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Kasa Smart HS100 WiFi Smart Plug, Classic 1-Pack, White
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Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
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Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | TP-Link |
Color | white |
Voltage | 120 Volts |
Material | Polycarbonate (PC) |
Connector Type | Plug in |
About this item
- Control From Anywhere: Turn electronics on or off from anywhere with your smartphone using the Kasa app (Compatible w/ Android & iOS)
- Voice Control works with amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Microsoft Cortana supported devices for a hands free experience; Operating Temperature: 0 ºC to 40 ºC (32°F to 104°F). Operating Humidity: 5 percent to 90 percent RH, Non condensing
- Flexible Control: UL Certfied to switch upto 15A, for flexible control of a wide range of plug in devices
- Kasa scenes & schedules: Schedule the Smart plug to automatically switch on and off when away or set a scene for controlling many devices with a single button
- Note: Requires a secured 2.4 gigahertz wifi network connection
Frequently bought together
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Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- Product Dimensions : 3 x 2.6 x 3.9 inches; 6.4 ounces
- Item model number : HS100
- Batteries : 1 Lithium Ion batteries required.
- Date First Available : January 1, 2016
- Manufacturer : TP-Link
- ASIN : B0178IC734
- Best Sellers Rank: #22,393 in Tools & Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Tools & Home Improvement)
- #285 in Standard Electrical Outlets
- Customer Reviews:
Product Description
Control lighting and other appliances from anywhere with the Kasa Smart Wi Fi Plug. Schedule connected devices turn on when you get home, then power down when you go to sleep. Control each outlet individually or as one, set schedules or scenes, even use voice commands with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Microsoft Cortana.
Important information
To report an issue with this product or seller, click here.
Top Brand: Kasa Smart
From the brand
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Leading Smart Home Brand
Launched in 2015, Kasa Smart quickly became a leading smart home brand giving convenience, fun, and security to over 7 million delighted users and has garnered praises from PCMag, Wirecutter, and more. Users can control their lights, appliances, and view security camera footage from anywhere, anytime. Kasa offers terrific synergy between devices for enhanced automation.
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From the manufacturer
Product Specifications:
- Plugs into any standard wall outlet
- Supports up to 15A of power to devices
- Compatible with Android 4.1 and higher or iOS 9 and higher
- Existing Wi-Fi network required
Save Money by Running the House on Your Schedule
The HS100 allows you to create schedules to automatically power on or off your home electronics and appliances at anytime. You can create a schedule for each device any day of the week, or customize it by a specific time in a day.
Keep energy bills low by effectively managing devices that use the most power. Scheduling allows you to prevent power-hungry devices from being left on longer than needed.
Have your devices run on your schedule, even when you’re not there.
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Control from AnywhereYour Smart Plug can be controlled through your existing Wi-Fi network via the free Kasa app*. Download the app to your smartphone or tablet and have access to turn your home devices on/off, set schedules and appear at home when you're away. The Kasa app allows you to add as many Smart Plugs as you’d like to keep track of multiple appliances, whenever, wherever. *Compatible with Android 4.1 and higher or iOS 9 and higher. |
Appear at Home While You’re AwayHave the Smart Plug work for you when you’re out of town. Connecting a lamp to your smart plug can provide home security benefits. Set it to Away Mode, and the Smart Plug will automatically turn the light on and off to give the appearance that someone is home. |
Never Leave Things RunningThe Smart Plug gives you the peace of mind that you’ll never leave devices running again. With the countdown timer feature, simply set a timer for the Smart Plug to turn off its appliance automatically. Set it and forget it. It’s that simple, giving you one less thing to worry about in your busy life. |
Keep Your Kids on ScheduleWith the scheduling benefits of a Smart Plug, you have better control over your child’s daily activities. Make sure the television is turned off when they should be doing homework, or use a countdown feature to have any lamps shut off right before bedtime. |
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Control with Your VoiceThe Smart Plug works directly with Amazon Alexa,Google Assistant and Microsoft Cortana to manage your devices through Voice Control. Assign a name to each Smart Plug and communicate with each plug by name when making a voice command. You can also create a group for all your smart devices and control them all with one command. |
One App for AllThe free Kasa app works with all TP-LINK smart home devices, allowing you to easily control your home from any Android or iOS device. |
