Smart Outlet with Wi-Fi. What it is?

Smart outlet – what is it, and what is it for? Why is Wi-Fi in the socket at all? How does everything connect and work? About all this I decided to tell in this short article. Also we will try to find out whether it is worth buying a smart outlet, and what benefit it can be from it.

I’ll start with the fact that Wi-Fi is now shoved wherever you can: washing machines, televisions, kettles, multicookers, and even light bulbs. Now we’re getting to sockets. The very concept, as well as the device “Smart Socket” appeared not so long ago. But now many manufacturers have already released several models of such sockets. And these sockets even sell a little.

Let’s first find out what this device is. I will explain in simple words.

Smart socket – a device that is included in a regular socket (if it is a socket-overlay, just there are still recessed), and other electrical appliances are already connected to it. Like a simple adapter. The outlet is connected to the home Wi-Fi network. Through a special application for a smartphone, or tablet, you can control the outlet. From a distance, you can turn it off and on (even over the internet, far from home). Turning on/off by timer, statistics of operation, and even view statistics of electricity consumption by the connected device (only in some models). The functionality depends on the manufacturer and model of the device.

Smart outlet

I have experience in setting up and using only smart outlets from TP-Link. This manufacturer has two models: HS100 and HS110. I have already written about them in more detail in separate articles:

There are other manufacturers as well. For example, Xiaomi has the Mi Smart socket. There is REDMOND SKYPLUG 100S. I’m not talking about some Chinese, nameless models.

For what tasks can you use a smart socket?

To be honest, I don’t use my socket. I have an HS110, which is in the photo above. I set it up, played with it for a couple of days and that was it. Never found a use for it.

But if you think about it, you can find many different options where you can use a wi-fi outlet. For example:

Turning off and on lights. For example, in a child’s room.
You can turn on a heater or some other appliance in advance of coming home.
Set up a schedule for a particular device.
When you go on vacation, you can turn on lights remotely. As if you were at home.
And of course, you can plug in your iron through a smart outlet and not think about whether you forgot to turn it off. Since it can always be checked from your smartphone.

You can think of many options. It is clear that each user will find its own use.

And how do you feel about all these smart sockets, etc. For what purposes do you use, or would you like to use these devices? Write in the comments.