Sockets that can understand their owner at a distance (smart / smart sockets) appeared on the home appliance market several years ago. With all their advantages, they have one, for some, a critical drawback - a high price.
Of course, if you buy one device, it will hardly affect the family budget, but when the goal is to create the most comfortable conditions throughout the house, then the purchase of a complex of such devices will result in a round sum.
Why do we need such sockets?
A little earlier, devices of this class, and a smart remote-controlled socket in particular, were developed for individual households - cottages and summer cottages. The surrounding area has always been troublesome to maintain and required daily attention and care: watering plants, lighting greenhouses, etc. Most busy people simply do not physically have enough time to complete this routine.
And imagine a situation when on a rainy and chilly evening you need to open the garage door, while a strong wind does not even allow you to open the car door. This is where a socket with a remote control comes in handy.controls, otherwise you risk getting wet to the skin in half a minute.
Scope of application
But residents of high-rise buildings, rushing to work day after day, also experience a large number of minor household inconveniences. Waking up early in the morning from the annoying sound of an alarm clock, you don’t feel like getting up and going to the kitchen to turn on the kettle. Again, a smart socket with a remote control comes to the rescue in such a situation. Such an acquisition will allow, without getting out from under a warm blanket, to turn on a coffee machine or a regular kettle. And while an invigorating drink is being prepared, you can still soak up a few minutes in a cozy bed.
Also, remote control portable sockets can save you a lot of time and money. For example, if you program the boiler to start working one and a half to two hours before your morning awakening or return from work, then you are provided with a comfortable shower. This also applies to the operation of air conditioners and split systems - half an hour before your arrival, the apartment will have an ideal microclimate.
Device types
For a person who is not well versed in this matter, the choice of such a device as a remote-controlled socket turns, if not into a lottery, then causes some bewilderment among the majority when they see a rich assortment of models. All devices of this kind can be divided into two types, depending on the installation - overhead and internal.
Overlay models
The surface-mounted remote control socket is, for the most part,adapter devices. This type is most in demand among consumers, because it does not require any special skills for installation. All you need is to buy the model you like in the store, unpack it, connect it to a regular 220 V power outlet and set the necessary parameters according to the instruction manual.
You won't have to take any additional action. If the functionality of the device is needed in another room, then it is enough to simply transfer it geographically.
Internal sockets
Indoor remote control outlet is a device that is mounted into the wall instead of the conventional outlets we are familiar with. Such models are used, as a rule, during a major overhaul. In this case, it is necessary to determine in advance and precisely where and for what purposes this device will be used. In addition, it would be useful to correctly select the power of the outlet, otherwise it will not “pull” or it will burn excess electricity in vain.
Types of devices
All sockets of such a plan can be divided into several types, which differ from each other in the way they are controlled. Which device to choose is up to you and your needs.
Types of smart sockets:
- control via Internet channels ("Wi-Fi", or mobile Internet);
- smart socket with remote SMS control (Megafon, MTS, Beeline, etc.);
- RC models;
Those models that accept commandsthrough Internet protocols, they can work from any corner of our planet where there is the World Wide Web. Even if you are somewhere in sunny Cyprus, you can easily control the humidity level of your greenhouse in a cottage near Ryazan.
The SMS-remote socket allows you to turn on, for example, an air conditioner or a grill while standing in line at the supermarket. When you come home with your groceries, your favorite microclimate and fried chicken will be waiting for you.
Wireless RF socket remote control will help you to cope with your equipment at a distance of no more than 30 meters. At their core, these are ordinary remote controls that we use every day, sitting at the TV or under the air conditioner.
Design features
In addition to types and types, smart devices can be divided into other distinctive design features that will also affect the choice of a particular model.
Features of smart devices:
- independent model (single);
- model with multiple separate control outputs;
- main socket with child group (one unit controls elements dependent on it);
- smart extension cable (surge protector on GSM protocols).
In terms of popularity, independent devices of a single type are most in demand among buyers. A surge protector (GSM-remote-controlled socket) is less popular in everyday life, but is ideal if you have a largethe number of various home systems (acoustic, TV or computer). When a person gets used to all the comfort that a smart device provides him, then modern life is no longer possible without this miracle of technology. And after a couple of months, consumers are already looking at groups of dependent outlets with might and main.
