Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

Amazon.co.uk - early black Friday deals on now...

24567…50

Comments

  • #32
    DM1983
    Registered Users Posts: 219 ✭✭DM1983


    drogon. wrote: »
    I have both, but the kasa one I have doesn’t have energy monitoring. You can get kasa ones with it on, but not tapo if I recall.

    I think both have identical features otherwise - can set timer, timed turn off or on, away mode etc. But Kasa is way too bulky than tapo and the tapo has an option to turn off the led light indicator at night, which isn’t available on my kasa. Small feature but I like it, especially when placing in the bedroom.

    What are people doing with these smart plugs? I'm struggling to come up with a single useful application?


  • #33
    djdunny
    Registered Users Posts: 1,072 ✭✭✭djdunny


    DM1983 wrote: »
    What are people doing with these smart plugs? I'm struggling to come up with a single useful application?

    Christmas tree lights, electric air freshener, electric blanket, TV+Sky box+Apple TV+PS4


  • #34
    DM1983
    Registered Users Posts: 219 ✭✭DM1983


    djdunny wrote: »
    Christmas tree lights, electric air freshener, electric blanket, TV+Sky box+Apple TV+PS4

    Thanks, Xmas tree lights is a good one alright! Just put your TV on standby? Uses arse all electricity. Most other appliances have timers.


  • #35
    podgeandrodge
    Registered Users Posts: 5,737 ✭✭✭podgeandrodge


    DM1983 wrote: »
    What are people doing with these smart plugs? I'm struggling to come up with a single useful application?

    I love my gadgets too, but confused on these. So you can remote switch on a light (but wifi bulbs readily available and cheap now), or as one ad showed, a kettle :rolleyes:.

    Disclaimer - I have one. In a cupboard as I can't yet figure out what to do with it!


  • #36
    dhaughton99
    Registered Users Posts: 1,695 ✭✭✭dhaughton99


    Good deal on the Anker Soundcore with 20% voucher until tomorrow. These are great. Bought another just to have.

    Anker SoundCore 24-Hour Playtime Bluetooth Speaker with 10W

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016MO90GW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eXBNFb30BE2DD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1


  • Advertisement
  • #37
    Thin White Duck
    Registered Users Posts: 147 ✭✭Thin White Duck


    DM1983 wrote: »
    What are people doing with these smart plugs? I'm struggling to come up with a single useful application?

    I can switch on my espresso machine with a google assistant voice command without getting out of bed. Worth every penny on a Saturday morning :D


  • #38
    murphyebass
    Registered Users Posts: 5,553 ✭✭✭murphyebass


    Thin White Duck wrote: »
    I can switch on my espresso machine with a google assistant voice command without getting out of bed. Worth every penny on a Saturday morning :D

    I have my espresso machine come on in the morning with an old school timer plug yolk. Also goes off at a set time. Cost about a fiver.


  • #39
    SouthWesterly
    Registered Users Posts: 6,438 ✭✭✭SouthWesterly


    Thin White Duck wrote: »
    I can switch on my espresso machine with a google assistant voice command without getting out of bed. Worth every penny on a Saturday morning :D

    Now that's a useful purpose for the plug:)


  • #40
    Duke of Url
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,662 ✭✭✭Duke of Url


    Many people use the plug sockets to schedule lamps to come on when they are away

    I use them for the lighting in my aquarium.

    If you are WFH they are also useful to turn on and off Monitors before and after work so not to leave them on standby wasting electricity.


  • #41
    Benzino
    Registered Users Posts: 3,802 ✭✭✭Benzino


    DM1983 wrote: »
    What are people doing with these smart plugs? I'm struggling to come up with a single useful application?

    Christmas lights for us and then lamps during the rest of the year.

    I got one for my folks, who use it for their boiler. Normally they would have to go out to their shed to turn it on or off, but can now use the app or set schedules. They love it.


  • Advertisement
  • #42
    murphyebass
    Registered Users Posts: 5,553 ✭✭✭murphyebass


    SouthWesterly wrote: »
    Now that's a useful purpose for the plug:)
    but it’s not when you can time it to come on for a fraction the price


  • #43
    murphyebass
    Registered Users Posts: 5,553 ✭✭✭murphyebass


    Benzino wrote: »
    Christmas lights for us and then lamps during the rest of the year.

    I got one for my folks, who use it for their boiler. Normally they would have to go out to their shed to turn it on or off, but can now use the app or set schedules. They love it.

    Same with Christmas lights. What’s wrong with an old school timer?? Honestly I’m confused.


  • #44
    Benzino
    Registered Users Posts: 3,802 ✭✭✭Benzino


    murphyebass wrote: »
    Same with Christmas lights. What’s wrong with an old school timer?? Honestly I’m confused.

    Nothing is wrong with them, these are just better. Not sure why there is confusion to be honest


  • #45
    lilmissprincess
    Registered Users Posts: 3,016 ✭✭✭lilmissprincess


    We have our electric blanket set up with a wifi plug through Alexa so it can be turned on if we're out (chance would be a fine thing these days), or from downstairs so the bed is warm before we get in!


  • #46
    Basq
    Registered Users Posts: 43,774 ✭✭✭✭Basq


    DM1983 wrote: »
    What are people doing with these smart plugs? I'm struggling to come up with a single useful application?
    Only use mine for two reasons.

    1. Winter months = use it to switch on an electric blanket. (yes, I'm an 80 year old woman!)
    2. Summer months = use it to switch on electric fan to cool down room.


