Smart plugs, what do you do with yours?

Kim_kim

I have 2 smart plugs - just used one to set an electric wax burner on a 2 hour a day schedule.

What can I do with the other? Any ideas?

I don’t need it for lighting as a have a Phillips hue light bridge.

jk0

Keep it as spare for when the other one packs up.

iammumtoone

Kim_kim wrote: »

just used one to set an electric wax burner on a 2 hour a day schedule.

Why do you need a smart plug for that a simple much cheaper timer plug would do the same job?


I am interested in the replies you get as I am a sucker for gadgets (have an Alexa) but I just can't think of a reason why I would need or what I would do with a smart plug.

SplanK

I have loads now! Most turn lights on and off and they are glorified timers to be honest, however I have some programmed so when they detect the outside floodlight turn on, they trigger a program which will either turn on other, or brighten up other lights.... or I have tapped into the alarm system PIR's so when they detect motion they turn lights on, and after a while, turn off again

Kim_kim

I was hoping aside from lights, people might have some genius ideas.

DCFC79

iammumtoone wrote: »

Why do you need a smart plug for that a simple much cheaper timer plug would do the same job?


I am interested in the replies you get as I am a sucker for gadgets (have an Alexa) but I just can't think of a reason why I would need or what I would do with a smart plug.

They are useful if you don't know when your likely to be home, you can use your phone to turn the lights on at say 20 minutes before you get home.

CathA

I set the kettle up at night, turn it on then press the button on the smart plug so the kettle is ready but not on. In the morning I shout at Alexa to switch the kettle on, few extra minutes in bed before I go down to make the tea.

SplanK

The only other thing I have is a dehumidifier and fan setup, that's also tied into my Evohome heating so over winter, I can crank the heat up in a single room, have air moving around (fan) and the damp extracted from their air.... dries clothes in no time and after 3-4hours, turn the lot off...

You should never use these remote sockets with any sort of heater unit or element.

Cornucopia

I've been looking at building some of these switches and sensors from the standard modules they are based on.

For the individual switches, the benefits over a wall timer are: to be able to access via the web even when it's in a physically awkward place. Then to be able to set its timer programs using a web page rather than a tiny LCD display. Also deriving the time from an online atomic clock so that the time doesn't drift/have to be reset.

Although I haven't written the code yet, they will also be able to have switching triggered by the sensors on the network, adjust automatically for Summer Time/GMT and use sunrise/sunset times as a reference point for switching.

jk0

CathA wrote: »

I set the kettle up at night, turn it on then press the button on the smart plug so the kettle is ready but not on. In the morning I shout at Alexa to switch the kettle on, few extra minutes in bed before I go down to make the tea.

Or if your Mrs isn't called Alexa, whatever her name is.

pramsay13

I don't have any smart plugs yet but it's next on the list.

I would use mine to plug in the electric blanket on the bed.

Then on the way home on a particularly cold evening I can switch on the blanket so the bed is warm on return.