RC sockets
The radio socket with remote control (Expert Light, Redmond, etc.) consists of a main unit and a remote control. In the box (of a smart brand) you will always find a detailed instruction manual for the model, which indicates the main functionality of the device.
Connecting the device and subsequent operation does not require any specific skills. At its core, an outlet with a remote control at radio frequencies is a kind of adapter that is accepted into a 220 V outlet familiar to all of us. After that, the necessary household device is connected to the power supply.
Features of models
The outer part of the socket is always equipped with an indicator sensor that shows the connection with the remote control. In addition, most models have physical functionality on the case in case the remote suddenly breaks down or the battery runs out. Almost all devices of this kind have an operating frequency of 433-315 MHz. For more information, please refer to either the manual or the data on the box.
Despite the fact that such devices are mostly born in factoriesChina, workmanship (not cheap models) is always up to standard: good plastic, well-placed "stuffing" and the presence of a fuse.
Depending on the model you like, the device is able to recognize remote control commands at a distance of 30 to 40 meters. Some premium handsets still operate on 100m.
GSM devices
A device of this kind is a smart socket with remote SMS control. Reviews about them are very diverse: someone thinks that it is too troublesome, but for someone, on the contrary, it is an ideal option. For the normal functioning of such a device, you need any mobile gadget that supports the operation of SIM cards, as well as the transmission of SMS messages.
The essence of the operation of such a device is that the receiver, that is, the socket itself, has a similar slot for a SIM card, as if it were a phone. On one side of the socket is a plug, and on the other - an interface for connecting household appliances. Depending on the selected model, the device can be equipped with an indicator that displays the received signal, power diodes, power supply to the dependent device, etc.
You can control the outlet from almost any distance. The only requirement is the presence of the network of the selected telecom operator in the premises. Some premium models have advanced functionality, where, for example, the owner can be informed of a power outage at home via SMS. There are other interesting "chips" that manufacturers are trying to implement in every possible way. As a rule, in order for additional features to be fully available, you need to download a special application on your mobile gadget.
Wi-Fi devices
Sockets that work via Wi-Fi wireless protocols are also in enviable demand among our compatriots. Such devices have many additional features: motion indicator, timer, built-in camera, temperature sensors, etc.
In addition, some manufacturers allow their consumers to use several types of interaction with the outlet as control, such as SMS or Internet alerts. That is, if there is no Wi-Fi network, then you can send an SMS to the device, and the socket will begin to perform its tasks.
Smart sockets of this kind have a shutdown button, LED status indicators, grounding and a spare battery (optional) to inform their owner of a power outage.
The device works on standard Wi-Fi protocols at the 802.11 b / g / n point at a frequency of 2.4 Hz. The connection is no different from the standard one - a router and an IP address. Any device can act as a control panel: smartphone, tablet, laptop or personal computer. All you need is to download the necessary software from the official website of the model developer and set up the device. All management is usuallyintuitive and does not require seven spans in the forehead.
The use of smart sockets on Wi-Fi protocols allows you to solve not only many everyday problems without personal participation, but also provide the consumer with the necessary comfort, for which, in fact, it was bought. What additional features of the device depend on the distinctive characteristics of each particular model. For example, if the outlet is equipped with a built-in surveillance camera and a noise sensor, then you can always monitor what is happening in the children's room.
Summing up
Brands that produce smart sockets offer their consumers more and more modern and tech-savvy models. Naturally, each manufacturer has its own distinctive lines and series. When choosing, you need to focus specifically on your needs and needs.
The first thing to decide is where and for what purposes the smart socket will be placed. If you need a device that will turn off and turn on the kettle with an alarm clock on a schedule, then it is not at all necessary to buy an expensive device with a lot of bells and whistles. Or, on the contrary, you should not save on a group of outlets by putting one on some kind of speaker system that works in tandem with a personal computer or a cinema hall.
The second thing you need to pay attention to before buying is the power of the device. In no case should you think that a model with a lower output power will easily cope with a heating boiler or boiler. Buying devices with an indicator of less than 2 kW is not worth it at all. You justruin not only the socket, but also the equipment with which it works.
Well, in third place we have the synergy of the device with other household appliances. Be sure to pay attention to this point, because not all modern sockets are equipped with a special interface for some specific devices or sensors.