No Hub RequiredThe Smart Plug works with any Wi-Fi router without the need for a separate hub or paid subscription service. |
Easy SetupPlug in your smart plug, follow the set up instructions on the Kasa Smart app and you’re good to go! |
HS200 | HS110 | HS100 | HS105 | HS100 KIT | HS105 KIT | |
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Control from Anywhere | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
No Hub Design | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Away Mode | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Energy Monitoring | - | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
Design | In-Wall | Plug-In | Plug-In | Plug-In (occupies only 1 socket) | Plug-In | Plug-In (occupies only 1 socket) |
Control Hardwired Appliances | ✓ | - | - | - | - | - |
Power on/off Scheduling | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Wi-Fi Enabled | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Alexa Voice Control | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Google Assistant Compatible | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
What's in the box
Videos
Videos for this product
1:02
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A demonstration and review of Kasa smart plug
Leeah Carter
Videos for this product
2:07
Click to play video
Installing Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug by TP-Link
Amazon Smart Home
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the performance and ease of installation of the electrical plug. For example, they mention it works great and is easy to set up. Customers are also satisfied with on/off. However, some complain about the size. Opinions are mixed on plug, value, app, and connectivity.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the performance of the electrical plug. For example, they say it works great, provides reliable, secure remote control, and makes parenting so much easier.
"...Anyway, it still works great, was even faster to set up than the originals since I already had Kasa ready to go, and is especially useful for..." Read more
"I can't imagine life without this plug. It brings the future and the present together and I live in a world where Benjamin Franklin would be so..." Read more
"...that the product works with Alexa (Amazon Echo) and provides easy, reliable, secure remote control of plugged-in devices...." Read more
"...a app for Tapo, but it seamlessly integrates with Alexa and works first try." Read more
Customers find the installation process of the smart plug to be easy. They mention that the setup process is fairly simple, and the programming of one light switch was easy. The smart plugs work with their phone, making it easy to set up automatic lights on and off. The setup process takes up to a minute, and scheduling is a breeze. Overall, customers find the smart plugs to be a cheap way to automate their house without needing to hire an electrician.
"...The unit itself is easy enough to work with...." Read more
"...Anyway, it still works great, was even faster to set up than the originals since I already had Kasa ready to go, and is especially useful for..." Read more
"...Set up is very easy and takes up to a minute. After you finish setting up, prepare for a new beginning to a better life...." Read more
"...The Plug has a 2 year warranty.So, setup was relatively easy, and I discovered (as other reviewers have noted) that the best..." Read more
Customers like the on/off functionality of the electrical plug. They mention that it allows them to control their lighting more easily. They also appreciate the ability to turn on and off lights by voice. Some customers also like the ability of the plug to turn a lamp on before they enter the house.
"...The plug has an easy to reach button that's fun to click to decide whether to provide power or not to the plug...." Read more
"...One great thing - these are actually smart - they know if they are off or on...." Read more
"...Although there is recommendation to turn on and off appliances, there's always a fear of having appliances turn on without proper supervision, with..." Read more
"...Status LED always on -- no way to turn off (like on Sonos speakers).• With Alexa, limited to only commands to turn on / off...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the connectivity of the electrical plug. Some mention that they work with Alexa, the new Echo compatibility works very well, and the Amazon Tap. However, others say that they have a small issue with connectivity of their software, the light will go red, and nothing can connect to it. The wireless setup was very frustrating, and they only stay connected for about 16-24 hours after which they disconnect.
"...than the "brand name" smart plugs and have excellent compatibility with Alexa...." Read more
"...The main reasons are because it integrates with Alexa and it's smart. Does it work well with Alexa? 95% of the time yes. Is it smart?..." Read more
"...In my original post, I had a small issue with connectivity of the software to the units which still exists but not near as rough since the latest..." Read more
"...The Smart Plugs work with Alexa. There's been an occasional (rare) problem using Alexa due to TP-Link service outages or Amazon Echo glitches." Read more
Customers are mixed about the plug. Some mention that the Smart Plugs are great, while others say that they effectively block the second outlet.
