Did you buy a new appliance that has a small power cord and you are having a hard time reaching for the outlet? Do you need to purchase a new extension cord for that reason?
But first, you need to know what an extension cord outlet is. An extension cord is a flexible electric wire which has a plug at one end and one or more on the other.
Smart power strips are the further development of this type of accessory. Not only can you use these power strips to connect appliances that have a short cord, but also you can remotely control them.
There are numerous simple and inexpensive options you can find on the market. So do read along if you want to find the best power strip amongst them.
- What is a Power Strip?
- Why Do We Need a Smart Power Strip?
- What Kind of Appliances Need a Smart Power Strip?
- Best Smart Power Strip for 2023
What is a Power Strip?
A power strip is a type of electrical equipment used to increase the number of gadgets that can be plugged into a wall outlet. It has an extension cable that can be as short as one foot or as long as 30 feet. This gadget can have anywhere between two and twelve or more sockets.
Power strips come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, from heads with plastic coating to banks of plug-in outlets housed in big metal boxes.
They have led lights, enabling switches to indicate which plugs are turned on. For safe operation, some models have a push button that will trip automatically if the strip gets too hot.
Why Do We Need a Smart Power Strip?
Simple installation of a smart power strip allows you to connect the home's ordinary appliances to your smart home network. You will have more control and customization options when you get a smart power strip.
The common power strips can handle many gadgets and only require a single outlet. But you should keep in mind that any plugged-in devices will continue to draw power.
Since smart power strips can recognize when a gadget is in standby mode, they can cut power and conserve energy.
Statistics may vary, but experts estimate that an average home uses between 5 and 10 percent of its energy for standby purposes. It may also be responsible for 1% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions.
Features of Smart Power Strips.
You and your family can feel safe and comfortable thanks to smart power strips. Let's now explore some of the best smart power strip features in more depth.
- Smart power strips can reduce excessive energy use by turning off equipment while it's not in use.
- Virtual assistants are integrated into smart power strips. You can operate these power strips without touching them because of this.
- You can program smart power strips with timers. According to the schedule, they will turn on and off.
- You can get a breakdown of your power usage from smart power strips. You can modify your power consumption using this information.
What Kind of Appliances Need a Smart Power Strip?
Consider what in your house consumes the most electricity when choosing a new smart power strip. Energy vampire devices work best when plugged into smart power strips. Let's look at some of these appliances now.
TVs
Televisions in the modern day don't turn off. They wait for instructions from your remote controller. Thus, wasting precious energy.
Game Consoles
These appliances use a lot of electricity. They are in standby mode while not in use, ready to turn back on when you pick up your controller.
Computer System
One of the biggest vampire appliances is your computer system. When in standby mode, they consume a lot of electricity.
Night lights
Often you might forget to turn off your night lights and have a large bill. With a smart power strip, you can set schedules to turn off lights during the day.
Do not use your smart power strip on the following appliances:
- Refrigerators
- Washing machines and dryers
- Space heaters
- Portable air conditioners
- Microwave ovens
- Toasters
- Coffee makers
- Hair dryers and other electronic hairstyling tools
>> Difference between Surge Protector vs Power Strip
Best Smart Power Strip for 2023
There are plenty of choices available when it comes time to buy a smart power strip. Different sizes, functions, and price ranges are available for smart power strips. Let's explore some of the best smart power strips on the market today.
Monoprice Stitch Smart Power Strip
If you need to plug a lot of gadgets into one place, smart power strips are the logical solution. Although it only has four outlets as opposed to the typical six, it is still functional and reasonably priced.
There are two USB ports as well, however, they are not smart. The Stitch by Monoprice app is simple to use and includes features like timers and scheduling.
As with the majority of smart power strips, you can simply name each outlet individually so you won't have to assume what you have plugged in! This power strip works perfectly with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Pros.
- Easy setup option
- Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support
Cons.
- No Apple Homekit support
- No energy monitoring feature
Evvr Smart Energy Monitor Plug and Relay
Evvr Smart Energy Monitor Plug and Relay, which are HomeKit compatible, can operate "dumb" devices, connect both older and newer home gadgets, and give outdated appliances new and smart life. With Apple HomeKit, you can automate and control your appliances from anywhere at any time, use Siri voice commands as well. The Evvr App allows you to monitor power usage in real-time to save energy and money.
This home energy monitor can be used with 2-core and 3-core cable for home appliances and can carry currents up to 16 amps, allowing even older home appliances to be integrated into your HomeKit smart home. You may even have an appliance-specific home energy monitor with exciting application possibilities.
TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip HS300
The Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip from TP-Link has three USB ports, and six smart outlets, and can fit any number of gadgets you can think of.
Each outlet may be managed separately via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, the TP-Link App, or by pushing a conveniently placed button.
To help you reduce your expenses, the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip also has options for power monitoring and scheduling.
The power strip has a flat connector at the end that enables precise positioning behind the home furniture. Unfortunately, the plugs are placed a bit close together, which can make it challenging to plug in your devices.
Pros.
- Scheduling and monitoring options
- Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support
- A Large number of outlets
Cons.
- No Apple Homekit support
- Small space between the outlets
Eve Energy Strip
The Eve Energy Strip offers a sleek, contemporary alternative to the conventional power strip. The energy strip has three outlets and an aluminum silver and black frame. Each of the Eve Energy Strip's outlets can be controlled independently by the Homekit app, Siri, and the physical buttons on the device itself.
You no longer need to worry about fitting large adapters in thanks to thoughtful details like the properly spaced, 90-degree outlets.
A child lock feature prevents troublesome situations where an outlet is accidentally turned off. There is a led lighting option to identify if the power strip is working or not.
In order to replicate presence in your home even when you are away, the Eve Energy Strip can be programmed to switch on and off each outlet randomly.
Pros.
- Perfect for Apple Homekit.
- Has surge, overvoltage, and overcurrent protection.
- Great design and build quality
Cons.
- Does not work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Quite expensive.
APC Smart Plug Surge Protector
The APC Smart Plug Surge Protector merges electrical protection with the flexibility of smart outlet control. APC power strip has a surge protector built in.
Although the APC Smart Plug Surge Protector can only be voice controlled by Amazon Alexa, it can be paired with both iOS and Android devices via the APC Home App. This power strip has six outlets in total, three of them being smart. There are LED indicators that provide you with additional assurance that your gadgets are protected. It also has four USB ports, which is an obvious benefit.
Pros.
- Perfect for Siri voice control
- Has surge, overvoltage, and overcurrent protection.
- Numerous outlets
Cons.
- Only 3 outlets are smart
- Big in size
Final Thoughts
These days, choosing a Smart power strip is certainly tough due to the numerous options available. We're sure the advice we've provided will be helpful when you are in the market for a reliable power strip.
If you want to transform common household appliances into smart ones, Evvr Energy Monitor Plug can be a fantastic choice. And if you want a long-lasting solution, there is the Evvr in-wall relay switch.
Evvr produces control hubs including the Evvr Hub and Evvr Center Lite in addition to touchscreen home controllers named Evvr Pad S. If you need a single app to control all the smart gadgets in your home, you can use the Evvr App.
If you require any additional help, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. Send us a message, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
What are you waiting around for? Get the perfect smart power strip for your house to live a relaxed, stress-free life!
