Why a smart plug makes the perfect Christmas gift
Ever fumbled irritably down the back of a sofa to click off a plug? Or wondered nervously if you really had turned off the iron? Or fretted over how much power that new electric heater was guzzling? Then you should get a smart plug.
A smart plug is essentially a plug, but with internet functionality. You plug any appliance or device into it, and then you can switch it off and on using an app on your phone or tablet, or even just with your voice.
But perhaps the most useful application for a smart plug is energy monitoring – which this winter, will be front of mind for most of us.
Smart plug reviews - see fully tested models to suit all budgets and needs.
How to use a smart plug for energy monitoring
Energy monitoring enables you to keep tabs on a plugged in appliance’s energy consumption. Not all smart plugs have this function, but as you'll see below, you can pick up an energy monitoring plug for less than £10.
The idea is that by monitoring usage in real time, or over a daily, weekly or monthly period, you can then make changes to reduce your energy bills. For example, you could have a dehumidifier come on in the middle of the night when power costs can be cheaper (depending on your tariff).
Some plugs also have bill calculators, which project the cost of running the appliance against the latest energy price in kilowatt hours (kWh).
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Three energy monitoring smart plugs to consider
TP-Link Tapo P110
TP-Link is one of the most popular smart plug brands, with a wide range of models, including the Tapo P110. It allows you to keep tabs on a plugged-in your appliance’s energy consumption, including real time power use, as well as daily, weekly or monthly reports on its consumption.
For the verdict on this smart plug, see our TP-Link Tapo P110 review.
Ener-JSHA5325 Smart WiFi Socket
The Ener-J Smart app is nicely designed and has some useful features. It offers real-time energy monitoring, so you can see your energy consumption in kWh throughout the day. Alongside the app, the plug has a physical on/off button on the left side of the casing.
See how we rated this model in our Ener-JSHA5325 Smart WiFi Socket review.
Defender Smart Plug (4 x Pack)
If you have lots of devices you want to automate or monitor, the Defender has four plugs included in the pack. It’s a doddle to set up and use. It tracks the energy usage of appliances, and also calculates your daily electricity usage in kWh. It even claims to calculate your running cost for any plugged in devices.
Get the full lowdown on this four pack smart plug in our Defender Smart Plug review.
Other great uses for a smart plug
Alongside switching appliances on and off, and monitoring how much energy they use, consider the following other great uses for a smart plug.
1. Set routines: Instead of simply turning the plug on or off manually, you can set it to activate on a schedule. This means it will turn on at certain designated times, even if that is the middle of the night or when you are on holiday. So, when you go away, you could have lights come on at set times to fool a potential intruder that you were actually at home.
When home, you can set routines using multiple plugs for certain times of the day, such as for the lights automatically going off and the electric blanket switching on when you want to go to bed.
2. Semi-automate your kitchen: If your coffee maker doesn’t have a built-in timer, a smart plug can be scheduled to turn it on in the morning. Simply prep it the night before then set your smart plug to switch the socket on just before you wake up.
A similar trick can be employed with a slow cooker. Fill it with ingredients and then program the smart plug to turn on at the right time, so you’ll come home to a perfectly cooked meal.
3. Please your pets: Turn on a soothing light for a worried dog, or activate at only designated meal times an automated food dispenser that a cat has worked out how to 'hack'.
You can also use a smart plug on fish tank lights to turn them on when you want - or better still, use a schedule.
For more ideas, see our guide to 10 genuinely useful things you can do with a smart plug.
