Create customized scenes, e.g., dim lights in child’s bedroom at 9pm.Set customized timers, e.g., holiday mode turns lights on and off at various intervals to create the illusion that someone is home.Set countdown timers, e.g., Turn off TV in 1 hour down to the minute.While digital timers are fairly advanced compared to mechanical timers, they still fall far short of smart plugs. Smart plugs have a more advanced level of programming compared to a timer. This makes them more reliable if you are in a room or area that has limited or poor internet connection. In contrast, plug-in timers simply rely on electricity to run. Plus, if you’re out and you don’t have internet, you won’t be able to use the app. However, if the internet is down at your home or office for an extended period, it can interfere with the timing and programming of the smart plug. Smart plugs can run for a short period of time if the internet cuts. Smart plugs and their apps need a Wi-Fi connection to update settings and check the status of devices when away from home. However, with plug-in timers, there’s no energy consumption display so you often you can’t tell if or how much electricity you are saving by using the timer. In turn, this can lead to you making more conscious decisions about what devices to use and how often to use them. This enables you to become more aware of how much energy devices use and how much it could be costing you to run them. This energy usage reduction can often be seen in your energy bill.īut with some of the more advanced smart plugs and smart sockets, there is an app feature which displays the energy consumption of a device. Recommended Product: Kasa Smart Plug Works with Alexa, Echo, Google Home (link on Amazon ) Displays energy consumptionīoth smart plugs and timers enable you to operate equipment at certain times which we all know saves them being turned on for as long. I personally think it’s a lifesaver when you need to turn the fridge freezer off to defrost it. Switching it to a smart plug can avoid that acrobatic stunt and you can adjust it on your phone! Smart plugs provide the added convenience of being able to operate hard to reach items via your app.įor instance, if you currently have a lamp on a timer and you normally have to fling yourself over the couch to reach it. If you want to adjust the settings, the only way to do this is at source. In contrast, timers need to be programmed where they are located. This could include turning it on, off, setting an interval etc. With the app and internet connection, you can login from virtually everywhere and program a device setting. Smart plugs are controlled by an app on your phone, tablet or laptop. So, are smart plugs the leader of the pack? Or would a plug-in timer be sufficient? Plus, what benefits can they bring to your life? Let’s take a deeper look into each pro and con of each to find out!Ī study has shown that smart plugs can save between 1 – 4.58% energy every year, equivalent to about a month of electricity! Source Smart Plug V Timer Control of devices Feature Smart plug Timer Means of control Remotely control devices on app Controlled at source Energy consumption display Displays energy consumption Doesn’t display energy consumption Operating system Operates via Wi-Fi and app Operates off electricity Level of programming More sophisticated programming Limited programming Level of timing accuracy High Lower Price $7.73 – $39.95 $5.49 – $22.99+Īs you can see from above, there are some stark differences between using a smart plug and a timer. The below table highlights the key differences between smart plugs and plug-in timers. If you’re in a hurry, here is a site I recommended for office equipment with lifetime guarantee! Smart Plug V Timer As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. They both have their perks, but what’s the difference between a smart plug v timer? Plus, which one should you choose? Below are 6 considerable differences between smart plugs and timers that could impact on your safety, energy efficiency and comfort.
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