"...Great product that's very reliable. Easy to integrate with Alexa and I use them multiple times a day." Read more
"...They were easy to set up and they've been very reliable. The issue I have is with the Tapo app...." Read more
"...the larger versions, and the only difference is that this only blocks one power outlet instead of two...." Read more
"...I find the app to be "lousy" in a word. The plug looks fine...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the value of the electrical plug. Some mention it's simple, safe, affordable, and has great features for the price. However, others say that it provides no value, is a waste of resources, and overheats and shuts off.
"...Moderate price.• TP-LINK supportive with comments on Amazon reviews.• 2 year warranty.Minor Cons•..." Read more
"...on these "smart" gadgets is ridiculous; the Hue ecosystem is insanely overpriced, and while I like it, you're essentially paying for the..." Read more
"...Overall, this is a cost effective and clever unit to use if you're looking to control your electric and electronic devices from afar, whether using..." Read more
"If you’re new or old to smart devices this is ABSOLUTELY worth the purchase...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the app. Some mention that it is nice, user friendly, and reliable for control. However, others say that the app itself is not the best and is clunky. Customers also mention that the plugs do require you to download a app for Tapo, but it seamlessly integrates.
"...Although I have limited experience with it, the app seems to be quite reliable for control...." Read more
"...All 3 Smart Plugs (HS100) are still working okay 24/7. Reliable. Some glitches with the Kasa app showing a blank on time when actually one is..." Read more
"...I ordered one, then two, and now I am on my third. Having the app is great and the ability to work around my scheduled settings has proven to be a..." Read more
"...OK, beyond that. The scheduled times, and the countdown timers work fine and are nice features...." Read more
Customers are not happy with the size of the electrical plug. They mention that it's larger than it looks, it'd be difficult to plug anything into it, and it'll cover the second outlet. The form factor could use some improvement, and the switch itself is a little bulky. The housing is too big on the bottom, and there's a limited screen size.
"...The issue with unit bulk -- covering the second outlet, for example -- is not a problem with a newer model but that new model is too expensive to..." Read more
"...The biggest downside of the TP-Link is its size...." Read more
"...No Hub Required.CON’s:- Big (covers both plugs no way around it)-..." Read more
"...The Phone app works fine, but the limited screen size limits how much they can get on the scree at once...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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I've had my first TP Link Smart Plug (see the original post below) for about 6 weeks now, my second for about 4 weeks & they are working flawlessly. As mentioned in my OP, I wanted a unit for my entertainment center & have since received & installed it. Drove my college student (who's home for the summer) nuts as the power was not on in the mornings. For the 4 weeks since having the second unit (I called it 'the TV power'), she could not figure out how to get power to the TV. She finally unplugged the power strip from the smart plug & plugged it directly into the wall below the HS100. So I finally showed the family how to work them (mainly just so they wouldn't keep unplugging & plugging in the power chords).
On another note, I finally received my Amazon Echo (just in time for Fathers day, wahoo!) and so I now have the Smart Plugs hooked up to the World Wide Web, the Internet super highway, the Internet of Things, etc., etc.
I understand the frustrations some people have posted regarding the connection to the Echo & I believe I have figured out why. Amazon's Alexa App is in need of some serious TLC. TP Links Kasa App is doing what it's suppose to do. In my original post, I had a small issue with connectivity of the software to the units which still exists but not near as rough since the latest software update. Still, when you're not connected to your LAN (because you've been away or simply have the WiFi / Data off) & want to adjust something in the schedules or simply turn 'the lamp' on, connecting wirelessly sometimes has a hiccup. Each unit has to ping constantly (every 1.5 to 2 seconds as it was explained to me) to your LAN to let the router know the unit is there. When you connect your phone to the LAN, you may just connect in between those pings in which case the software on the phone may come back & say "There are no connected devices". It does offer a "pre-configured devices" ribbon which you can select to initiate the units connectivity through the smart phone (see the uploaded pics). After selecting the ribbon, you have to select the little plus button on the right of each device until you have the "no unsaved devices" screen, then your units are active for you (5 stars now that I understand the software & realize that most of the frustrations are not the fault of TP Link).
