I started my smart home with smart 💡 s & these power strips mine all work with Smart Life I have 1 with 12 outlets 6/6 smart with 6 USB ports & it was only 35$ on Amazon then I use smaller 4 smart outlets w/4 USB ports these bars are definitely a must have & if WiFi goes out they default to regular outlets 🤷🏼♂️👍🏼✌🏼
It's good you're keeping things pretty contained on to one app. Good job there! Also, most of them will still be controllable in the app FYI, just as long as the WiFi is still on! Internet going out shouldn't change those much :)
A nice job as we've grown to expect from you, Brian. I've dealt with a number of folks who have spotty WiFi in areas of their homes and I suspect most of your viewers aren't in that category. Nevertheless, the YoLink is perfect for those situations. I see you talking more and more about Homekit??? I'm more of a cross-platform kind of guy, but admit the folks at Apple have supported it more than I thought they would. I'm saying this as someone with a lot of their stuff in my house. Anyway, these kinds of reviews from you are much appreciated.
Ahahahaha you worried Hugh? Homekit I think is just about to get a lot better with Matter, and it's easy to bring it in! And yeah, totally love the YoLink brand. Great stuff for a lot of reasons!
I’ve waited so long for you to make this video because I have the APC and TPLink and have some thoughts to share after my 2 years of ownership; First, I want to mention that I desperately wanted a ZWAVE connectivity because that’s how I’m trying to setup my smart home, keeping as many devices on ZWAVE as possible, leaving the WiFi less congested for devices that need such bandwidth… but as I’m sure you already know, I couldn’t find a single ZWave controlled surge protector. The first unit I purchased was the APC because I wanted the surge protector for my living room entertainment center… but I was also disappointed with lack of smart home compatibility as I primarily use Google assistant (I do have 2 echos in the entire home, but their sole purpose is arming ring alarm and announcing when ring alarm sensors are opened, such as “front door opened”) but I’m pleased to hear you mention there is a workaround to add this guy to smartthings… I’m going to see if I can find a guide on that but if you’d please be so kind to share any information how to add the APC to Smartthings would be most appreciated? Regarding the USB ports, I could be mistaken but I believe you may have swapped the APC and TPLink amps. The APC says “2.4A shared” between the two ports, which should indicate that those two ports can only produce a combined 2.4A, meaning if one port is used it can provide the full 2.4A but if both are plugged in then it must split that between the two. Whereas the TPLink doesn’t say shared, could that mean that the TPLink is actually the unit that offers 2.4A to each USB because it shows 2.4A on each port? Lastly, I love the TPLink HS300 for the power monitoring but am disappointed the USB aren’t controllable and it doesn’t offer the same surge protection as the APC so I’m not feeling the most comfortable using it on my entertainment center and am going to put the APC back in its place if I can figure out the smartthings connection. This unit has actually been the one to give me connectivity issues where the entire bar would reset daily and turn off all power, but I believe that may be due to my router (i upgraded to the new ASUS AXE11000) because those issues seem to have resolved. PS: bonus points for you if you can find a smart UPC for us. I’d love that for my entertainment center to give me enough power to safely shut down my protector rather than it getting its power cut abruptly in the event of power outage. Extra bonus points if it’s ZWAVE 😉
Glad you were excited for this one! If you can find them still, Zooz does have a Z-Wave power bar. I think they're re-designing it...and I hope they do. Sadly, no others I could find and...even more sad is I can't find a smart UPC at all. There are some of those full home battery backups but that's not the same at all.... As for the USB stuff, I did get confirmation from TP-Link directly that this is how they're power bar works. It's 2.4 A max per port, and 2.4 A max for both ports. So it's balancing. :( You're right that the APC is an amazing surge protector, and honestly...I love it. I don't get why Schneider is dropping that from their lineup. I sure do hope they bring a new one back...and that UPS you're after too.
I have the Zooz power strip, and I am very happy with it. I use it in my home office to turn on and off all my equipment.... Glad to hear that they are coming out with a new model.... I agree. A smart UPS would be ideal.
@@AutomateYourLife I am pretty shure there is room for it inside a Kasa or other smart plugs, but I wonder about the heat it could generate. Anyway it would be great.
Great review! You didn’t mention how it plugs into the wall. I won’t buy a power bar if it doesn’t have low profile plug, preferably on a 45 degree angle.
