Smart plugs are among the most affordable and easy-to-use smart devices, and as a result, they are the first time people are introduced to connected devices. Smart plugs make it easy to control the flow of energy to any appliance connected to it.
For example, you can plug a small space heater, curling iron, or laundry iron into the smart outlet – all appliances that could start a fire if left on (and let’s face it, we all had to double-check were unplugged.) a single push of a button is enough to ensure that none of these potentially hazardous devices are working.
Smart plugs also let you set timers for how long something is on. However, one of the most useful features of a smart plug is the scheduling feature. This allows you to create schedules to the exact minute when the devices are powered.
Some smart plugs also allow you to set “Away Mode” at specific periods of time, which will randomly turn the device on or off. This feature is perfect for a window lamp. A random on-off cycle in Away mode simulates the presence of someone in the home and can help enhance your home safety efforts.
This guide will walk you through the creation of power charts for your smart plug step by step. While different brands of plugs may differ slightly, almost all smart plugs work the same way. As part of this guide, we will demonstrate how to use the Kasa TP-Link mini smart plug.
How to set power scales on your smart components
The good news is that most smart plugs are intuitive. You don’t need a degree to understand or understand them.
- Open the app and tap the smart plug in the list of available devices.
- On the screen, you should see a list of options: Schedule, Timer, Away, and Runtime. If you don’t see them right away, look for the three bars in the top right or top left corner of the screen, or the gear icon for settings. You need the “Schedule” option.
- The next screen is a kind of plug-and-play interface in which you select the hour and minute at which your power schedule should be activated and what you want it to do.
- In this example, the smart outlet is configured to turn on at 6 a.m. every day of the week except Saturday and Sunday. Select the hour and minute as well as the action (you can also choose to disconnect the plug at this time) and then click Save.
The meal schedule will appear in the application as one of several possible events. You can set up multiple schedules for the same plug, for example, turn on the light at the same time and turn it off in another.
That’s all. Setting up a power schedule is a snap.
How to set up the remote mode on your smart components
Away mode is not available for all smart plugs, but if you have one in your plug, it’s worth using. If you have a lamp plugged into a smart plug, while in Away mode, it may seem like someone is turning the light on or off, and simulating the presence of someone in the house is enough to scare off most potential intruders.
- Follow the above steps until you see a series of icons, but instead of choosing Schedule, choose No.
- A window will open where you select the start time, end time and days of the week on which you want this mode to repeat. Select this time and click “Start”.
Again, the setup process is straightforward. Upon completion of this step, Away Mode will be active at the specified hours until you click Stop.
Smart plugs are easy to use and a great way to dive into the world of smart home technology. Some plugs also offer other useful features such as energy monitoring. If you’re wondering how much power a particular appliance uses, plug it into a smart outlet and keep track of its consumption. You may find that an energy efficient appliance does not save much energy at all.
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