TCP Smart 13A Wi-Fi Plug

Product Information

That said, it’s worth making sure that the signal is good enough in the area where you intend to place the plug to ensure that the connection won’t drop while you’re trying to use it. Some smart plugs will even require their own specific hub, which works in a very similar way to a wireless router. It uses the same MiHome app as Energenie’s other products and, if we’re brutally honest, it’s one of our least favourite apps because of its clunky interface. Make sure you don’t mistakenly install Xiaomi’s MiHome app: look for the Energenie one instead. Rather than using Wi-Fi, the switch uses Bluetooth. This makes it easy to set up and also means you don’t need to have a hub connected to your router. However, it does limit the range over which it can be controlled. It will work in most UK homes, but if you want to control it when away from home, you’ll need an Apple TV (3rd generation or later) or a spare home-based iPad (newer than iPad 2) running at least iOS 8.1. Not all smart tech needs to be born smart. A smart plug can transform anything into a smart device that you can control from your phone. Buy one of these and you can integrate any plug-in appliance into your smart home system. This means you could switch on a vintage lamp with a voice command. Smart plugs aren’t just smart because you can control them with your phone or voice, they can also do a number of other useful things. For example, you can set your own plans and timers to save power, or even monitor the amount of electricity you’re using with certain smart plugs.

This makes even more sense if you want to use services such as IFTTT. To use IFTTT, you have to enable the Smart Life service, which then provides the option to select the brand you want to use: Smart Life, TCP Smart, Amarey Smart, GeoSmartPro, Homeflow and Hey!

HS103P3 , HS103P4 , HS100P3 , KP105(FR) , HS103P2 , EP40 , EP40A , HS107 , HS200P3 , EP10P2 , EP10P3 , EP10P4 , KP105P2 , HS105 KIT , HS103 , KP105P3 , HS300 , KP115 , HS105 , HS110 KIT , HS220 , HS200 , KP100 KIT , HS100 , HS110P3 , KP100 , KP400 , EP10 , KP125 , KP200 , KP303(AU) , HS110(US) , HS100 KIT , KP405 , KP105 , HS210 KIT , KP401 , KP303 , HS110 , HS210 , KP400P2 White bulbs are just that, a white light that can be adjusted, dimmed & turned on and off. Ambient lights gives you colour, you can adjust to suit your mood, or the room setting, they are great for parties or other special events. TP-Link has added a new feature to its updated mini smart plug, the Tapo P110. It can monitor the energy used by any device you plug in, in real-time, in an easy to view and understand format. Like many plugs on the market, the Tapo P100 supports both Google Assistant and Alexa, so you can control it from a smart speaker if you have one. No additional hub is required.

As we said on the way in, smart plugs don't really need to do much: as long as you can turn it on and off with your phone, that's pretty much job done. The TCP Smart Wi-Fi Plug isn't the best-looking smart plug in the world, but it works as advertised, once you've figured out the app menus. Great for those who don’t have / want Alexa etc controlling their devices, but I think they are compatible with Alexa if you wish to combine them.First off, it works using Wi-Fi, meaning that you don’t need a hub. It also has all the features we’ve come to expect in the best smart plugs. It’s Alexa and Google Assistant compatible, so you can use voice commands for basic controls. Setting up timers is possible using the Scenes tab in the app, but creating a schedule is more complicated than in other apps, such as TP-Link’s.

So, can you actually turn the smart plug on and off with a tap on your phone screen? Yes, you can (we tested it with a living room light). Can you also turn the smart plug on and off with a voice command to Alexa and Google Assistant? Yes, you can do that too. The Hey! smart plug is affordable, practical and easy to use, with no hub required. It’s the same hardware as the Humax, but the Hey! app is different. If you wish to return your item to Robert Dyas, you can do so by one of the following methods: 1. Request a Collection via Robert Dyas Customer Services Emma is Group Home Tech Editor at Tech Advisor. She covers everything from kitchen appliances to smart home devices, from floor care to personal care to air care technology. She’s particularly interested in environmentally conscious brands and products that save people time and money. It also allows you to set up schedules for turning power on and off. These can also be countdown timers and – most usefully for lights – schedules based on sunset and sunrise which you can customise to your heart’s content.If the smart plug or switch can turn on/off themselves but they cannot turn on/off the devices connected to them, please refer to the corresponding product for troubleshooting. Great value, easy to use Great value & easy to use, I have 4 of these and use them on lamps across my house. They are perfect for making my home look occupied when I’m not there. I use them ad hoc but it’s great to be able to set them on a timer through the app if on holiday or somewhere without internet access. Or if you just don’t want the hassle of turning on lights each day as it starts to get dark.