Hi, thanks for a very useful review, One thing that I look at additionally when I am choosing smart plugs is whether they return to their original state after a power cut or interruption
This has been really informative! I definitely like the TP-Link and Meross ones. My first power strip was a Tuya based one and it's been okay except that using Siri Shortcuts with it takes about 4 seconds before the command is completed. My dream powerbar/strip now is one that's not wifi, measures power usage, and is HomeKit compatible.
Awesome video dude this is so helpful! I’m just getting into home automation and I’m really learning it for work. Is there any strip that’s better than another for the purpose of power cycling the wifi router itself? I fear that because most smart plugs run on wifi, resetting the wifi-router with a smart plug will cause connectivity issues among other smart plugs connected to that network. IE. Internet is having issues and I want to reset the router. 1) will I be able to reset the wifi router via smart strip if the WiFi is down? 2) will resetting the wifi disturb other smart plug devices connected to that network? Sorry if my questions are confusing I’m deciding on which strip to use for a gas station
Yeah so! You need a Zigbee or Z-Wave version that works with a hub, and does so "Locally". That means the router and internet doesn't need to be working for the powerbar to communicate with your hub. The Z-Wave or Zigbee connection happens independently of WiFi or Ethernet. In a gas station, I'd suggest Z-Wave. Zooz has a good one that works well with SmartThings or Hubitat Hubs.
That's a great question! I think companies that make power bars tend not to make Zigbee/Z-Wave gear (and vice versa). It's just an odd split of electrical design vs the skills needed for using those standards in your design. I also wonder about chip manufacturers and if there's something that can handle it even. You know, there is one from Zooz but they're discontinuing it. We'll also probably see some thread versions coming out soon but for now, yeah...it's all WiFi basically!
@@AutomateYourLife I've got some ZWave dual plug outlets, but, yeah no real multi-gang options out there. You'd think if they could do two outlets that doing more wouldn't be that much more difficult.
They all have app control, but you need to look for one rated for motors for that heat pump. I don't believe any of these had that, but check out the specs.
What's the best one for LG TVs hun? meaning I have my LG TV up on my dresser and it can't reach the plug so I'm trying to find out what's the best power bar to get.
The fact that you have an LG TV doesn't make a difference here. However, I would buy one of the ones with good protection! You don't want a busted TV from a surge or brownout. So other than that, pick the one you think suits the rest of your home. 😃
TP link is the only one so far that does NOT double the items when using Smarthing AND Alexa. I noticed that about 6 months ago. Before that they would always double the "things" which, as you know is annoying.
@@AutomateYourLife well I dont know, but after removing it all and re-registering it all, I noticed I dont have any more doubles in Alexa from TP link imported from Smarthings.
When you were testing the TP-Link KP-303, did you notice that the relays will randomly cycle, turning anything connected to the outlets off then back on?
Until today I would have agreed that TP-Link was the best smart power strip. However, their android app user interface has changed. There is no longer the function to monitor energy usage, and most disappointing of all after the purchase of four strips, I am now unable to achieve voice control of the plugs because I have been unable to get Alexa to recognize them. This RUclips comparison needs to be updated.
Thanks for such a quick reply. Yes, I've read recent reviews that suggest the Kasa app still provides energy monitoring, but other reviews agree with my experience of the last two days. Perhaps the problem is endemic to Samsung Android phones and/or updated versions for it of the Alexa and Kasa apps? When I could not see in Alexa the plugs of a newly purchased fourth HS300, I redefined and reconfigured all four strips per Amazon Alexa support instructions. Now, none of 24 plugs is recognized by Alexa and I can not find the other version of the Kasa app on my phone or in the Play Store. Amazon has promised (over the phone) a resolution in 5-7 busines days. Another reviewer has been waiting since 2019.
Thanks for your replies again. Just want to update you that I finally got my smart Kasa TP-Link plugs recognized by Alexa earlier this week. I stumbled upon an Alexa UI feature so subtle that I am not certain of its previous existence. Of course, this development restores my confidence and agreement with you in the exemplary capabilities of the Kasa TP-Link smart power strip! Thanks.