After I finally created an account with TP Link (all you need is an email address & a password, no personal information is required) I went back into the Kasa App & set the first unit to remote.
In the Alexa App, I had to select the Skills in the menu & do a search for Kasa (there are over 123 PAGES of skills & no file management system in the Alexa App). After getting Kasa as a skill & initiating it, I then had to go to the Smart Home in the menu & select the Kasa skill to find the HS100 Smart Plug. This is where the frustrations started for me. The skill was not there. I know I had found it & selected the skill & initiated it but it was not listed. So I went back to the list & did another search for the Kasa (it's on like page 71 & each time you go into the list, it starts on page 1). After the third time & about an hour plus, I discovered a search box where I could type the name 'Kasa' & search & it would find about half a dozen skills to choose from, duh! What an idiot. Lucky we have the skill's name otherwise it's a page by page search until you find what your looking for. Anyway, I digress. The skill was not showing up in the Alexa's Smart Home directory. I was about to put the phone down & walk away before something got seriously injured when I realized I had a couple updates to finish on my phone. One of these updates was a 34 megabyte update. I've read that if you have a decent size (don't ask me what 'decent size' means, I figured 20 meg or better) update, you should reboot your system after updating. So after my update I rebooted my phone & figured "ok, I'm cooled down a bit, I'll try the Alexa App one more time". Opening the App, I went straight to the Smart Home directory & wha'd'ya'know, the Kasa skill was there. Finally, a step forward. Opening the skill, I can now (finally) have the Kasa skill find the HS100 Smart Plug. Picking the 'find devices' gave me an immediate 'you have no internet connection' message. Then I walked away!
This is a long story but I promise it has a happy ending (well, sort of). A few hours of thinking about it I came back to try again. I figured perhaps because the HS100's connect via 2.4 GHz & the Echo connects to the more active 5 GHz, the two are not communicating. So I purposely connected my phone to the 2.4 GHz, opened the Kasa app & verified I could connect to each of my Smart Plugs. Then while leaving the Kasa app open, I went back into the Amazon Alexa app, into the Smart Home directory, & picked the 'find devices' once again. The 'you have no internet connection' message immediately popped up. So I figured the only way I could find the skill to begin with was to reboot the phone so I rebooted once again. I forgot to connect to the 2.4 GHz & open the Kasa app to verify my units were accessible, I just went straight to the Alexa app and after picking the 'find devices' button it came back with a message, 'searching for devices. This can take up to 20 seconds'. Wahoo! It worked, I found my HS100 named "the Lamp". Now there are three ways of turning the Lamp on. I can say "Alexa, turn on the lamp" and Alexa says, "ok" and the lamp comes on. I can push the power button on the front of the unit and the lamp comes on. And I can wait for the scheduled time and the lamp comes on. These units are AWESOME!!!
Of course I had set only 'the Lamp' to remote in the Kasa app so I had to go back to the Kasa app & change 'the TV power' to remote so I could find it in the Alexa app. I had to go through rebooting the phone a couple more times to get my second unit connected with the Echo but I am now connected & my college kid is happy to say "Alexa, turn on the TV power" so she can watch a movie instead of getting a summer job, ggrrr!
____Original Post____
This is a true product review & I paid full price for the TP Link Smart Plug (HS100, no Energy Monitoring) unit. So with that said, let me tell you my current thoughts on this product after playing with it a mere four days.
I don't yet have an echo (it's on order) but am preparing for its' arrival. So in the mean time I figured I'd try this on my local LAN before submitting my so called 'Smart' house to the wiles of the internet.
The unit itself is easy enough to work with. You can use it as a single outlet power switch & simply push the button to turn it on and off, much like a six outlet power strip with a switch, but this would be a single outlet. But I want a timer control switch that will automatically turn on at a certain time & off at a certain time & I want to (in the future) have that timer & simply override it with a phrase, "Alexa, turn on the lamp". So I needed to connect it to the LAN for starters. After following the instructions for downloading the software (Kasa for Mobile) from Google play I began my assault.
