Smart Plug, Wi-Fi Enabled Smart Outlet, Compatible with Alexa Echo, Google Home & IFTTT, Control Remotely and No Hub Required, Manage Energy Costs From Your Phone, Occupies Only One Socket

THE SMART LIFE SWITCHThe Smart Life switch is an internet controlled on-off switch that gives you the ability to turn appliances on and off from a distance with your wireless device (cell phone, tablet, etc.) For example, you can turn on your coffee pot in the kitchen using your tablet at the bedside. If you have an Amazon Echo, you can accomplish that same task by saying, “Alexia, make coffee” and your Smart Life turns on the coffee maker. Smart Life is essentially a switch controlled by an app.The “manual” is a strip of folded paper with type so small I used my magnifying glass to read it. Although my eye prescription is partly to blame for that, the type is a bit hard to read. But it is useful and told me the simple steps I needed to take. With one button, one light, and some patience on your part, it's hard to go wrong.Do you have any USB device that is powered by a USB-A port? The Smart Life switch has a female USB-A port which can be used to charge and power that USB device independent of the switch.It was comforting to know that there is some Quality Assurance going on ending with a signoff. This greatly reduces the chance that you will get a switch that is NOT smart, in fact, DOA.To make Smart Life do this work, you must attach it to your network. Install the Smart Life app on your device, it will become your new appliance switch. Near your router, plug your Life Switch in, then press and hold the button. Smart Life will blink quickly while it is being discovered and updated; its light will be steady when it is done. Give it a new meaningful name, i.e. “coffeepot.” Plug your Life Switch into your kitchen socket, and your coffee pot into that Life Switch. You now have a remote switch for your coffee pot. You can turn your coffee pot on and off using your smart device using the Smart Life app.When you use your device to turn the switch on, the Smart Life app screen offers three options at the bottom: Switch (on/off), Countdown (clock down before turning on), and Schedule (set recurring turn on). These three-time triggers satisfy a very wide variety of needs.At this point, you have implemented a remote switch in its simplest configuration: remote control by a device. The second level is to replace the remote device with an Echo Dot. Amazon and YouTube have many videos on this, but basically, you are implementing an Echo Dot “skill.” You will need the Amazon Alexa app, the Tuyasmart app, and an Amazon voice-activated device such as the Echo Dot.The third level of intelligence is to replace the Echo Dot with a device that can determine when to turn on the appliance on its own, then turn on the coffee based on that trigger condition. A reasonable trigger for turning on a coffee pot is a time, such as eight AM. Or an attic fan that activates when the temperature reaches 105 degrees. The app that can accomplish this feat is IFTTT, If Then Then That. Once IFTTT has been set up with an “attic fan” skill, it will start the fan on its own.At every level, the Smart Switch is the critical component that all other devices serve. By itself, you might find it quite limited. But when you add devices that control it, you can imagine innumerable places where it could be used. How about a motion-activated security system, for example? Or a sound-activated system that calls for help?If you are considering any project that involves an appliance switch, the Smart Switch is a worthy choice. I did not need any tech support to implement this switch, none is offered in the paper fold manual. I suggest implementing one switch for starters, then add additional switches as you gain experience with the process. That first project could be a porotype for subsequent projects. Be sure to label the switches with magic markers on white tape. In fact, I label ALL my devices and cables with white surgical tape tags.You ‘ll find that implementing the basic Smart Switch with device control an easy project. You’ll probably find that implementing the Amazon Echo a bit more involved. This is where Amazon videos are invaluable. The same can be said when implementing IFTTT using IFTTT videos of course. If fact, learning how to implement skills in devices may become one of your most useful technical abilities. Amazon advises all Echo Dot users via email whenever a new skill is available.FYI, Amazon products are known to currently have more skills already built in than Google Home. Will that condition last? Very unlikely. Google is always implementing new technology into their products. More and more companies are entering the remote control world with smart devices with skills. The one component they all require is an automated switch like the Smart Switch.Reviewed by R S Harrison Jr

Your browser does not support HTML5 video.  I've tested several Smart Plugs and for the price, it was super simple to setup and works really well.If you're familiar with Setting up smart devices on Alexa and Google Home, then you know the drill.I got this up and running in a matter of minutes. Power is instantaneous through the app. Power through Alexa and Google Home has a short lag but similar to any other smart device/plug. At this price point, I can pretty much put one of these on each my outlets throughout the house!UPDATE:I had to add this bit of information as I have another smart plug from iHome which is twice the price and has WAY too many issues. Especially recently with the cloud support! iHome requires you to own a Wink Hub in order for it to connect to Alexa/Echo. Wink consistently has problems finding the iHome smartplug on the network and I find myself having to reset and reinstall the smartplug over and over again. This is NOT a solution! Finally, I just swapped out the iHome with this YCGRE mini Smartplug which does NOT require you to have a WINK Hub in order for it to work with Alexa/Echo. It connects directly with Alexa, hence NO cloud issues! Don't need no fricken middleman. PROBLEM SOLVED! Why anyone would buy an iHome Smartplug over this is beyond me. I did once, and that was it!

First these are good plugs, but I have three small issues with them.1) When you lose power they go back to an off state. When having these on my sump pumps is problems. I have to remember to enable them after an outage or my pumps won't work and my basement will flood.2) There still is no integration with Smarthhings or Stringify3) The power use is nice but you can not perform actions on it. Like when the power usage goes up or is between x and y trigger this event.Other than these issues it has been a solid product for the price.

This is a cool little gadget that actually comes in handy. I have it connected right now to a air freshener/diffuser. I named the socket "Diffuser" in Google Home, so whenever I want some scent in the room, I just tell Google Home to "Turn on the Diffuser".It was quick and simple to set up. I downloaded the YCGRE app, which allows you to add the device to your wifi network. Then once it's added, I opened my Google Home app and added the socket as a new device in Google Home. Google Home recognized the brand "Smart Life" and I gave it a location of "Bedroom". It will turn whatever device you have plugged into it on and off by voice command or using the Google Home (or Alexa if you have it) app on your phone.This is pretty useful for devices like lamps that you want to turn on/off either remotely with the app, or from a distance within your house with voice. I can imagine using it for lights, fans, anything up to 10A current. You can also simply turn it on and off with its own button switch.

These work for a day or two and then have to be reset. One is in the same room as the router and other is in the bedroom, which has refused to reset now. I gave one as a Christmas present and it's having the same problems too. I would not recommend these at all the software is also glitchy too I have uninstalled twice because of locking up during setup. I've given up on these for now not worth the effort and my time going to a more reliable brand and spend for quality this time.

Absolutely love this smart plug! Super easy to install, took less than 2 minutes. Connected instantly to my wifi router. Just plug it in, and follow the directions. Skill was easy to apply to Alexa as well. I have been using this plug now for over a week and Alexa is able to control it flawlessly. The USB input is very convenient as well for charging my smartphone and other devices. The app is very well thought out and very professionally designed. I pat myself on the back for this purchase.