What are some Smart Plugs that work with Alexa?

Some of the main differences between smart plugs are the features available:

You will want to determine what the top two or three features you want on your smart plug as you start researching for smart plugs. All of the before-mentioned features are available, but depending on how much you want to spend you may not be able to get all of the features you want. Below are a few of the top smart plug contenders based on features and price point.

  • Lamps,Coffee Makers,Crockpot,TV,Battery Chargers, andMore

The highlight of a reliable, smart device are the options made available such as turning on when you are away and the ability to monitor your usage. This lets you know what your energy levels look like on a daily basis.

Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring, Scheduling, Away Mode, and Voice Control

The TP-Link HS110 Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring is one of the best smart plugs on the market right now because of the features and price point. The TP-Link HS110 has four main capabilities that keep it as one of the top contenders in the smart plug industry.

  • Energy
  • Monitoring: The ability to monitor the energy spent on your appliances and
  • electronics makes being able to save money when needed easier than ever before.
  • Scheduling:
  • Auto scheduling your lights makes keeping you and your family safe even
  • easier. Every day your lights can be turned on and off based on your settings.Away
  • Mode: My favorite capability because as you leave the house the smart plugs
  • know and automatically turn the lights on and off at different times throughout
  • the day in an attempt to make it look like someone is home.Voice
  • Control: You will always have control of your lights, fans, appliances, or
  • other electronics using your voice with the help of this smart plug.

These for capabilities are why the TP-Link HS110 Smart Plug is one of the top smart plugs in the industry today.

Greeni Switch + Charge Smart Wi-Fi Plug with Scheduling Capabilities When

Away

The Greeni Switch + Charge Smart Wi-I Plug is my second choice for price point and capabilities. The Greeni Switch also has four main capabilities that makes it one of the best smart plugs in the industry.

  • USB
  • Ports: Has two USB ports on it allowing you to charge your smartphone or
  • other smart devices in the same plug allowing you to save space on your wall. Energy
  • Monitoring: This device also tracks your energy usage so that you can
  • monitor your electricity. Scheduling:
  • Although the Greeni does not have an Away Mode you can set up a schedule so
  • that it will turn your selected devices on and off at a schedule you deem
  • appropriate, which will function just the same as Away Mode on other smart
  • plugs. Access
  • Sharing: You may share access with your family so that everyone in the home
  • can control all devices.

The Greeni Switch + Charge Smart Wi-Fi Plug definitely meets all expectations and should be at the top of your list for consideration.

Smart Plug with One App

  • Voice controlDevice groupingScheduling, andRoutine set up.

How do you know if an appliance will work with a smart plug?

  • For example, if you purchased a TP-Link smart
  • plug you will need to download the Kasa application or if you purchased a
  • D-Link smart plug you will need to download the mylink Home application.

The first thing you need to understand is the difference between a mechanical switch and an electronic switch.

  • Mechanical Switch: is a set of two contacts that
  • uses an actuator to moves current (low current) to a second set of contacts
  • causing a light, for example, to turn on or off.Electronic Switch: is a button that has springs
  • inside that make contact with the current causing the on and off mechanism.

A smart device essentially turns your appliance off from a constant on state. It needs to be able to make contact just like the switch. This means if your appliance cannot be turned off in one of the mechanism’s indicted above your smart plug will not work.