My phone automatically connects to my 5 GHz WiFi so I had to manually change it to the 2.4 GHz as this frequency is the only one this Smart plug will work with currently. Reasons are listed on the website (tp-link.us)
Now there are two buttons on this unit; a small button on the very top with a light grey gear icon on it is for it's configuration (visibility) when connecting to your phone via the local LAN and the other button in the front just above the outlet is a two tone LED light/power button. This is the button you push to simply turn the power strip on/off. This button flashes orange/green when you first plug it in which tells you it's ready to begin the connection phase.
The app found the plug pretty quickly & began asking me the questions needed to control this plug like what to call it (important to name it something unique to the situation). I called it 'the lamp'. What, It's the only lamp in my family room & I don't intend on connecting any other lamps in the house to the Echo so ... 'Alexa, turn on the lamp' will work very nicely. I can go back & change the name of the plug if I need to. The app then asked for the password to my LAN so my phone can connect to the plug. This is where I screwed everything up cause I couldn't remember what the password was. After resetting the plug a couple times (I now know the reset button works) I got the unit setup & the lamp was on.
The software, while easy enough to understand is a bit too simplistic in its presentation which leads to a little frustration in finding what you are searching for. Lemme esplain.
I wanted the plug as a timer so I needed to get a schedule setup. You need to tap on 'the lamp' on the left side of the apps screen as the right side is the power switch for controlling the plug via phone. Then you have to pic the three little dots to open a menu so you can pic the schedule selection button. I suppose this is necessary cause if you have several plugs, you will need to determine which one you are working with and there are a few options in menu as well.
So I set the schedule for an early morning on & mid morning off, Monday thru Friday. Then created a second schedule for Sunset on & late evening off, Monday thru Sunday. Now mind you this is connected to the local LAN which means if you want a current Sunset time, you have to have your phone connected to the unit to get it as the current Sunset changes daily & the unit needs a connection to the Internet to get that time. Duh! No wonder the lamp was coming on early, the Sunset time was current when I programmed it but is now later than when the lamp comes on as my phone is not connected to the LAN to feed the unit the current Sunset time. :-P
A bit of a frustration is when you have a cloudy or stormy afternoon & it gets dark well before sunset. So I wanted to override the current setting & turn the lamp on. Well low & behold when I opened the app, it said there were "no current devices configured, would you like to configure one now?" Then a little popup display said "You have had a previous unit configured which you can access after setting up a new device".
After several minutes of getting out of the app, going back in, getting out, disconnecting the phone from the LAN, reconnecting, disconnecting, rebooting the phone, reconnecting, I was ready to unplug the unit & plug the lamp into the wall socket. I thought, "All I want to do is turn on the lamp. How lazy am I that I can't reach up and turn the knob, I have to have a 'Smart Plug'." BUT, I wanted the Smart Plug for the timer function. So I was going to Add Device for the fourth time. After picking the Smart Plug icon & giving it a name (the lamp, how original) the app found my previous device & the schedule I was able to turn on the lamp (losing 1 star for this). Haven't had an issue with it since but it's been a mere four days.
On another note, I want to comment on others posts regarding this unit.
There is a question/post about why it will not turn on a TV. Unless you have one of those old tube style TV's with a manual toggle switch that you can keep in the ON position, this will not turn on a TV. This Smart Plug is designed to simply deliver power to the TV. As I mentioned earlier, in its most basic form this unit is a one outlet power strip, that is all.
The specifications of this unit are for a 100-120 Volt AC outlet with a 15amp load maximum. I have not overloaded this unit to see what would happen but my current wiring for my entertainment system (TV, DVD Player, Wii, etc) are all on one six outlet power strip on a 15amp breaker & they have not tripped the breaker yet. With that said, there is a lot of residual power being leaked by these devices while in a dormant state. I plan to order another TP-Link Smart Plug and schedule a time for these devices to receive power so they can be used. They will be off during the night & when I'm away from the home, powered when I am home so I can use them.