  • #47
    thomas 123
    Registered Users Posts: 2,478 ✭✭✭thomas 123


    I use mine for a electric heater I have in the office, switch it on from phone when I wake up(from bed), office is toastie when I sit down to work.


  • #48
    drogon.
    Registered Users Posts: 715 ✭✭✭drogon.


    DM1983 wrote: »
    What are people doing with these smart plugs? I'm struggling to come up with a single useful application?

    - I hate having my phone being plugged in to the charge over night, so I have a timer that comes on at 5am, and turns off at 7am. Fully charged phone and smart watch in the morning !

    - Have Christmas lights on timer to turn on and off.

    - Can turn on the lamp in the living room and bedrooms, if we are away from the house using the App via mobile internet.


  • #49
    Darwin
    Registered Users Posts: 2,656 ✭✭✭Darwin


    In the past, I used my smart plug to schedule a weekly reboot for my flaky router - this kept my IP cameras running when I was away from home for extended periods of time. I must confess I haven't bothered with it in recent times.


  • #50
    Sheep Shagger
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 6,199 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sheep Shagger


    DM1983 wrote: »
    What are people doing with these smart plugs? I'm struggling to come up with a single useful application?

    Hall way lamp, switches on and off in the morning downstairs and same for lamp in lounge.

    Have another for Christmas tree at this time of year.


  • #51
    killbillvol2
    Registered Users Posts: 5,178 ✭✭✭killbillvol2


    dhaughton99 wrote: »
    Good deal on the Anker Soundcore with 20% voucher until tomorrow. These are great. Bought another just to have.

    Anker SoundCore 24-Hour Playtime Bluetooth Speaker with 10W

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016MO90GW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eXBNFb30BE2DD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

    The Soundcore 2 is about a fiver more after discount and it's a good upgrade. Both great speakers for the price.


  • Advertisement
  • #52
    keane2097
    Registered Users Posts: 17,769 ✭✭✭✭keane2097


    Every time there's one of these threads there's 100 posts from people saying they don't think they need smart plugs.


  • #53
    Caranica
    Registered Users Posts: 9,999 ✭✭✭Caranica


    DM1983 wrote: »
    What are people doing with these smart plugs? I'm struggling to come up with a single useful application?

    Sitting downstairs "Alexa turn on electric blanket". Sitting in car "Alexa turn on electric blanket". I have one on my Chromecast as it won't power from TV and I don't want to have to plug it in every time it use it. Christmas lights and hall light also on them, more control than just a timer.


  • #54
    podgeandrodge
    Registered Users Posts: 5,737 ✭✭✭podgeandrodge


    Thin White Duck wrote: »
    I can switch on my espresso machine with a google assistant voice command without getting out of bed. Worth every penny on a Saturday morning :D

    Is it not water from night before though? Maybe I'm too ocd on fresh water!


  • #55
    event
    Registered Users Posts: 15,939 ✭✭✭✭event


    murphyebass wrote: »
    but it’s not when you can time it to come on for a fraction the price

    What about when you want it to come on at a different time? Timers are great until you forget to set it or one morning want it earlier or later.

    I use mine for the work set up. Come down in the morning and say 'Alexa, wake up". Light comes on, power to work set up comes on and alexa reads out the news and sport headlines.


  • #56
    Jofspring
    Registered Users Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Jofspring


    I use mine for lamps. In particular when I am out or away for an extended period. You can set random times for on and off for different days in different rooms etc...it makes it much harder for potential burglars to know if there is someone home or not. A lamp coming on in the hall or somewhere at the same time every day will be quickly noticed when houses are being cased.

    Also use for Christmas trees lights and great when used with Google home.


  • #57
    drogon.
    Registered Users Posts: 715 ✭✭✭drogon.


    podgeandrodge wrote: »
    Is it not water from night before though? Maybe I'm too ocd on fresh water!

    All water is from the day before if you think about it :D


  • #58
    drogon.
    Registered Users Posts: 715 ✭✭✭drogon.


    dhaughton99 wrote: »
    Good deal on the Anker Soundcore with 20% voucher until tomorrow. These are great. Bought another just to have.

    Anker SoundCore 24-Hour Playtime Bluetooth Speaker with 10W

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016MO90GW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eXBNFb30BE2DD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

    Crazy bought this exact model back in 2016 for 20gbp and even with 20% it is more expensive now. I won't buy this for listening to music however, it is good for voice. But the battery last forever, I would say 24 hours is an understatement.


  • #59
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    drogon. wrote: »
    - I hate having my phone being plugged in to the charge over night, so I have a timer that comes on at 5am, and turns off at 7am. Fully charged phone and smart watch in the morning !

    - Have Christmas lights on timer to turn on and off.

    - Can turn on the lamp in the living room and bedrooms, if we are away from the house using the App via mobile internet.

    All on timers though so again, what do these do?

    I'm the same as the other chap, can't see the use


  • #60
    SouthWesterly
    Registered Users Posts: 6,438 ✭✭✭SouthWesterly


    podgeandrodge wrote: »
    Is it not water from night before though? Maybe I'm too ocd on fresh water!

    You'd hate me. I get 2 days from my water reservoir :)


  • Advertisement
  • #61
    DM1983
    Registered Users Posts: 219 ✭✭DM1983


    Thanks for replying lads. Xmas tree lights is a great application. The rest, no. Might well get one for December. It'll go into the attic with the lights at the start of January.


This discussion has been closed.
Advertisement