Amazon Smart Plug, for home automation, Works with Alexa - A Certified for Humans Device

We already have one of these plugs that we use for our outdoor Christmas lights. It is so easy to use and very convenient. You can use with your phone or Alexa and you can set a time to turn on and off through Alexa. We bought another one to use with our Christmas tree lights. I highly recommend this item.

Even I could easily pair it with alexa

This smart plug was a huge game changer in my house! Mostly used during Christmas time so I could easily set groups and routines for Alexa to easily turn on the tree, window candles and other decorations. I have also used this with window air conditioners to turn on or off while away- however certain units would reset to original temperature or fan settings so keep in mind before purchasing for this intended purpose. I still use them the turn on lamps, and is especially helpful while we are out and I forgot to turn on a light. Simply open the Alexa app on my phone and turn the lamps on, even while my phone is not connected to wifi! I previously purchased an off brand and ran into connectivity issues, but these connect easily with a QR scan code or manually if unable to scan!

Product is great easy set up with your alexa echo.

Nothing

Efficient and effective!

Use it to turn lighting on and off. Works great, will purchase more!

I got these to control the Christmas lights. The design of the plug is terrible. It doesnt fit in any outdoor receptacle so you have to plug in an extension cord, puta your plug into that, then put an extension cord into the smart plug. I tried scanning the bar codes several times to pair with the Alexa, but the dialog box is splashed across the screen, blocking the target for the camera. You have to guess where to place your phone above the barcode. Then, when you KNOW you have it placed right, it says that it doesnt see it. I threw the phone down in disgust and walked away. When I came back, all of the sudden the plug was there! The programs allow you to choose Turn on one hour before sunset and Turn off at 10 pm all good, right? Nope. I tried, repeatedly, to combine them in a routine over two days. I gave up. I started to manually turn them on with my phone. Then, magically, as before, they suddenly seemed to work. I am a scientist who has to deal with weird non-intuitive software routines to run instruments all the time. If I didnt already have Alexa dots for free with my Sirius subscription, I would have chosen another platform. PS Alexa doesnt know anything so it is a complete waste of time to ask anything except the weather.

Edit: Ive bought the device a second time and it connected much better with the most recent Echo Dot. I plugged the device into a power strip and use it for my computer charger so it doesnt overcharge my laptop. I dont know if theyve made improvements, but connection worked out great so Ive upgraded my review from 3 stars to 5 stars. Thoughts: 1. I wanted to try using this as a plug for a power strip, but it doesnt work because there must be some safety feature. 2. If the Echo/Alexa has trouble finding your plug, dont panic. There is a button on the side of the device that you can press for the light to flash and for the plug to be discoverable. 3. The plugs are named in chronological order (ie. First plug, second plug, etc.) and you cant edit the names though you can group devices on your Alexa app. So keep track of which plug is which. 4. Again, I dont believe that this device should be used for life saving equipment as it is dependent on your wifi connection and Echo/Alexa adds an additional command step to the sequence of using a machine. I would recommend this product! Previous Review: I waited to review this plug because I wanted to try it out with different devices and at different distances from both Echo/-Dot and my modem. Devices: I tried the plug with a space heater and with a laptop (to avoid overcharging). I plugged it into a power strip with no problem, but do note if youre using a space heater with an automatic shut off, the plug is going to be shut off just like the rest and you have to turn on the strip and then tell Echo to turn on the plug separately. Ive decided that the automatic shut off is enough of a safety feature and the Smart Plug is best used for devices that are capable of utilizing a continuous stream of electricity without emergently overloading and need the plug to monitor the usage (e.g. a laptop). ***Please take note of my exception at the bottom of the review! Now for the big item issue: Connectivity. I believe the key is that your Wifi connection needs to be optimized to get the most out of this plug. If you have slightly unreliable wifi (e.g. I live out in the country with plenty of winter storms), plug the smart plug closer to your modem and minimize the distance from your Alexa. I dont know if this is a must, but it worked for me. If your internet shorts out in, you dont have to re-setup the plug, but the plug lights might get thrown off for a bit (it will stay red even when its on and flash blue at random points). Ignore that. If your Echo/-dot is flashing red as well, the plug is going to be down.Just give the Wifi a second to settle down and you should be set to go. The irritating part is that the Echo resyncs with the Wifi much faster than the plug. I tried to reset it up/give it time and it took hours for it to sync up again, but maybe that was because it was further away from the Echo/modem. Either way, just know that once your wifi has been signed in, as long as you havent changed the password, your sign in is set. Other reviewers are correct: the set up instructions are easy to overlook. Either have the instructions next to you so you have the set up password or be near an outlet. 1. You go into your Alexa app 2. The top left corner has the three lines 3. Click on add a device 4. Choose plug 5. Brand is Amazon, 6. Click Next to agree to the conditions of use and terms 7. Scan the barcode on the back of the plug or from the instructions (You have to get the little box with squiggly lines to be lined up in the sights of the screen) and then follow the instructions. Its okay if you have to unplug the smart plug for a second to scan the 2D barcode, just plug it back in quickly. 8. It will tell you to press the button on the side till the lights flash red and blue (keep pressing till that happens) and then make sure to follow the instructions for signing into your Wifi. ***IMPORTANT and MY OPINION: I really wouldnt recommend that you use this plug for life-saving/emergency equipment even if you think that you have the best Wifi in the world. A plug with a timer or any regular plug is reliant on electricity, but, as aforementioned, this plug requires an extra step of being turned on by Echo/-Dot. If your electricity goes out momentarily, you lose the time waiting for the lights to turn back on, but with the plug you have to additionally ask for Echo to turn the plug back on and/or resync with your wifi.

I love it. I use it to control my fan so I don’t have to get up to turn it on when it gets to hot.