7 Smart Plug Hacks to Automate Your Home Effortlessly
▼ Summary
– Smart plugs offer greater convenience than older devices like The Clapper, allowing control via phone apps, voice commands, or schedules.
– They can enhance home security by automating lights to deter intruders and by cutting power to devices like garage door openers.
– Smart plugs enable motion-activated lighting setups using smart speakers with occupancy sensors, improving convenience and energy savings.
– They help save on utility bills by controlling “vampire” devices, monitoring energy use, and enabling efficient climate control with fans or heaters.
– Smart plugs can make older “dumb” devices smart, such as holiday lights or coffee makers, and can be used to limit children’s screen time on electronics.
Remember those old gadgets like The Clapper that let you turn lights on with a clap? Today’s smart plugs are their far more capable descendants, offering a simple and affordable gateway into home automation. These unassuming devices plug into any standard outlet, allowing you to remotely control lamps, appliances, and electronics through a smartphone app, voice command, or a preset schedule. Beyond just adding convenience, smart plugs can enhance home security, reduce energy waste, and bring intelligence to older, “dumb” devices.
One clever application is enhancing your home’s security to deter potential intruders. When you’re away, you can program smart plugs to turn interior lights on and off on a schedule, creating the illusion that someone is home. For an added layer of protection, consider plugging in your garage door opener. Cutting power to it at night or while on vacation can prevent unauthorized access via a stolen remote or entry code. Pairing a smart plug with a compatible motion sensor can also create an automated lighting system that activates upon detecting movement.
You can also create a motion-activated lighting setup without complicated wiring. For instance, by using a smart plug with a lamp and a smart speaker equipped with an occupancy sensor, you can have lights turn on automatically when someone enters a room. This is more reliable than basic motion sensors, which can be triggered by pets or passing car headlights. These systems can be programmed to keep lights on for a set duration before switching off, ensuring you never have to hunt for switches or worry about lights being left on.
Managing your home’s climate becomes easier with smart plugs. Enhance climate control by connecting a standard fan to a smart plug. On a warm day, you can use your voice to turn it on, promoting air circulation so you can set your air conditioner to a more energy-efficient temperature. In colder months, the same principle applies to a space heater, which can be programmed to switch off once a room reaches a comfortable warmth, helping to manage utility costs.
Safety is another major benefit, especially for plugging in your hot tools. Hair styling appliances like curling irons or flat irons are common fire hazards if left on. By connecting them to a smart plug, you can remotely verify they are off via your phone and switch them off from anywhere if you forgot. This also works wonderfully for craft rooms, allowing voice control for tools like glue guns or soldering irons, adding a layer of safety and convenience.
For parents, smart plugs offer a practical way to limit screen time at home. By plugging a television or gaming console into a smart plug, you can establish schedules that cut power during homework hours or after bedtime. You can even control the plug discreetly from your phone. For a more comprehensive approach, temporarily switching off the Wi-Fi router via a smart plug can help enforce digital boundaries for the whole family.
A significant advantage of using smart plugs is the ability to save on utility bills. They give you precise control over “vampire” devices, electronics that drain power even when switched off, like coffee makers or entertainment consoles. You can schedule these devices to draw power only when needed. Many smart plugs also feature energy monitoring, providing valuable insights into which appliances are the biggest energy consumers in your home, empowering you to make smarter usage decisions.
Finally, one of the most popular uses is to make older devices smart. Smart plugs can breathe new life into ordinary appliances. Holiday lights can be set to a festive schedule, and a classic coffee maker can be programmed to start brewing just as your morning alarm goes off. You can even use one with an older router to reboot your Wi-Fi network remotely, though it’s best to use a plug with a reliable connectivity protocol like Zigbee to maintain the connection. Outdoor smart plugs are perfect for automating patio or garden lighting to turn on at dusk, adding both ambiance and safety.
(Source: ZDNET)
