Smart Plugs

Smart plugs extend your smart home beyond lighting, allowing you to control any plugged-in device through We Love Lights. Turn lamps, fans, coffee makers, and more on or off with your Mac, switches, or automation.

What Are Smart Plugs?

Smart Plug Basics

Smart plugs are intelligent outlets:

• Plug into wall: Replace standard outlet access
• Control power: Turn connected devices on/off
• Wireless: Zigbee communication with your bridge
• No wiring: Simple plug and play
• Automation ready: Works with scenes and rules

How Smart Plugs Work

1. Plug into outlet: Insert in wall socket
2. Connect device: Plug your device into the smart plug
3. Pair with bridge: Connect to your Philips Hue or Zigbee bridge
4. Control: Turn on/off through We Love Lights

Important: Smart plugs control power only - they turn the outlet on or off. The connected device must be left in the "on" position to respond.

What Can You Control?

Ideal Devices for Smart Plugs

Lighting

• Traditional lamps: Non-smart lamps
• Floor lamps: Standing lights
• String lights: Holiday or decorative lights
• Light fixtures: Plugin fixtures
• LED strips: Non-smart light strips

Appliances

• Fans: Desk, floor, or ceiling fans
• Coffee makers: Auto-start morning coffee
• Space heaters: Control heating (safety considerations apply)
• Humidifiers: Moisture control
• Air purifiers: Air quality management

Decorations

• Holiday lights: Christmas, Halloween decorations
• Seasonal decor: Light-up decorations
• Accent lighting: Display lighting
• Neon signs: Decorative signs

Other Devices

• Chargers: Turn off when not charging
• Printers: Save energy when not in use
• Entertainment: Non-smart speakers, displays

Devices to AVOID

Safety Concerns

• ❌ Medical equipment
• ❌ Fish tanks (critical for pet health)
• ❌ Refrigerators/freezers
• ❌ Sump pumps
• ❌ Security systems
• ❌ Always-on networking equipment

Technical Limitations

• ❌ High-power appliances (check plug rating)
• ❌ Devices with soft-power buttons (won't turn on with power)
• ❌ Devices that need to boot (computers, game consoles)

Best Practice: Only use smart plugs with devices that:

1. Are safe to power cycle
2. Resume operation when power is restored
3. Are within the plug's power rating

Supported Smart Plugs

Philips Hue Smart Plug

The official Hue smart plug:

• Maximum load: Typically 10A or 2300W (check your region)
• Compact design: Doesn't block adjacent outlets
• Zigbee repeater: Extends mesh network range
• Easy pairing: Simple setup with Hue Bridge

Third-Party Zigbee Plugs

Compatible plugs include:

• IKEA Trådfri outlets
• Innr smart plugs
• Other Zigbee 3.0 compatible outlets

Check supported devices for compatibility.

Regional Variations

Smart plugs vary by region:

• North America: 120V, Type A/B plugs
• Europe: 230V, Type C/E/F plugs
• UK: 230V, Type G plugs
• Other regions: Various standards

Ensure you purchase plugs for your region's electrical system.

Viewing Smart Plugs

In Menu Bar

Quick plug access:

1. Click We Love Lights icon
2. Find Plugs section (or mixed with lights)
3. See status:
   • On/Off state
   • Plug name

In Studio

Detailed plug information:

1. Open Studio window
2. Go to Plugs or Devices section
3. Select your plug
4. View details:
   • Current state (on/off)
   • Power status
   • Model information
   • Connected to which bridge
   • Last state change

Controlling Smart Plugs

Basic On/Off Control

From Menu Bar

1. Click We Love Lights icon
2. Find your smart plug
3. Click to toggle on/off
4. Device responds immediately

From Studio

1. Select plug in sidebar
2. Click power toggle button
3. Or press Space bar with plug selected

Including in Groups

Add plugs to rooms and groups:

1. Select plug in Studio
2. Look for "Group" or "Room" setting
3. Assign to appropriate room
4. Plug appears with room's devices

Now room controls affect the plug too.