I am thinking to buy one of the TP-link devices. I need to control several gadgets for my fish tank. Lights, co2, air.. all turning on and off on their own schedules. Would this power strip still provide the timer capabilities if wifi disconnects ? Or would it restore the schedules if power goes out for a few minutes ?
WiFi needs to be there to use any sort of smart feature. The controller goes through WiFi and there's no onboard controller, per se. Internet doesn't always need to be there for control, but I believe scheduling still will.
If they change their products after every two months, it’s most likely because they don’t anticipate their products to work for very long. It makes all of their specs rather inconsequential.
I think that's a bit of a bleak take on it. These are still power bars, which is a very stable electrical design device, and when they work with an app like Smart Life, it'll be just fine in the long run!
been trying to figure out the logic of these. i just dont see the point of them. isnt better to get a remote wall switch and wireless outlets? i feel like these waste so much power. i'd rather not be using my phone for simple things like this. it seems extremely annoying to constantly log into my phone just to toggle each outlet.
Smart power bars open up a lot of options for control. Most power bars use about 0.6W of energy. If you shut off one appliance overnight on a schedule you're going to save overall. And the options for automation make it even better
@@AutomateYourLife now I just want to take all of my smart plugs and smart power strip, put everything into a single group, and tell my Amazon echo device to turn the group on and off to hear all the relays click lol. Problem is that a lot of the stuff is behind furniture or hard to access because of some other obstruction blocking it. :-(
Globe is a piece of crap, I have 2 of them and nothing have stopped connecting to internet and the round button to activate the 4 outlets stops working making them USELESS
@@AutomateYourLife I'll take that workaround if you have any info on it! Unfortunately I can't find any guides but would love to connect the APC to smart things if possible... I believe this may actually allow control via Google assistant via smart things
![Twenty One Pilots - The Line (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XCz7WUotXs8/mqdefault.jpg)
the amount of effort you put in detailing so many intricacies is tremendous! respect! extremely informative
Thank you very much!
I was surprised this video is 2 years old. Well done and this is exactly why i watch your content.
very informative. thank you
Thanks for watching!
I started my smart home with smart 💡 s & these power strips mine all work with Smart Life I have 1 with 12 outlets 6/6 smart with 6 USB ports & it was only 35$ on Amazon then I use smaller 4 smart outlets w/4 USB ports these bars are definitely a must have & if WiFi goes out they default to regular outlets 🤷🏼♂️👍🏼✌🏼
It's good you're keeping things pretty contained on to one app. Good job there!
Also, most of them will still be controllable in the app FYI, just as long as the WiFi is still on! Internet going out shouldn't change those much :)
A nice job as we've grown to expect from you, Brian. I've dealt with a number of folks who have spotty WiFi in areas of their homes and I suspect most of your viewers aren't in that category. Nevertheless, the YoLink is perfect for those situations. I see you talking more and more about Homekit??? I'm more of a cross-platform kind of guy, but admit the folks at Apple have supported it more than I thought they would. I'm saying this as someone with a lot of their stuff in my house. Anyway, these kinds of reviews from you are much appreciated.
Ahahahaha you worried Hugh? Homekit I think is just about to get a lot better with Matter, and it's easy to bring it in!
And yeah, totally love the YoLink brand. Great stuff for a lot of reasons!
I’ve waited so long for you to make this video because I have the APC and TPLink and have some thoughts to share after my 2 years of ownership;
First, I want to mention that I desperately wanted a ZWAVE connectivity because that’s how I’m trying to setup my smart home, keeping as many devices on ZWAVE as possible, leaving the WiFi less congested for devices that need such bandwidth… but as I’m sure you already know, I couldn’t find a single ZWave controlled surge protector.
The first unit I purchased was the APC because I wanted the surge protector for my living room entertainment center… but I was also disappointed with lack of smart home compatibility as I primarily use Google assistant (I do have 2 echos in the entire home, but their sole purpose is arming ring alarm and announcing when ring alarm sensors are opened, such as “front door opened”) but I’m pleased to hear you mention there is a workaround to add this guy to smartthings… I’m going to see if I can find a guide on that but if you’d please be so kind to share any information how to add the APC to Smartthings would be most appreciated?
