Smart plugs are the perfect tool for upgrading virtually any device you can plug in. Cheap and easy to set up and use, smart plugs give you full, remote control over the power to lamps, fans, coffee makers and more.
Upgrade waking up
It’s not always easy to get out of bed in the morning, but smart plugs can make it a little more pleasant. Try syncing your bedside lamp and radio to greet you with your alarm to help you wake up and get motivated to start the day.
You can also schedule your electronic toothbrush to begin charging when you wake up and stop after a few minutes (to save some energy – it doesn’t need to charge all day). Or, program your curling iron to heat up 20 minutes after waking up.
Is coffee a key component to starting your day? Same here, which is why I use a smart plug to automatically brew a pot in the morning. Just remember to fill your coffee maker with grounds and water the night before.
Tell Alexa to turn off the lights
Or whatever smart home hub and name you use. Most smart plugs are compatible with smart home ecosystems, adding another level of convenience to a device already made to simplify your life.
Instead of pulling the app up on your phone and (somewhat) manually turning the lights out at night, or creating a schedule that may cut the lights out on you before you’re ready, simply tell your smart home hub to do it. Be sure to name the smart plug so your hub knows which device to turn off.
Or let IFTTT do the work
Now we’re really talking about “smart.” Many smart plugs are built with IFTTT capabilities, enabling you to pair them with other smart devices and automate how they interact.
For example, with a compatible smart plug and thermostat, you could automate a fan to turn on automatically if the temperature gets a little warm and then turn it back off when it’s cooler. You could also do the same with a space heater when the temperature drops.
Going back to home security ideas, try setting your smart plug to turn on a lamp when your outdoor camera detects activity in the backyard, or automatically set a lamp to turn on at sunset and off at sunrise.
A kick for the kids
My personal favorite here. We know how smart devices like plugs and lights work (mostly), but to a child, it’s nothing short of magic.
Have the app for your smart plug ready, then proclaim your uncanny ability to turn the lights on or off at your command. Use a countdown or the trusty “abracadabra” to really sell it, then hit the button.
Your audience is sure to be captivated, but what’s even more fun is letting them be the magician. Instruct them to use a word or gesture to control the lights and use your phone to make it happen each time they do.
Fair warning: This will get old for you before it gets old for them. Be prepared for the “batteries to go out” or the light to “break.”