Another post or two or four mentions this unit is large & covers both wall outlets. While technically this is true, this is also technically not true. This unit has a lip on the back side where the prongs plug into the wall. A standard two prong plug can fit nicely under this unit & both seat perfectly (see the pics I loaded) while anything larger will not. You just have to plug the two prong plug into the bottom outlet first, then plug this unit into the top outlet. In the pics, I have my iClever 6 port charging station plugged into the bottom outlet (need constant power to a charging station) & 'the lamp' via the Smart Plug in the top outlet.
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2016
I've had my first TP Link Smart Plug (see the original post below) for about 6 weeks now, my second for about 4 weeks & they are working flawlessly. As mentioned in my OP, I wanted a unit for my entertainment center & have since received & installed it. Drove my college student (who's home for the summer) nuts as the power was not on in the mornings. For the 4 weeks since having the second unit (I called it 'the TV power'), she could not figure out how to get power to the TV. She finally unplugged the power strip from the smart plug & plugged it directly into the wall below the HS100. So I finally showed the family how to work them (mainly just so they wouldn't keep unplugging & plugging in the power chords).
On another note, I finally received my Amazon Echo (just in time for Fathers day, wahoo!) and so I now have the Smart Plugs hooked up to the World Wide Web, the Internet super highway, the Internet of Things, etc., etc.
I understand the frustrations some people have posted regarding the connection to the Echo & I believe I have figured out why. Amazon's Alexa App is in need of some serious TLC. TP Links Kasa App is doing what it's suppose to do. In my original post, I had a small issue with connectivity of the software to the units which still exists but not near as rough since the latest software update. Still, when you're not connected to your LAN (because you've been away or simply have the WiFi / Data off) & want to adjust something in the schedules or simply turn 'the lamp' on, connecting wirelessly sometimes has a hiccup. Each unit has to ping constantly (every 1.5 to 2 seconds as it was explained to me) to your LAN to let the router know the unit is there. When you connect your phone to the LAN, you may just connect in between those pings in which case the software on the phone may come back & say "There are no connected devices". It does offer a "pre-configured devices" ribbon which you can select to initiate the units connectivity through the smart phone (see the uploaded pics). After selecting the ribbon, you have to select the little plus button on the right of each device until you have the "no unsaved devices" screen, then your units are active for you (5 stars now that I understand the software & realize that most of the frustrations are not the fault of TP Link).
After I finally created an account with TP Link (all you need is an email address & a password, no personal information is required) I went back into the Kasa App & set the first unit to remote.
In the Alexa App, I had to select the Skills in the menu & do a search for Kasa (there are over 123 PAGES of skills & no file management system in the Alexa App). After getting Kasa as a skill & initiating it, I then had to go to the Smart Home in the menu & select the Kasa skill to find the HS100 Smart Plug. This is where the frustrations started for me. The skill was not there. I know I had found it & selected the skill & initiated it but it was not listed. So I went back to the list & did another search for the Kasa (it's on like page 71 & each time you go into the list, it starts on page 1). After the third time & about an hour plus, I discovered a search box where I could type the name 'Kasa' & search & it would find about half a dozen skills to choose from, duh! What an idiot. Lucky we have the skill's name otherwise it's a page by page search until you find what your looking for. Anyway, I digress. The skill was not showing up in the Alexa's Smart Home directory. I was about to put the phone down & walk away before something got seriously injured when I realized I had a couple updates to finish on my phone. One of these updates was a 34 megabyte update. I've read that if you have a decent size (don't ask me what 'decent size' means, I figured 20 meg or better) update, you should reboot your system after updating. So after my update I rebooted my phone & figured "ok, I'm cooled down a bit, I'll try the Alexa App one more time". Opening the App, I went straight to the Smart Home directory & wha'd'ya'know, the Kasa skill was there. Finally, a step forward. Opening the skill, I can now (finally) have the Kasa skill find the HS100 Smart Plug. Picking the 'find devices' gave me an immediate 'you have no internet connection' message. Then I walked away!
