Smart plugs: how exactly do they work?
Functions of a smart plug
Smart plugs have various functions. If you get started with home automation, you will soon need a few smart plugs. This gives you more insight into your energy consumption.
Firstly, you can operate devices centrally using the platform. If you have plugs that are suitable for this, you can operate a device centrally with your voice. This usually works using a so-called smart home controller.
You can also gain insight into the energy consumption per device. That way you know exactly whether the fridge uses more electricity than the television. There are now also smart plugs on sale with a light ring. This uses colour to indicate whether a device uses a lot or a little energy.
Finally, you can switch off the connected device remotely. You do not even have to be at home for that. So you can even switch off a lamp from the office. If you notice that a device is still on, you can switch it off straight away via your smartphone.
Why you should buy a smart plug
There are various reasons to equip your smart home with smart plugs. For example, you benefit from lower energy costs. By switching devices off remotely you can save on energy costs. You can also operate multiple devices at the same time. This is possible by assigning smart plugs to so-called rooms or zones. That way you do not need separate apps.
Finally, there is another reason to buy a smart plug: many devices are still ‘dumb’ and are not economical with energy. With a smart plug you can still make a device that does not work smartly smart. That way you can even switch that old desk lamp from the ‘90s.
Can also be linked to a thermostat
In addition, more and more smart plugs offer the option of linking to a smart thermostat. A good example of a smart thermostat that already supports this is Toon from Eneco or Google Nest. That way you can operate your smart plug straight away, but you also get insight into your energy consumption.
Good smart plugs
There is a lot of choice when it comes to smart plugs. By now you know what to look out for to find a good smart plug. But if you do not have time to search the internet yourself, we have listed a number of popular choices.
Philips Hue Smart Plug
A good example of a smart plug that is absolutely worth buying is the Philips Hue Smart Plug. This plug has a good price, has no other contact points and is also easy to use. You connect this Smart Plug to the Philips Bridge, so you can control all devices in one overview. The Philips smart plug has a purchase price of just over 30 euros.
Gigaset Smarthome Stekker
You can get the Gigaset Smart Home Stekker from about 35 euros. This plug has earthing and is only suitable for indoor use. To link this plug you do need a bridge or base station. In the past you used an old-fashioned time switch, but nowadays you have control over everything with the Home Plug.
For example, it is possible to switch the lighting on and off via your smartphone or tablet. The Gigaset Smarthome Stekker is also suitable for a number of platforms, so you can also control it with voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Home. For example, you can name the sensor ‘living room’. You then say: “Hey Google, turn on the Living room lamp!’ The lamp then turns on by itself. It is also possible, for example, to switch the lighting on or off remotely so that it looks as if you are at home when you are on holiday.
Fibaro Wall Plug
At a price from 55 euros, the Fibaro smart plug is quite a bit more expensive than other smart plugs. But you do get a lot in return. This Wall Plug is very stylish and advanced, yet compact. The plug is specially designed for switching devices of up to 2,5 kilowatts on and off. Not only do you have full remote control, but this Wall Plug also measures power consumption.
You can see how a device is doing in terms of power consumption in the app, but also straight away on the plug itself thanks to the colour display of the LED ring. That way you always keep your finger on the pulse. Installing is not difficult, because this smart plug is fully Plug & Play. You need a Z-Wave controller to be able to use all the functions.
Klikaanklikuit Compact Wireless Socket Switch
You can use the Wireless Socket Switch from Klikaanklikuit to switch your devices on or off with a remote control. This socket switch is also sold in a set of three, so you can get going with several devices and lamps at the same time. The smart plug can be used on any socket and is very compact. This means you can still use the other, ‘dumb’ sockets too. The smart plug has child protection, making it suitable for every household.
The same goes for the price, because with a recommended price of 22,99 euros this is one of the cheaper smart plugs on the market.
TP-Link Smart Plug
With the TP-Link Smart Plug you have two choices when buying. The HS100 has no energy monitoring, but the slightly more expensive HS110 does have this option. You can then not only switch your devices on and off, but also see straight away exactly how much energy a device uses.
With this plug you can operate your electrical devices from anywhere using the Kasa app. It works on both Android and iOS. It is also possible to set time schedules in this app, so you have full control. The HS100 has a recommended price of 29,99 euros. The version with an energy monitor costs around 40 euros.
Elgato Eve Energy
The Eve Energy from Elgato may look simple, but it is still a good choice as a smart plug. Unfortunately it can only be operated if you have an iOS device. You also need to get an Apple TV to be able to operate the devices when you are not at home.
One advantage, though, is that the Eve Energy from Elgato can be operated via Apple HomeKit. That way you can also ask Siri to turn the light on or off. This smart plug always has energy monitoring on board. Especially if you have Apple gear at home, this smart plug comes in handy. This product costs around 60 euros, making it a slightly more expensive smart plug.
WeMo Switch
Belkin has been a reliable brand for years and has also brought the WeMo Insight Switch to market. With the accompanying smartphone application you know exactly how high the energy consumption of a particular device is. In the app you can also specify exactly what you have connected. That way you no longer have to search for it yourself.
The WeMo Switch is a smart plug that you can operate using the WeMo app for iOS and Android. If you like, you can also use handy time schedules. This plug does have a price tag of around 50 to 60 euros.