Regarding the USB ports, I could be mistaken but I believe you may have swapped the APC and TPLink amps. The APC says “2.4A shared” between the two ports, which should indicate that those two ports can only produce a combined 2.4A, meaning if one port is used it can provide the full 2.4A but if both are plugged in then it must split that between the two. Whereas the TPLink doesn’t say shared, could that mean that the TPLink is actually the unit that offers 2.4A to each USB because it shows 2.4A on each port?
Lastly, I love the TPLink HS300 for the power monitoring but am disappointed the USB aren’t controllable and it doesn’t offer the same surge protection as the APC so I’m not feeling the most comfortable using it on my entertainment center and am going to put the APC back in its place if I can figure out the smartthings connection. This unit has actually been the one to give me connectivity issues where the entire bar would reset daily and turn off all power, but I believe that may be due to my router (i upgraded to the new ASUS AXE11000) because those issues seem to have resolved.
PS: bonus points for you if you can find a smart UPC for us. I’d love that for my entertainment center to give me enough power to safely shut down my protector rather than it getting its power cut abruptly in the event of power outage. Extra bonus points if it’s ZWAVE 😉
Glad you were excited for this one!
If you can find them still, Zooz does have a Z-Wave power bar. I think they're re-designing it...and I hope they do. Sadly, no others I could find and...even more sad is I can't find a smart UPC at all. There are some of those full home battery backups but that's not the same at all....
As for the USB stuff, I did get confirmation from TP-Link directly that this is how they're power bar works. It's 2.4 A max per port, and 2.4 A max for both ports. So it's balancing. :(
You're right that the APC is an amazing surge protector, and honestly...I love it. I don't get why Schneider is dropping that from their lineup. I sure do hope they bring a new one back...and that UPS you're after too.
I have the Zooz power strip, and I am very happy with it. I use it in my home office to turn on and off all my equipment.... Glad to hear that they are coming out with a new model.... I agree. A smart UPS would be ideal.
Pretty good review and website. Only big downside is that for a free spreadsheet you have to sign up like if you buy a product
You're not signing up for anything.
An idea for IOT makers : A smart plug with a USB C pass thru charging port would be nice.
Yes please.
@@AutomateYourLife I am pretty shure there is room for it inside a Kasa or other smart plugs, but I wonder about the heat it could generate. Anyway it would be great.
Great review! You didn’t mention how it plugs into the wall. I won’t buy a power bar if it doesn’t have low profile plug, preferably on a 45 degree angle.
Yeahhhhh sorry! You'll have to look at them on device previews in stores. Sounds like a good reason to click a link 😃😃😃
Hi, thanks for a very useful review, One thing that I look at additionally when I am choosing smart plugs is whether they return to their original state after a power cut or interruption
Good point! You know, I didn't really test that at all :(
This has been really informative! I definitely like the TP-Link and Meross ones.
My first power strip was a Tuya based one and it's been okay except that using Siri Shortcuts with it takes about 4 seconds before the command is completed.
My dream powerbar/strip now is one that's not wifi, measures power usage, and is HomeKit compatible.
That TP-Link HS 300 is sooooo close for you Oliver. Siri Shortcuts...just not HK.
Very tempting indeed. I just hope Matter solves my HK problems.
really great information,do you know of any power bar that works with the Aqara platform
They don't have a power bar, no. Sorry!
I have a teckin that I use to help control my annual Christmas display. Very useful.
Those power strips with that design are so useful. Love the layout of those and the control!
@@AutomateYourLife Yes. Especially when you have a lot of devices like I do. Lol.
What's the best surge protector for travel?
Great info and review as always.👍
Thanks Lany! Great to see you as always!
Awesome video dude this is so helpful! I’m just getting into home automation and I’m really learning it for work. Is there any strip that’s better than another for the purpose of power cycling the wifi router itself?
I fear that because most smart plugs run on wifi, resetting the wifi-router with a smart plug will cause connectivity issues among other smart plugs connected to that network. IE. Internet is having issues and I want to reset the router. 1) will I be able to reset the wifi router via smart strip if the WiFi is down? 2) will resetting the wifi disturb other smart plug devices connected to that network?
Sorry if my questions are confusing I’m deciding on which strip to use for a gas station
Yeah so!
You need a Zigbee or Z-Wave version that works with a hub, and does so "Locally". That means the router and internet doesn't need to be working for the powerbar to communicate with your hub.
