Smart plugs in India are evolving every day as various bands are entering the market and the existing ones are improving their products. However, there are still many who are not acquainted with the concept of smart plugs in India. If you are one of them and need to clear your doubts, then here is a list of the top ten most frequently asked questions about the smart plugs like what they can do, how can they be used, and others.
Go ahead and clear the air about smart plugs.
1- What is a smart plug?
A smart plug is the most versatile smart device that is used to transform a normal home appliance into a smart device. You can simply plug the smart plug in a normal wall socket and once connected with your phone you can turn the smart plug on or off from your phone. This control that you have on a smart plug through your smartphone is what makes it smart. You can lug in any home appliance that you want to control or schedule in the smart plug and access the device remotely from anywhere.
2- How does a smart plug work?
Most smart plugs in India work with a home Wi-Fi network. They pair with your Wi-Fi and get access to the internet. Once connected to the internet, they can receive the commands that you give through your smartphone. To give such commands and interact with your smart devices, most brands provide their own Android and iOS applications. Although, it is not the only way that a smart plug can work. Besides, Wi-FI, there are other smart plugs available in India that connect with a smart home hub through Z-Wave protocol or directly to your smartphone via Bluetooth.
3- What can a smart plug do?
Smart plugs are very versatile and can take a lot off of your plate. They are basically used to do two main things that include switching connected devices on or off and scheduling the connected devices to turn on or off automatically as per your daily routine. By combining various devices with a smart plug you can do a lot of things. Here is a list of the uses of a smart plug for your help.
4- Do I need a smart home hub to use a smart plug?
If you have a Wi-Fi-enabled smart plug like the zunpulse 16A smart plug, then it is not necessary to have a smart home hub. You will need a smart home hub to use your smart plug if it uses Z-Wave connectivity protocol. Before buying a smart plug, make sure that you get one that fits best in your home. If you do not have a smart home hub, get a smart plug with Wi-Fi connectivity.
5- Will a smart plug turn on a TV?
A smart plug can be used to turn on the power supply to the television. Since it is a device that is turned on by its remote, the display will not come on. When you turn on the smart plug connected to your TV it puts your TV in standby mode only.
6- Can you control smart plugs away from home?
IoT-based smart plugs that are connected to a Wi-Fi range with a decent internet connection can easily be controlled even when you are away from home. This is possible as your smart plug will receive your commands through the internet.
7- Can you control the smart plug with the phone?
Yes, the best feature of the smart Wi-Fi plug is the easy controllability of your smartphone. Although, you must make sure that your Wi-Fi is working and the internet strength is decent.
8- Do smart plugs save money?
India is a developing country where power consumption is already very high. With smart plugs in India, you can limit the wastage of electricity and thereby save money simultaneously. Smart plugs are devices that are built to give you full control over your home appliances. They help you save money as they let you turn off the vampire devices in your home like TV, microwave, AC, etc. These devices keep on consuming power even when they are not in use but just connected to the power supply. With the help of a smart plug, you can cut off the power supply thereby controlling the unnecessary usage of power.
9- Can I use a smart plug without Alexa?
Yes, there are many smart plugs available in the market that are not compatible with Alexa or any other smart home assistant. It is not necessary to have Alexa or Google Home assistant to use a smart plug.
10- Will a smart plug work with any appliance?
Not all devices are suited to be used with a smart plug. When connected to a smart plug, you need to keep the power supply to that device turned on throughout. The app is used to turn the smart plug on or off which thereby turns the connected device on or off. There is a slight disadvantage here that once there is a power cut and your Wi-Fi turns off.
Sometimes the smart plug may not connect automatically to it once the power supply is back on. In such a scenario, you will lose control of the device connected to the smart plug and it will turn on. With power cuts being a common occurrence, using smart plugs in India is safe to an extent when the Wi-Fi router has a power backup and the internet connection is strong.
For detailed knowledge on smart plugs in India, check out our guide to smart plugs
Buy a smart plug from the zunpulse website