Using with Scenes

Include plugs in scenes:

1. Create or edit scene
2. Include smart plug in scene
3. Set state: On or off
4. Save scene

When you activate the scene, the plug turns on or off accordingly.

Example: "Movie Time" scene turns off table lamps (via plugs) and dims overhead lights.

Smart Plug Automation

With Motion Sensors

Automate plugs based on motion:

Example: Fan control

1. Sensor detects motion → Turn on fan
2. No motion for 10 minutes → Turn off fan

See Motion Sensors for configuration.

With Switches

Control plugs with physical buttons:

Example: Bedside switch

• On button → Turn on bedside lamp (via plug)
• Off button → Turn off lamp

See Switches for setup.

With Schedules

Time-based automation:

Example: Coffee maker

• 6:30 AM weekdays → Turn on (starts brewing)
• 7:30 AM → Turn off

Use Shortcuts app for scheduling.

With Other Devices

Create rules based on other device states:

Example: Linked lighting

• When overhead lights turn on → Turn on accent lamp (via plug)
• When lights turn off → Turn off lamp

Smart Plug Organization

Naming Smart Plugs

Give plugs descriptive names:

1. Select plug in Studio
2. Click name field
3. Enter meaningful name
4. Press Enter to save

Good names:

• "Living Room Floor Lamp"
• "Bedroom Fan"
• "Holiday Lights - Front"
• "Coffee Maker"
• "Office Heater"

Avoid:

• "Smart Plug 1"
• "Outlet"
• Generic names

Organizing by Room

Assign plugs to rooms:

1. Create/select room
2. Add plug to room
3. Plug appears with other room devices

Easier to control "all bedroom devices" including lamps via plugs.

Hiding Unused Plugs

If you have seasonal plugs:

1. Right-click plug
2. Select "Hide"
3. Plug hidden until unhidden

Useful for holiday lights when out of season.

Power Management

Energy Savings

Use plugs to save energy:

Vampire power elimination

• Turn off devices that draw standby power
• Chargers, printers, entertainment systems
• Use schedules to turn off overnight

Occupancy-based control

• Motion sensors turn off plugs when room empty
• Automatic shutdown after period of inactivity

Schedule-based control

• Turn off during specific hours
• Weekend vs weekday schedules
• Seasonal adjustments

Safety Considerations

Power ratings

• Check plug's maximum wattage
• Don't exceed device limits
• Calculate total load: Watts = Volts × Amps

Heat

• Monitor plug for excessive heat
• Don't cover or insulate plugs
• Place in well-ventilated area

Critical devices

• Never use for life-safety equipment
• Avoid for always-needed devices
• Have backup plans for automations

Smart Plug Use Cases

Lamp Control

Non-smart lamp automation

Setup:

1. Plug lamp into smart plug
2. Turn lamp's switch to "on" (leave it on)
3. Control via smart plug

Benefits:

• Smart control for dumb lamps
• Include in scenes with other lights
• Motion-activated lighting

Seasonal Decorations

Holiday light automation

Christmas lights example:

1. Plug lights into smart plug
2. Create schedule:
   • On at sunset
   • Off at midnight
   • Off during day
3. One-click control from app

Climate Control

Fan automation

Summer cooling:

1. Plug fan into smart plug
2. Motion sensor turns on with presence
3. Temperature-based (if you have temp sensor)
4. Auto-off when room empty

Heater control

• Schedule heating for occupied times
• Turn off when leaving
• Safety shutoff timers

⚠️ Safety Warning: Never leave high-power heaters unattended. Use with caution and within plug's power rating.

Morning Routine

Coffee maker automation

Setup:

1. Plug coffee maker into smart plug
2. Prep coffee night before
3. Schedule:
   • Turn on at 6:30 AM
   • Turn off at 7:30 AM
4. Wake to fresh coffee

Note: Coffee maker must have mechanical switch (stays on when power restored).

