Are you thinking about making your home smarter? Do you know what a WiFi smart plug is and how it can help you? Nowadays, many households are turning to technology to make their home more comfortable and efficient, as well as to optimize and personalize the use of electronic devices or household appliances.
That's why there are already a multitude of devices that play a fundamental role in turning our homes into smarthomes. Among them, smart plugs allow us to adapt our electrical appliances, lights and security systems to the new times. We tell you everything you need to know about these devices!
What is a WiFi smart plug?
Smart plugs They are devices that communicate with our mobile phone or tablet through a WiFi connection.. Thus, although they are connected to a conventional current, thanks to their connectivity we can control them remotely: turn them on, turn them off, program the on or off time, etc. In other words, they are plugs that have technological features that have revolutionized the way we control homes.
Features of smart plugs
There are different models of smart plugs that we can choose depending on our needs. These are: Some features you should keep in mind to make the best choice:
- Design and size: It is important to know the exact measurements of the plug, as there are some very bulky models and others that are smaller. Taking this into account, we will be able to know if it will fit in the place where we want to connect it.
- Format: It is possible to use individual sockets to connect a single device or power strips with several sockets to connect several at the same time.
- Current intensity: It is advisable to check the maximum current intensity supported by the smart plug to know the maximum power of the device to be plugged in. On the market we can find smart plugs of 16A, but also of 10A. To give you an idea, a wall socket usually supports 16A or, what is the same, 3600W of maximum power.
- Voice control: If the plug is compatible with any of the virtual assistants (Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant…), it will be possible to control it by voice. In the case of the Nivian range, this is devices compatible with Tuya Smart, Google Home and Alexa, so it is possible to control them from any of these platforms.
- Connectivity: To communicate with other devices and be able to control them remotely, smart plugs use the 2.4 GHz band of the WiFi network, so it is possible to use them with any WiFi router. If you have a latest generation one to connect from your mobile or laptop on the 5 GHz band, it is normal for it to be dual and the plug can use the lower band.
- Consumption control: Smart plugs allow you to know the consumption of connected devices. This is very useful to know which devices consume the most and to be able to control our electricity spending.
- Ease of use: The only difficulty we may encounter when using a WiFi smart plug is when it is synchronized or paired with our mobile phone. On the other hand, many have a physical button that will help us turn it on or off manually.
- Security options: It is important to know whether the socket has a protection system to prevent the connected appliance from being damaged by a voltage spike, overheating or short circuit.
- Extra features: Some models may include interesting functions such as randomly turning the plug on and off. This allows, for example, certain lights in the house to turn on or off by themselves even when we are not at home.
How does a smart plug work?
After answering what a WiFi smart plug is and what features they can have, the next question is how they work and what we can use them for. Its mechanics are very simple, since it really A smart plug works as an intermediary between an electrical device and the power outlet.. Thanks to its WiFi connectivity, we can link it to an App or platform, so what we really control is the plug and not the connected device.
As for smart plug options, here are some of the functions they can perform that will make your life easier:
- Complete control away from home: By having remote control, you can control your smart plug even when you are away from home. This will allow you to check from your mobile or tablet if you have left any device on by mistake, you can activate lights or other equipment before arriving and, ultimately, you can interact with it whenever and wherever you want.
- Energy consumption monitoring: Depending on the model, it is possible to monitor electrical consumption through the plug. This is very useful when we want to save or control our consumption, since it can be activated and deactivated whenever we want.
- Own automation or IFTTT: This is perhaps one of the most interesting features of smart plugs. Whether we use our own App (for example, the manufacturer's app), or third-party Apps (such as IFTTT), creating automations will allow you to program certain functions. With the Tuya Smart App, which is used for Nivian devices, you have a wide variety of programming options and the creation of smart rules. For example, it is possible to create an automation to connect a table lamp to the plug and have it turn on automatically whenever it gets dark.
How do you set up a WiFi smart plug?
Once you have chosen the plug that best suits your needs, it is time to configure it to start using it. Nivian smart plugs They are very easy to set up and use, so it only takes a few minutes to get them up and running. Here's how to set them up step by step:
- Connect your smart plug to a traditional socket in your home.
- Connect any other object (for example, an appliance) on the smart plug.
- Download the Tuya Smart mobile app to register the smart plug and follow the steps that will be indicated. The App is available for iOS and Android.
- You will now be able to access your voice assistant's App, such as Alexa or the Google Assistant, to link all the plugs in your Tuya Smart account. This way, you can turn connected devices on or off using convenient voice commands.
Now that you know what a WiFi smart plug is, how it works and how to configure it, you can get the most out of it in your home. Schedule the on and off of lamps to simulate your presence when you are not there, turn on the heating before you get home or automate the switch-off of the plug when you charge your mobile phone at night, among other options. What are you waiting for to incorporate WiFi smart plugs into your home and make it more comfortable and efficient?