The Z-Wave or Zigbee connection happens independently of WiFi or Ethernet. In a gas station, I'd suggest Z-Wave. Zooz has a good one that works well with SmartThings or Hubitat Hubs.
Thank you for the great and informative video!
Thank you!
Thanks for a great video. One thing I've always wondered is why are there no multi-gang outlets that are ZigBee or zwave?
That's a great question! I think companies that make power bars tend not to make Zigbee/Z-Wave gear (and vice versa). It's just an odd split of electrical design vs the skills needed for using those standards in your design. I also wonder about chip manufacturers and if there's something that can handle it even.
You know, there is one from Zooz but they're discontinuing it. We'll also probably see some thread versions coming out soon but for now, yeah...it's all WiFi basically!
@@AutomateYourLife I've got some ZWave dual plug outlets, but, yeah no real multi-gang options out there. You'd think if they could do two outlets that doing more wouldn't be that much more difficult.
They only need one Zigby/ZWave chip.
Hi. How to make TP Link Kasa Power strip works with HomeKit? Thanks
I just wish more of them were offered in black. That's what's stopped me from buying one so far.
Yeahhhh, it's funny that the smart versions are generally white. There are two here though!
Thank you man
I wonder what happened to Gosund. You can't find them on Amazon anymore, just knockoffs. I like their strips and plugs.
Well Gosund is/was Tuya. They coulda been kicked as one of the companies paying for high reviews on Amazon, like Teckin.
I’m looking for one that has app control and automation so I can turn my lights on and off and a water pump on and off separately on a schedule
They all have app control, but you need to look for one rated for motors for that heat pump. I don't believe any of these had that, but check out the specs.
Thanks Brian.
You bet! Thank you sir!
What's the best one for LG TVs hun? meaning I have my LG TV up on my dresser and it can't reach the plug so I'm trying to find out what's the best power bar to get.
The fact that you have an LG TV doesn't make a difference here. However, I would buy one of the ones with good protection! You don't want a busted TV from a surge or brownout.
So other than that, pick the one you think suits the rest of your home. 😃
TP link is the only one so far that does NOT double the items when using Smarthing AND Alexa. I noticed that about 6 months ago. Before that they would always double the "things" which, as you know is annoying.
I hadn't noticed TP-Link didn't do that. That would be a huge benefit.
I wonder how they're managing that!
@@AutomateYourLife well I dont know, but after removing it all and re-registering it all, I noticed I dont have any more doubles in Alexa from TP link imported from Smarthings.
When you were testing the TP-Link KP-303, did you notice that the relays will randomly cycle, turning anything connected to the outlets off then back on?
No...that would be SO annoying.
Until today I would have agreed that TP-Link was the best smart power strip. However, their android app user interface has changed. There is no longer the function to monitor energy usage, and most disappointing of all after the purchase of four strips, I am now unable to achieve voice control of the plugs because I have been unable to get Alexa to recognize them. This RUclips comparison needs to be updated.
Use the kasa app? Cause the energy monitoring is still there
Thanks for such a quick reply. Yes, I've read recent reviews that suggest the Kasa app still provides energy monitoring, but other reviews agree with my experience of the last two days. Perhaps the problem is endemic to Samsung Android phones and/or updated versions for it of the Alexa and Kasa apps? When I could not see in Alexa the plugs of a newly purchased fourth HS300, I redefined and reconfigured all four strips per Amazon Alexa support instructions. Now, none of 24 plugs is recognized by Alexa and I can not find the other version of the Kasa app on my phone or in the Play Store. Amazon has promised (over the phone) a resolution in 5-7 busines days. Another reviewer has been waiting since 2019.
I have a pixel. Maybe your phone is not getting the latest play store app
Thanks for your replies again. Just want to update you that I finally got my smart Kasa TP-Link plugs recognized by Alexa earlier this week. I stumbled upon an Alexa UI feature so subtle that I am not certain of its previous existence. Of course, this development restores my confidence and agreement with you in the exemplary capabilities of the Kasa TP-Link smart power strip! Thanks.
I am thinking to buy one of the TP-link devices. I need to control several gadgets for my fish tank. Lights, co2, air.. all turning on and off on their own schedules. Would this power strip still provide the timer capabilities if wifi disconnects ? Or would it restore the schedules if power goes out for a few minutes ?
WiFi needs to be there to use any sort of smart feature. The controller goes through WiFi and there's no onboard controller, per se.