D-Link Smart Plug
D-Link has been making all sorts of smart products for your smart home for a long time, and that includes a smart plug. A good example is the DSP-W215, which you can operate both indoors and outdoors. This works using a smart plug that D-Link calls Smart Plug. You do need a Home app for this. It is accordingly called ‘mydlink Home-app’. The app is suitable for iOS and Android.
You can switch the devices you have connected to the smart plug on and off remotely. In addition, the Smart Plug also keeps an eye on energy consumption, so you can save on your energy bill. You can also set time schedules. This device costs just over 50 euros.
HiHome Wpp-16S
The HiHome WPP-16S is a slightly less well-known smart plug, but it does have many functions. For example, the smart plug has a clock function, sleep timer and time schedules. The smart plug also tracks the energy consumption of the linked device. This is a smart plug with which you can also make dumb devices smart. You do not need any separate equipment to link this plug. A wireless internet connection is enough.
You also get real-time insight into power consumption and installing is very easy. The plug is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, so you can operate the devices with your voice. This smart plug costs less than 20 euros.
Osram Smart+ Plug
You will of course already know Osram from its various electrical components. The company has also released a smart plug called the Smart+ Plug. This is a wireless plug that fits in a normal socket. You can use it perfectly well with, for example, smart lighting such as Lightify from the same brand.
With the Smart+ Plug from Osram you can digitise your whole house. This means you do not have to replace all the old lighting in your home. Installing is very easy and the plug also comes with a handy app. This plug has a price tag of between 50 and 60 euros.
Innr Smart Plug
The Innr Smart Plug is a smart plug that you can also link to your Philips Hue. This makes this smart plug mainly intended for lighting. The smart plugs are easy to install and can also be used with your old, existing lighting. You do need to buy a Bridge for this.
Innr is a slightly less well-known player, but very suitable for anyone just starting out with smart home. At a price of 40 euros this is an affordable solution.
Smartplug from Woox
Woox is a smart plug that you can operate remotely. For example, it is possible to create timers and schedules for automatic switching. The smart plug looks simple and that is exactly what it is. You also do not need an extra hub, because the smartplug can connect via WiFi. The Woox Smartplug therefore helps you save energy.
The smart plug can also be used with Amazon's Alexa and Google Home.
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So the possibilities are becoming ever more extensive, and for that reason it is well worth considering getting a few smart plugs for your home.
You do of course need to know what to look out for when you are going to buy a smart plug. For example, these plugs usually work with a home automation platform such as Amazon Alexa or Apple HomeKit. That is handy if, for example, you already have an iPad or iPhone at home. And a smart plug must never be bigger than another socket, because otherwise you can no longer use the other sockets.
Smart plugs come in different shapes and sizes. One can be up to twice as big as another. It is important to pay close attention to any overlap. Otherwise your smart plug sits in front of the normal connections and you quickly lose a few connections. So choose compact smart plugs.
If you already have Amazon's Alexa at home, you can buy products that work with it. Or if you have Google Home, you can buy smart plugins for it. You can usually find which platforms are supported on the packaging and in the specifications online.
The purchase price makes this seem advantageous, but if the connections are poorly secured this can cause a short circuit. You also want to bring a brand into your home that you know for sure respects your privacy. So avoid brands you do not know.
Then you know which problems you can expect or what is actually an extra reason to buy the smart plug.
5 tips for buying a smart plug
Smart plugs are excellent tools to give your home an extra layer of comfort and efficiency. They make it possible to operate all sorts of electronic devices remotely and can even help save energy. But how do you know which smart plug to buy? Not all smart plugs are the same and there are a number of important things to take into account when making your choice.
Frequently asked questions about smart plugs
Before buying and weighing up a smart plug, it is important to ask yourself a few questions. The most frequently asked questions are answered below
Is it possible to measure power consumption with a smart plug?
Yes. There are many smart plugs on the market that not only let you switch a device on or off remotely, but with which you can also keep track of power consumption. In most cases this can be done via the supplied app. Sometimes it is also possible to connect the smart plug to a smart thermostat. This is possible with Google Nest, for example. There are also models with LED lighting. This then turns red if a device uses too much energy.
How does voice control work with a smart plug?
If you want to operate a smart plug by voice, the smart plug must be suitable for this. This is usually indicated in the product specifications or on the product packaging. Most smart plugs at least offer support for Google Home or Amazon's Alexa. You can then also operate a non-smart device with your voice. The smart plug then serves as a kind of link.
Does a smart plug fit in every socket?
Yes, a smart plug in principle fits in any socket. Do pay attention to exactly how big the smart plug is. Always choose a small and compact model. Otherwise there is a chance that other sockets will be blocked by overlap. That is a waste of space.
Can you operate a smart plug with an app?
Nowadays you can operate most smart plugs with an app. This applies to both the more expensive and the cheaper models. Before you buy a smart plug, it is wise to always first find out exactly what the possibilities are. The handiest are smart plugs that you can operate on a platform such as Google Home or Apple HomeKit. Then you do not need separate apps for all devices.
Do I always need a bridge?
No. There are a number of smart plugs that you can only operate if you buy a bridge. This is a device on which all smart devices come together. But that certainly does not apply to all smart plugs. There are also smart plugs on the market that you can operate via an app. You then only need a wireless network connection (Wifi).
Buying a smart plug? Looking for a smart plug or want to know how exactly it works? On this page you can read all about the possibilities!