Do You Need A Smart Switch or Plug?

Smart light switches and plug adapters are the cornerstone of the connected home. But it's hard to tell the difference between the various devices. That's where we come in.

 

Not only have we tested a wide range of plugs and switches using Smart Home, but we've also compiled the most important information for buying them. To know exactly which device you need, you just need to ask the right questions.

 

Do you need a switch or a plug?

 

When it comes to boosting the IQ of your traditional home, you can take a device-by-device approach - over time, you can slowly replace large, silly devices with smart ones - or you can use smart switches and plugs.

 

For example, if you want all the smart features of a connected TV, then a smart plug won't cut it. But if you want all the small parts of your home (like lights, fans, air purifiers, etc.) to work with each other, then switches and plugs are perfect.

 

If you only want to use smart lights in your home, then you might consider a smart LED light bulb.

 Smart Switches

 

Which one should you buy - a switch or a plug?

 

You've decided that a smart switch or plug is really what you need. Now the question is, which one should you buy? In-wall switches are convenient because switching them is as natural as pressing a regular light switch. Plus, you get the added intelligence of remote control, scheduling and automation.

 

This means that if you have light fixtures that you want to automate, but want to keep their normal wall switch controls, then a built-in smart switch is what you need.

 

Smart plugs offer many of the same features, but also add flexibility because you can plug in any device you want. If you want to change settings, it only takes a minute. Smart plugs are also more likely to include power monitoring features that in-wall switches don't.

 

Smart plugs don't always have the same simple manual switching capabilities as in-wall switches, so they're often better suited for scheduling and automating miscellaneous devices or fixtures.

 

 Smart Switch

What technology has become a part of your daily routine?

 

This is an important question, because how well your technology works together is as important as the technology itself. As a general rule of thumb, the devices you already use in your home, whether they are iPads or Android devices, Nest or Ecobee, will work better with certain switches and plugs than others.

 

In other words, any technology that has become part of your daily habits should work for any switch or plug you want to purchase. If you don't know what platform you want your switch or plug to use, you will need to find out what communication protocol to use.

 

 

What are ZigBee and Z-Wave and why are they important?

 

Wireless communication is the basic way that smart home devices send data back and forth between each other and between phones. Almost every major smart plug or switch will state on its packaging that it is Z-Wave, ZigBee, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi connected. These are the ways that devices communicate with other gadgets around the house.

Plug

Z-Wave and ZigBee are both radio protocols that require some sort of hub to translate the language of the device into a language your phone can understand. These plugs are often more affordable - if you're already using a platform like SmartThings or Lowe's Iris. Z-Wave and ZigBee devices are great for large smart home setups. If you only want one or two devices, you should probably look elsewhere.

 

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi both connect directly to your phone. This means they are perfect as standalone products.

 

What features must be available?

 

The trick is to find the most affordable switch or plug that meets the needs of your particular setup. These devices typically include any combination of the following features: presence-sensing automation, scheduling, energy monitoring, integrated automation with other smart home gadgets, surge protection, and dimming.