Most are manageable through a compatible app, making it easy to set schedules and power your appliances on/off from anywhere to save power.
Their weatherproof body makes them ideal for outdoor use since they can withstand water splashes, snow, dust, and heat. Installing them takes minutes, and they fit nicely in traditional wall sockets.
Here are the best smart plugs you can buy today.
Q: Why Should I Buy an Outdoor Smart Plug?
Most homeowners often forget to power off outdoor lights after sunrise, resulting in high monthly electric bills. The best outdoor smart plugs give regular appliances a range of intelligent settings, allowing them to turn on and off as per your needs. Consequently, you don’t have to rush back to the house to switch off floodlights and garden decorations.
The polycarbonate body is resistant to extreme UV and shatter, making it ideal for long-term outdoor use. It also has an IP66 weatherproof rating, which can withstand snow, hose-directed water, and dust. There’s a single on/off button on the front, and a green LED that shows the current status.
Included is a usage monitor, which tracks the energy consumption in kilowatt-hours in both sockets. The built-in light sensor powers devices on and off based on the environment.
Setting the Kasa is quick and easy, only requiring you to follow a three-step instruction manual. The Kasa app offers simple integrations where you can name individual outlets, add nice-looking icons, set schedules, and more. With device grouping, you can control several devices like bulbs and switches simultaneously with a single tap.
The front portion of this outdoor smart plug features three sizeable buttons where one alerts you if the Wi-Fi connection is active and the others are for quick control over each outlet. The Away Mode automatically turns devices on/off during the scheduled time, giving an illusion that you’re still at home.
Experiencing ‘no response’ on the app is rare, making the Meross reliable. It handles up to 15 amps, so you can use it on floodlights and garden decoration lights without tripping the fuse. This outdoor smart plug doesn’t require an additional hub, making the setup process straightforward.
Such network range reaches 300 feet in an open field, making the device ideal for large outdoor spaces with several decorative lights. With an IP44 rating, the WeMo WSP090 withstands water splashes without causing any damage to the linked devices. The rubber gaskets protect the outlets when they’re not in use.
The setup process is straightforward using the standard Ring app (for Android and iOS). It also allows you to manage the two outlets independently, so one can function while the other is off.
The best thing is that the GE Lighting Cync offers account authentication for unrivaled security. The GE Lighting Cync comes with two outlets that can be controlled individually or grouped for maximum flexibility. You’ll still have complete control over your appliances even when you’re far away from home since the plug has a built-in Wi-Fi bridge.
You can control your device using voice assistants or the supported app.
Q: How Do I Fix Unresponsive Smart Plugs?
Outdoor smart plugs are great gadgets, but sometimes glitches happen due to various reasons. Weak Wi-Fi signals interfere with how your device works, so start by examining your router. You can do this by running data-heavy applications on your computer. If your network is still struggling to keep up, consider restarting the router.
Unplugging the outdoor smart plug from its outlet and holding the power button around 15 seconds before plugging it back helps solve connection issues. You may also run into some hiccups if the supported application isn’t up-to-date. Updating your app helps solve possible errors, but if nothing seems to work, consider buying a new plug.
Q: What Should I Consider When Buying an Outdoor Smart Plug?
The best outdoor smart plugs should also have a weather-resistant body to withstand harsh weather conditions like rain and scorching sun. Although scheduling time is a common feature in many devices, confirm whether your preferred model supports one. After that, you can set a particular time when your lights should power on/off to conserve energy.
In addition, a smart plug that monitors the energy used helps you know which appliance consumes more power. You may decide to switch to another model to lower electricity bills.
