Smart Plug recommendations?

Hey Everyone,
I have bought a couple of Peanut controllers but I am not happy with them. They work fine, but I want to monitor some energy use. I get a TON of ads on Amazon for various plugs. Does anyone have any strong feelings about any certain brands of smart plugs? I want to make s better decision than I did with my Peanut purchase.

Rob

I highly recommend the following:

Iris Smart Plug-Monitors kWhs as well.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GCKAED4/ref=asc_df_B01GCKAED45360781/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B01GCKAED4&linkCode=df0&hvadid=216506979975&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8219745331805775972&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9009598&hvtargid=pla-349328563136
Aeon Power Strip-This one is great as it has 4 plugs that all monitor power usage and 2 additional plugs that also monitor but are not switchable. Monitors kWhs as well. You need a custom app to expose the endpoints and keep things in sync.
https://www.amazon.com/Aeotec-Aeon-Labs-DSC11-Sockets/dp/B00H3RL6JW

The link to the App to create the Virtual Switches and to keep them in sync.

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First question: are you in the US or the UK? The device selection available does vary considerably.

Next, were you looking for a specific protocol? Typically Z wave or zigbee. The reason is that pocketsockets (the name we use in the forum for the plug in modules, to distinguish them from in wall receptacles) typically act as repeaters for their own protocol, so they can strengthen your overall network if they are of the same protocol as your battery operated devices, like sensors.

WiFi works differently, so it’s not a factor one way or the other for your other devices except that having too many Wi-Fi devices can slow down your overall network.

The least expensive “works with Alexa” Devices will be cheap Wi-Fi units from China, but there are a number of reasons why you might prefer something else. See the following recent thread for discussion (this is a clickable link)

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I’m in the US. Standard 110v AC

Are you using many battery powered devices? These are most commonly sensors. If so, what protocol are they using (zigbee or zwave).

The ones I would use would most likely be zwave if I can get them. Zigbees limits kind of lends itself to using them exclusively for smartbulbs. At least that is my current thought, but I am open to other ideas. I’m an old X-10 dog from way back so my thinking may be misinformed. :slight_smile:
Rob

I suggest you start by reading the following FAQ, it should clear up a lot of the basic questions. (This is a clickable link)

You might also find the following of interest:

http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=Z-wave_versus_Zigbee

After that, we can talk about what might work best for you specifically. :sunglasses:

I bought this one and VERY happy with it.

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Does anyone knows any EU Smart Power strip with Energy measure…

Not us or AU Or UK but EU…

I have a couple of these from Monoprice and they work really good. I have a number of the door sensors, motion sensors and smart plugs from them also and they all work very well.

ZooZ has an excellent compact one the ZSE07 which also has a VERY cool and unique feature, a timer. You can set a timer to turn it off after X minutes or hours. This timer is built into the switch so it doesn’t depend upon ST’s cloud or internet connectivity to operate.
https://www.thesmartesthouse.com/products/zooz-z-wave-plus-mini-plug-zen07

You will need a custom handler to use all the features through and if you have access to RBoy Apps check out this handler:

Monoprice has a very cost effective options available:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=15654

A new version is:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=27481

I bought the SmartThings socket , and it stopped working about three months later. Basically, it no longer conducts electricity, even though the wall outlet itself works fine and the app says it the “Smart” socket is working. I then spent half an hour on hold with Samsung’s “customer service” – and no one answered. So I emailed them. When someone finally got back to me, they told me they don’t provide support for this product, and that I should check Samsung’s community forum for a fix. I’d already spent about 2 hours trying to either fix this myself or attempting to communicate with Samsung, so I am not going to spend MORE time on it. I said as much in my reply email, which was over a week ago – and have gotten no answer.

If it’s important to you to 1) have a product that lasts and 2) be treated respectfully by the company that makes it, then don’t waste your money and time like I did. Don’t buy a SmartThings outlet.

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That sucks! :rage: Where did you buy it from? It should still be under warranty, right?

I don’t know about the warranty: I threw all the packaging and receipt away (thinking I wouldn’t need it). Bought it from my local ACE hardware.

Ace seems unlikely, they don’t carry the line. Do you have the model number? It would be on the plug. If you can post a picture of the front and back of the plug, that would be helpful.