Smart plug timers work on the same principle as any other ordinary timer outlets do but with the added benefit that they give you much more flexibility and control. You can control it from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.
With a smart timer connected to your phone, you can rest assured that you will return to a home that has already taken care of its lights, lawn, and appliances so you can have some rest after a long day at work.
Sounds interesting right?
There are too many benefits of having a smart outlet timer to combine in this article but for instance, you can save a lot of money on electricity bills and it can also help you keep your home safe.
However, it’s not that simple when it comes to selecting one. You should keep certain parameters in mind to get the best smart plug timer for yourself. In this article, I will explain these parameters and guide you in your selection process.
Let’s get started.
Choosing the best smart plug timer
In general, for choosing the right product you roll up your sleeves and do the research. And that is what I did.
After doing a lot of research I think Aoycocr BX5P is the best smart plug timer on the market. It has a very strong brand backing it with years of experience along with excellent capability and very affordable price tags.
Let’s see the selection parameters:
a. Use case
Smart timers are designed for mainly two use cases which are either indoors or outdoors. As the name suggests Indoor timers are for indoor appliances Outdoor outlet timers are for outdoor appliances. So based on what your needs are choose your smart timer plug accordingly.
b. Compatibility
Compatibility simply means that smart timers should work properly with home appliances. So make sure your smart plug timer is compatible with the appliances you want to automate.
The way you check the compatibility of your devices is that you check the voltage rating. If your devices are designed to operate on 120 volts then choose a smart timer that has a voltage rating of 120 volts.
c. Wireless connectivity
Wireless connectivity allows you to communicate with your device. Is it going to be through wifi or Bluetooth or others? I suggest, going for wifi because it is the most advanced wireless protocol and it is easily available everywhere.
d. App compatibility
Another crucial aspect that you need to keep in mind is the app compatibility. If the app does not run on your phone then you will not be able to use it. So it is important to keep that in mind.
If you have a modern phone then it would not be an issue but if your phone is a bit older then always download and check the app before buying a smart timer plug.
e. Voice assistance
Having voice assistance is always better because talking is always faster and much more convenient than scrolling on your screen. So you should look out for a smart outlet timer that either has voice assistance built-in or can connect to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
f. Remote access
Remote access is the most differentiating factor between regular timer outlets and smart plug timers so make sure you choose the one with remote access because that allows you to control the timer from anywhere.
You just need a Wi-Fi connection to connect to the outlet at your home through your phone. This is very convenient because if you leave something off by accident, and you are out of the house you can simply turn it off with your phone.
g. Other features
Other features that you should also seek out are energy monitoring and home safety. The energy monitoring feature will greatly reduce your bill because it will simply turn off appliances when it detects activity.
The home safety feature turns the lights on and off at random intervals to give a sense as if someone is living in the house to keep the bad guy at bay.
List of top smart plug timers
Below is the list of products that we have selected keeping the above parameter, people reviews, and my own experience.
Our Selected: Aoycocr BX5P
If you are looking to control your home and make sure to save money while also protecting your home, then the Aoycocr BX5P (Amazon link) is the best smart timer plug on the market to do that job.
The Good
Down are some good aspects of this smart outlet timer.
It is designed for indoor use: You can use it on a variety of different appliances indoors such as lights, coffee machines, humidifiers, and much more without having any issues whatsoever.
The compatibility is also good: It is compatibility is excellent. It has a voltage rating of 120V rating which is the standard voltage rating of most American appliances so that means you are covered from head to toe.
It can be used on everything such as lights, lamps, air conditioners, coffee machines, slow cookers, and much more without breaking a sweat.
You can connect to it through the wifi: Yes that’s right. It uses Wi-Fi protocol and wifi is everywhere. That means if you have a wifi connection you can control this smart plug timer from anywhere in the world.
If you leave something off by accident you can just connect to the wifi and control that appliance from your phone screen with the help of the app.
The app is very light: The app is compatible with older phones with low memory. You can easily install it within minutes and it would work like a champ. It does not lag or stop working.
The app is present on both Android and iOS. So you don’t have to worry about app compatibility. They have thought about everything.
It seamlessly connects to Alexa and Google Assistant: If opening your phone is a bit too much for you then it can also easily connect with the smart devices in your home like Alexa and Google Assistant.
Pair this smart timer plug with them, and you can control your lights and appliances with your voice. Talking is always faster than taking out your phone.
The home security feature keeps your home safe: It randomly turns the lights around the house off and on to give the illusion that something is present in the house. This feature helps keep thieves out.
The Bad
Here are some of the bad aspects of this smart plug timer.
- It has connectivity issues, sometimes the app is unable to connect to the intended smart outlet and this problem gets worse as the number of smart timers increases.
- The app is a bit hard to connect at first if you are not a technical person.
These two are the bad aspects of this smart timer plug.
