Good value-priced smart plug for the U.K.?

[JDRoberts]

I’m assuming you meant a plug in module? We commonly refer to those as “pocketsockets” in the forum just to make it easy to distinguish them from in wall receptacles.

The inexpensive Wi-Fi ones which use the “Tuya SmartLife” can integrate with smartthings through IFTTT. Those will probably be the least expensive, although there may be some lag as it is a cloud cloud integration.

Integrating WiFi Switches/Plugs that use the Tuya SmartLife App or eWeLink app

That switch uses the smartlife app. There are many other inexpensive Chinese Wi-Fi devices that also use the same app. In May2020, SmartLife dropped their IFTTT channel due to increasing costs. Paul Hibbard, a tech blogger, says you can try the “brilliant smart“ app from Australia instead, as it has its own Ifttt channel. That company told him they recently renewed with Ifttt, so he says it should be good for at least a year. However, it’s always possible that the company will shut this down for brands other than their own if it starts costing too much money. To use the IFTTT method: Create a virtual switch in smartthings to act as a proxy for the Wi-Fi device. You need one virtual switch for each Wi-Fi device. Create four IFTTT applets for each Wi-Fi device. one to turn the …

If you want something that integrates directly with SmartThings, the TKB brand zwave pocketsockets are a good value brand in the U.K. Vesternet often sells them with a quantity discount. But they will cost about £10 more than the value brand Wi-Fi units.

Z-Wave - Wall Plugs & Sockets

There are some other Chinese brands which might be less expensive, but they are typically sold through vendors with long delivery times and less generous returns policies.

I personally don’t buy electronics off of eBay or Alibaba because of the number of counterfeits, which can be a very significant safety issue. So again, speaking just for myself, I prefer to buy from reputable dealers with good return policy like Amazon or Vesternet. Do shop around, as prices can vary significantly on the same model.

FAQ: List of Home Automation Retailers

Auction and second source sites Sure, you can just look on eBay or BuyDig, but personally I prefer to buy from a place with a decent returns policy and a fair reputation. Too many reports of people buying from eBay and getting a different model than what they ordered (sometimes in the wrong box). Also note that some manufacturers (Aeotech is one) believe that everything sold on eBay is used and will not honor warranties for items purchased through this channel. You can buy Chinese made items from AliBaba express. I myself don’t use this as a source – – too many issues with the product description, or even counterfeits. But a lot of people do. Remember that for Zigbee, you want devices which are certified for Zigbee Home Automation 1.2 (ZHA 1.2). There are many Chinese zigbee devices wh…