Workspace Management

Office device control

Work hours automation:

• Start of day: Turn on desk fan, task lamp, desk accessories
• End of day: Turn all off
• Lunch break: Optional auto-off

Security & Away Mode

Simulate presence

When traveling:

1. Plug lamps into smart plugs
2. Create randomized schedule
3. Lights turn on/off at realistic times
4. Deters intruders

Combine with scenes for varied lighting patterns.

Troubleshooting Smart Plugs

Plug Not Responding

Problem: Can't control the plug

Solutions:

• Check plug is receiving power (wall outlet working?)
• Verify plug is in range of bridge
• Try power cycling the plug (unplug, wait 10 seconds, replug)
• Check if device is correctly paired with bridge
• Refresh devices in We Love Lights

Connected Device Doesn't Work

Problem: Plug turns on but device doesn't

Solutions:

• Verify device is plugged into smart plug properly
• Check device has power switch in "on" position
• Test device in regular outlet (is device broken?)
• Check device is compatible with power cycling
• Verify plug's power rating is sufficient

Plug Offline

Problem: Plug shows as unreachable

Solutions:

• Check wall outlet has power
• Verify plug hasn't been unplugged
• Check plug is in range of bridge or other Zigbee devices
• Reset plug and re-pair if needed
• Check bridge connection

Random On/Off

Problem: Plug turns on/off unexpectedly

Solutions:

• Review automation rules (motion sensor, schedules)
• Check for conflicting scenes
• Verify no one else controlling the plug
• Check for power fluctuations causing resets
• Review Shortcuts automations

Plug Gets Hot

Problem: Smart plug feels very warm or hot

Solutions:

• Immediately unplug if extremely hot
• Check connected device isn't exceeding plug's power rating
• Ensure plug has ventilation (not covered)
• Verify outlet itself isn't damaged
• Consider using lower-power device
• Replace plug if damaged

Lost Connection After Power Outage

Problem: Plug doesn't reconnect after power loss

Solutions:

• Wait a few minutes for Zigbee mesh to re-establish
• Power cycle the plug
• Check if bridge restarted properly
• Verify other devices also reconnected
• May need to re-pair plug if persistent

Advanced Smart Plug Features

Zigbee Repeater Function

Many smart plugs act as Zigbee repeaters:

• Extend network: Improve range for distant devices
• Strengthen mesh: More robust network
• Strategic placement: Place plugs to bridge gaps

Consider plug location for network benefits.

Power Monitoring

Some plugs offer power monitoring:

• Current power consumption
• Historical usage data
• Energy cost estimates

Check if your specific plug model supports this (check in Studio device details).

Firmware Updates

Keep plug firmware current:

• Updates via bridge
• May add features or fix bugs
• Usually automatic
• Check manufacturer's app for updates

Best Practices

Installation Tips

1. Test first: Verify plug works in regular outlet
2. Pair before installing: Easier access during setup
3. Strategic placement: Consider both function and network
4. Secure connection: Ensure plug fully inserted
5. Accessible location: Easy to access if needed

Usage Tips

1. Label plugs: Physical labels on device/plug
2. Clear naming: Descriptive names in app
3. Document: Note what's plugged into each
4. Monitor heat: Regularly check for warmth
5. Annual check: Review all automations and usage

Safety Tips

1. Check ratings: Never exceed power limits
2. Quality plugs: Use reputable brands
3. Inspect regularly: Look for damage or wear
4. Avoid daisy-chaining: Don't plug strip into smart plug
5. Critical devices: No medical or essential equipment

Next Steps

Master smart plugs? Explore more features:

1. Scenes - Include plugs in lighting scenes
2. Motion Sensors - Automate plugs with motion
3. Switches - Physical control for plugs
4. Automation Examples - Real-world plug automation
5. Shortcuts Integration - Advanced scheduling

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Questions? Check the FAQ or troubleshooting guide.