The Downright Ugly
The fact that it only has one outlet port is just ugly. What if it burns? That is it. It is useless. That is the downright ugly aspect of this smart outlet timer.
Also Great: HBN U153T
HBN was founded in 1999 and through the years has evolved into a company that specializes in industrial automation and the automation industry in general. They also aim to automate your home with their U153T.
The U153T is also a great smart plug-timer. It offers a ton of modes and functionality along with excellent reliability and affordable price tags.
Important features:
- It is meant for indoor use only. You can control indoor appliances such as lights, fans, humidifiers, and much more with this smart plug timer.
- The voltage rating on this timer outlet is 120V. That is the standard voltage rating of all American appliances. Which makes this device very compatible with them.
- You can control it through Wi-Fi from anywhere in the world.
- The App that comes with it is very intuitive and easy to set up. You just download it and it works. It works well on older phones.
- The voice control allows you to connect the timer to an Alexa and you can control it through your voice which makes it very convenient.
- It also has security features that will keep your home safe from the bad guys.
In summary, the HBN U153T (Amazon link) is a good alternative to the above. It’s even better to do certain things. It’s an all-around good and sturdy smart outlet timer that will last you years before you would need another one.
Something I like is the two ports so if one dies or stops working for some reason you can use the other one to do the job.
Also Great: Kasa KP401
Found in 2016, Kasa is a relatively new player when it comes to home automation, but it’s remarkable how in such a short amount of time they have risen to the top and made a reputation for being the best.
The Kasa KP401 is a solid device that promises to make your home a hassle-free space, reduce energy waste, and protect your home from the bad guys at all costs.
Important features:
- This smart plug timer is meant for outdoor activities such as pumps, sprinklers, fountains, and much more. It would work on all of them.
- It’s also compatible with the outdoor environment, it has a plug cover that protects it from water, sand, and dust.
- The voltage rating on this smart timer plug is 120V. Which is right in line with the standard American voltage rating which makes it very versatile.
- You can control it through the Wi-Fi which makes it accessible from any part of the world as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection.
- It also comes with an app that is very easy to install, and it works great on older phones without having any issues. Although the app works properly. It does have hiccups at times.
- You can also pair it with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to control it through your voice which can be very convenient if you don’t have your phone.
- This smart outlet timer also comes with a built-in security feature which will keep your home protracted all the time.
To cut it short, the Kasa KP401 (Amazon link) is a great smart outlet timer. It offers impeccable service, and it has a very robust brand backing it, so you can rest assured your money is going to the right place.
The functionality is phenomenal, and the performance is unmatched. It is truly remarkable how they managed to put such functionality into this low price tag. It is a good bang for the buck product.
Conclusion
Any off-the-rack timer outlet will work in the same passion. They time your appliances on a schedule but having a smart plug timer not only times them but also gives you the control to do it from any part of the house or world.
You can also protect your home with its security feature and also use it to make efficient use of electricity which would result in a lower electricity bill. The applications are endless. I can’t combine them into one article.
Now as good as the benefits sound, you can end up with the wrong timer if you are not careful that is why there are certain parameters that you need to keep in mind to get the best.
Here is the list of parameters that you should keep in mind.
- Use case
- Compatibility
- Wireless protocol
- Voice assistance
- App compatibility
- Remote access
- Other features
To cut it short, Aoycocr BX5P (Amazon link) is the best smart plug timer on the market. It is meant for indoor use, offers great compatibility, has Wi-Fi wireless protocol, you can control it from any part of the world, and the app is compatible with older phones. It’s a solid outlet timer.
Alright,
That is it, I hope you enjoyed the article. Make sure to leave a comment if you do.
Thank you and stay awesome.
Questions
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions people ask about smart timers.
Q1. What is a smart plug timer?
A smart timer is an electronic device that times your appliances to operate on a schedule. It uses electronic circuits and components which is also the reason they are accurate.
On top of that, it gives you the control to turn off and on appliances in your home from any part of the world as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection.
Q2. Can you use it on lights?
Yes, you can.
You can use it in all kinds of light. You can use it on incandescent lights, LEDs, normal lamps, bulbs, and energy savers. You can use it on Christmas and Halloween decoration lights.
Q3. Does it save energy?
Yes, it can save energy.
Using a timer makes efficient use of electricity because it eliminates the error of forgetting things by accident. It also results in low electricity bills in the long run.
Q4. How to set up a smart outlet timer?
To set up a smart outlet timer you need to follow the following steps.
- Hook the smart timer to a normal outlet.
- Plug the appliance into the smart timer.
- Connect the smart timer to the app on your phone.
- Set the timer on your phone.
- You are all set.
Follow these steps accordingly to get the ideal outcome.
Q5. Can I install smart timers behind furniture?
Putting a smart timer behind furniture will interfere with the Wi-Fi signals. A simple chair would not block the signal, but furniture like a sofa may interfere with the signals from the timer.
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