Many people in Europe do not dare to get started with home automation for various reasons. Some people think it’s complicated; others, that it is a bit expensive. There are currently thousands of proposals from different manufacturers, which allow have greater control over our home, to make it more comfortableby controlling the temperature for example, or to save money, by controlling energy costs.
Beyond the complex systems installed in the construction of houses or the most advanced technological proposals, there are devices that help us on a daily basis with a minimal investment of money and time. The best example of this is smart plugs.
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These devices can be installed in any normal socket then connect to it the different devices or devices that we want to automate, for whatever reason. It’s not just about being able to control a device from your mobile, but also being able to set schedules or manage the energy they consume.
Water heater
The most obvious use for these outlets is to control lights in the home, including floor lamps in the living room or bedside tables. But this function is only one of them, which can also sometimes be replaced by smart bulbs.
Beyond this use, there is a very obvious one that, even in the least technological homes, could make sense. This involves using a socket to control the water heater, if it is electric of course. It’s something that more and more people are using, partly because of the rising price of natural gas or butane bottles and partly because of the falling price of electricity.
Electric heating in a bathroom
That’s right
These types of heaters use electricity to keep the water hot, but they do so at all times. SO, It is possible to configure it so that it is only activated when we are going to use it. For example, if you are gone all day and come back at 7 p.m., it makes no sense to plug it in all the time, wasting electricity. It can be programmed to activate one hour before your arrival, giving you time to heat the water. Another option is to program it so that, if we are still at home, it heats when electricity is cheaper.
Heating
Another very common device connected to a smart plug is the heater or fire pit. Here Care must be taken to ensure that the installation is correct and there is no problem unless the device stays connected all the time.
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Xiaomi
Free Android
However, in normal use, its use is completely safe. In fact, there are even models that already have the remote control option, such as those from Xiaomi. But with a smart plug it is possible to do this with radiators, oil radiators… An advantage is being able to turn on a heater before going to the room you are in, so that when we arrive , it is already heated.
Aquarium
If you have an aquarium at home, the lighting may rely on a different power line than the rest of the aquarium. This lighting can be controlled remotely from your cell phone, or programmed to turn on automatically when the sun goes down.
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Also, like the lights of the house, can be scheduled randomly when we are awayin case you want to give the impression that there is someone at home, although in this case it is necessary to see it from the outside to fulfill this objective.
Router
Some devices usually never turn off. A good example is routers used in homes to connect to the Internet. However, sometimes this becomes necessary due to network or device failure.
Zoe Fall, the smart socket that detects falls
Omicron
Since these devices are usually found in inaccessible places and the sockets under the living room furniture are difficult to access. That is why installing a smart plug if we usually have problems with the Internet connection and have to restart it from time to time is not a bad idea.
Risk system
In large houses, with terraces where there is an irrigation system, it is possible to control it automatically using smart sockets. In this case, scheduling will be the most used function, being able to choose days and times.
Of course, in this case, being outside is a good idea buy a socket protected against water and dust. There is no plug that offers the same protection as cell phones, but there are some that are perfectly resistant to rain, splashes, etc.
Pool purifier
A use similar to the previous one is to put it in the pool purifier. In this way it is possible for cleaning to be carried out automatically at the scheduled times. In this case It is important to check that the Wi-Fi connection is strong because they are usually located far from the router.
Smart plugs are generally the most versatile home automation devices you can buy, and they’re not even expensive. The simplest models usually cost a little over 10 dollars, but if purchased in a set of four, the price is even lower. Those that resist bad weather go up, but do not reach 20 dollars.
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