste of bulbs and electricity during the day. With a smart plug, you can remotely turn on the lights when the sun goes down, just like you’d do if you were home.
• Program scheduled activity – Want to turn the coffeemaker on every morning at 7? Wake up to news or music on the radio? Turn on lights at a specific time in the evening? Some smart plugs even allow you to program activity, such as lighting, at random times while you’re away, so it seems as though the home is occupied.
• Pair with a voice assistant device –Some smart plugs can be integrated into household voice command services like Amazon Alexa. If you have this technology, look for smart plugs that are compatible.
• Help to reduce electric bills – Are your television or lights on when no one is benefiting? This contributes to higher electric bills. Use your smart plugs to monitor electrical-usage activity and help to cut waste.
• Use outdoors, too – Controlling landscape or holiday lighting with waterproof outdoor smart plugs can provide an extra touch of convenience and security — no need to step outside to shut off lights when it’s dark, cold and wet.