Internet doesn't always need to be there for control, but I believe scheduling still will.
3:29 Actually, that one would be 1200 watts, since it is rated for 10 amps at 120 volts.
Add in USB ports 😃
i am looking for a smart plug that has a 168 hour countdown turn off mode. recommendations?
Get a shorter countdown?
Honestly, that means a counter has to run for 168 hours on a cloud somewhere. I don't know if it exists.
Can you control any of these even if you’re not on the same Wi-Fi? Or when you’re not home? Thank you.
TP-Link, Meross for sure. All the Tuya/Smart Life ones. Yep.
If they change their products after every two months, it’s most likely because they don’t anticipate their products to work for very long. It makes all of their specs rather inconsequential.
I think that's a bit of a bleak take on it. These are still power bars, which is a very stable electrical design device, and when they work with an app like Smart Life, it'll be just fine in the long run!
will any of these work with thread?
Sadly, none. :(
Do they still do the TP link with 6 outlets ? (HS 300)
Oh wait they do ! but 108 $$$$$ Thats a lot of roubles for me !
It's pricey in Canada, but yep just got a second to show on the unboxing video next month
Can I turn these off to save money on my energy bill when it comes to ghost energy (appliances)?
Yep!
That's what I wanted. Is it available on best buy? I have a desk that has the DeskPhone and my computer does it work with the power bar?
Which one Ethan?
@@AutomateYourLife the smart power bar
Oh there's 8 in this video Ethan! The links are all below in the description if there's a specific one you wanted though
@@AutomateYourLife the TP link works with Google assistant
Yeah and those are great!
I only use Meross and Kasa power bars and smart plugs no issues yet
And if you managed to get to the end, you know that's mostly what I'll be using ;)
No Zooz powerbars? Also, how many of them do energy monitoring?
The Zooz one is discontinued, so I didn't want to bring it on here and get folks all excited.
A bit late comment but could you recommend one that sells in europe?
I think you could get TP Link or probably Kasa in the EU depending on the country. I'd look at that
@@AutomateYourLife the only one from tp link is the one with 3 outlets and i need the one with 4/5 not sure how many there are
been trying to figure out the logic of these. i just dont see the point of them. isnt better to get a remote wall switch and wireless outlets? i feel like these waste so much power. i'd rather not be using my phone for simple things like this. it seems extremely annoying to constantly log into my phone just to toggle each outlet.
Smart power bars open up a lot of options for control. Most power bars use about 0.6W of energy. If you shut off one appliance overnight on a schedule you're going to save overall.
And the options for automation make it even better
My biggest problem with these is...in principle they seem cool, but what to actually do with them?
Save power really :)
Your spreadsheet is in pdf format making it very hard to use.
LOL when you turned off everything in testing by voice. Listen to those relays go!
Yeah that was FUN. I did it a lot...more than I'd like to admit.
@@AutomateYourLife now I just want to take all of my smart plugs and smart power strip, put everything into a single group, and tell my Amazon echo device to turn the group on and off to hear all the relays click lol. Problem is that a lot of the stuff is behind furniture or hard to access because of some other obstruction blocking it. :-(
I thought you were going to review a protein bar.
mmmmmmm
I wouldn't us these for computer and TV's
Not all of them, no
Globe is a piece of crap, I have 2 of them and nothing have stopped connecting to internet and the round button to activate the 4 outlets stops working making them USELESS
Sad to hear this. My experience has been pretty good so far!
@@AutomateYourLife wait and see, faillure rate is pretty high on the power bars
hi
hiiiiiii
"with a work around you ca...."
_no thanks_
LOL
@@AutomateYourLife I'll take that workaround if you have any info on it! Unfortunately I can't find any guides but would love to connect the APC to smart things if possible... I believe this may actually allow control via Google assistant via smart things
PS. I think that bar is Tuya. Try smart life. Probably would lose the LED control but...that's something I'd give up
@@speedracer9132 i would love to know why you've chosen this comment as a platform to raise a support question instead of seeing it for what it is
@@burnzy3210 because your comment is regarding the workaround I'm seeking
i think i will stick with my 12 plug apc with 2 USB, and truthfully i don't need my power bar to connect to my phone.
That's not how I use them. I schedule them to save on power for the most part.