Whereas electrical switches toggle between states. Mechanical switches are switches that can be physically toggled back and forth to turn a product on and off. Mechanical switches work best with smart plugs. Smart plugs do not work with all electronics! You’ll want to be on the lookout for what type of switch the product has that you’re attempting to use – mechanical or electrical. So just know the wattage of each of the devices you’re plugging into the smart plug, add them up, and make sure they don’t exceed 1800 watts. Instead of buying two smart plugs, get a cheap outlet converter. Plug the outlet converter into your single smart plug and now you can control three or more separate plugs at once, with a single smart plug.Ī good rule of thumb is that a 15 A outlet (most smart plugs) can supply 1800 watts. Sounds easy enough, but there are some things to consider.įor example, if you have multiple plugs and want to turn them all on and off together with a single smart plug.įor instance, two lamps on either side of your couch that you want to control together with one plug. Part of setting up your smart plug involves simply plugging it into an outlet.
If the strip feels hot, it has likely been overloaded. Regardless of whether you’re using a smart plug or not, there are some fundamental rules to follow when using a power strip: I do it all the time, but be sure to take into account all of the following considerations, and most importantly never exceed (overload) the specified capacity of the smart plug or power strip! So, can you plug a smart plug into a power strip? In short, yes. Some smart plug setup guidesĬan you plug a smart plug into a power strip? For example: “Bedroom Lamp”.Ħ) Plug your device into the fully setup smart plug and test that it works by turning the plug on and off in the app.ħ) You’re done! Start scheduling your smart plug or setup some automations. I suggest you name it based on the device it will control (and maybe the room the device is in). As part of this process you will be prompted to name your smart plug. In most cases the app will guide you through this process step by step.
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If you have trouble you’ll want to read my section about Wi-Fi connectivity below.Ģ) Plug your smart plug into desired outlet.ģ) Download the accompanying smart plug app to your cell phone from the App store or Google Play.ĥ) Add your smart plug to the app. If you only have one Wi-Fi network, try to use that. Most times this will need to be 2.4GHz only, not 5G. While different smart plugs will vary slightly on their exact setup, the primary steps are mostly universal.ġ) Connect your cell phone to your home Wi-Fi network. However they can leverage them in order to communicate and work with other smart products. Most smart plugs do not require a smart hub in order to use them.
The app simply sends a signal to the plug about when to turn on or off. Once the smart plug is plugged into an outlet and Wi-Fi has been enabled, you can plug a device into the smart plug and begin controlling it from your smartphone, using the accompanying app. “Alexa, turn on the bedroom lamp.”Īlmost all smart plugs on the market today work by plugging them into an existing outlet and then connecting them to your home’s Wi-Fi network.
You can even integrate your smart plug with other devices and control them with your voice. This gives a would-be intruder the impression that your home. Gone for a week on vacation? Turn on “Away Mode” and your smart plug will randomly turn your lights on and off throughout the day. You can turn it off with your phone while away at work. If you forgot to turn your bedroom light off when you left for work in the morning, that’s no problem. You can schedule the lamp to turn on and off at specified times throughout the day and week. While almost all can be turned on/off remotely and scheduled, you’ll want to confirm which additional devices they can integrate with and any extra functionality they may have.įor example, you can set a timer within an app for a countdown on when to turn the lamp on or off. Be sure to first check the different features and capabilities that come with a smart plug before purchasing.
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