I had a Smart Home long before the words even existed. My entire house was controlled by a sophisticated programmable multi-channel X10 console so indoor and outdoor lighting went on and off, dimmed, and responded to triggering devices. This was pre-wifi so everything used the house's electrical power lines.
These days things are almost exactly the same except now everything is wireless and can be controlled by Alexa or my smartphone from anywhere in the world. When I first jumped aboard the smart plug and switch bandwagon there were only a handful of brand names selling the hardware – Kasa by TP Link, Wemo by Belkin, and Leviton. Their products were similar and pricey and they all shared my number one complaint about the entire product category, that their products would only work using their proprietary smartphone app. If you mixed brands you had to download an app from each company, there wasn’t (and still isn’t) any standardized app that can control any brand smart switch.
Then the cheap offshore knockoffs came along and introduced several problems, the biggest of which is that these companies have the life of a fruit fly, they’re here one day and gone the next with no app, no support and no service, meaning that their switches and plugs end up in the garbage.
All that being said, I will only buy Kasa plugs and switches. Their app is by far the best and their hardware is well made, versatile and dependable. I am excited about this one, finally a weatherproof outdoor smart plug that is even better than I expected because it has two separate channels.
The two plugs are at the end of a short heavy duty grounded power cord that plugs into one outlet. It is designed to hang downward to prevent rain and other weather from touching the switched power plugs. There are two buttons on the switch to give the user local control without using the app. The unit comes with one cable clamp to help keep the plug secured and help prevent it from accidentally being pulled out of the power outlet.
This plug, like all Kasa products works seamlessly with Alexa and setup is mostly automatic. From box to fully setup took me about five minutes. In my opinion Kasa is probably the most compatible brand I’ve used with Alexa Echo devices.
You might pay a few cents more for a trusted brand name but I think it’s worth it. TP Link has been around for a long time and I’ve always been happy with their products. This outdoor dual smart plug is genius and I highly recommend it.
| Manufacturer | TP-Link |
|---|---|
| Part Number | KP400 |
| Item Weight | 10.2 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 4.9 x 2.38 x 2.29 inches |
| Item model number | KP400 |
| Color | Plug Only |
| Style | Smart Plug Outdoor |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Included Components | Kasa Smart Outdoor Plug |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 2 Years |