This is a long story but I promise it has a happy ending (well, sort of). A few hours of thinking about it I came back to try again. I figured perhaps because the HS100's connect via 2.4 GHz & the Echo connects to the more active 5 GHz, the two are not communicating. So I purposely connected my phone to the 2.4 GHz, opened the Kasa app & verified I could connect to each of my Smart Plugs. Then while leaving the Kasa app open, I went back into the Amazon Alexa app, into the Smart Home directory, & picked the 'find devices' once again. The 'you have no internet connection' message immediately popped up. So I figured the only way I could find the skill to begin with was to reboot the phone so I rebooted once again. I forgot to connect to the 2.4 GHz & open the Kasa app to verify my units were accessible, I just went straight to the Alexa app and after picking the 'find devices' button it came back with a message, 'searching for devices. This can take up to 20 seconds'. Wahoo! It worked, I found my HS100 named "the Lamp". Now there are three ways of turning the Lamp on. I can say "Alexa, turn on the lamp" and Alexa says, "ok" and the lamp comes on. I can push the power button on the front of the unit and the lamp comes on. And I can wait for the scheduled time and the lamp comes on. These units are AWESOME!!!
Of course I had set only 'the Lamp' to remote in the Kasa app so I had to go back to the Kasa app & change 'the TV power' to remote so I could find it in the Alexa app. I had to go through rebooting the phone a couple more times to get my second unit connected with the Echo but I am now connected & my college kid is happy to say "Alexa, turn on the TV power" so she can watch a movie instead of getting a summer job, ggrrr!
____Original Post____
This is a true product review & I paid full price for the TP Link Smart Plug (HS100, no Energy Monitoring) unit. So with that said, let me tell you my current thoughts on this product after playing with it a mere four days.
I don't yet have an echo (it's on order) but am preparing for its' arrival. So in the mean time I figured I'd try this on my local LAN before submitting my so called 'Smart' house to the wiles of the internet.
The unit itself is easy enough to work with. You can use it as a single outlet power switch & simply push the button to turn it on and off, much like a six outlet power strip with a switch, but this would be a single outlet. But I want a timer control switch that will automatically turn on at a certain time & off at a certain time & I want to (in the future) have that timer & simply override it with a phrase, "Alexa, turn on the lamp". So I needed to connect it to the LAN for starters. After following the instructions for downloading the software (Kasa for Mobile) from Google play I began my assault.
My phone automatically connects to my 5 GHz WiFi so I had to manually change it to the 2.4 GHz as this frequency is the only one this Smart plug will work with currently. Reasons are listed on the website (tp-link.us)
Now there are two buttons on this unit; a small button on the very top with a light grey gear icon on it is for it's configuration (visibility) when connecting to your phone via the local LAN and the other button in the front just above the outlet is a two tone LED light/power button. This is the button you push to simply turn the power strip on/off. This button flashes orange/green when you first plug it in which tells you it's ready to begin the connection phase.
The app found the plug pretty quickly & began asking me the questions needed to control this plug like what to call it (important to name it something unique to the situation). I called it 'the lamp'. What, It's the only lamp in my family room & I don't intend on connecting any other lamps in the house to the Echo so ... 'Alexa, turn on the lamp' will work very nicely. I can go back & change the name of the plug if I need to. The app then asked for the password to my LAN so my phone can connect to the plug. This is where I screwed everything up cause I couldn't remember what the password was. After resetting the plug a couple times (I now know the reset button works) I got the unit setup & the lamp was on.
The software, while easy enough to understand is a bit too simplistic in its presentation which leads to a little frustration in finding what you are searching for. Lemme esplain.
I wanted the plug as a timer so I needed to get a schedule setup. You need to tap on 'the lamp' on the left side of the apps screen as the right side is the power switch for controlling the plug via phone. Then you have to pic the three little dots to open a menu so you can pic the schedule selection button. I suppose this is necessary cause if you have several plugs, you will need to determine which one you are working with and there are a few options in menu as well.
So I set the schedule for an early morning on & mid morning off, Monday thru Friday. Then created a second schedule for Sunset on & late evening off, Monday thru Sunday. Now mind you this is connected to the local LAN which means if you want a current Sunset time, you have to have your phone connected to the unit to get it as the current Sunset changes daily & the unit needs a connection to the Internet to get that time. Duh! No wonder the lamp was coming on early, the Sunset time was current when I programmed it but is now later than when the lamp comes on as my phone is not connected to the LAN to feed the unit the current Sunset time. :-P
A bit of a frustration is when you have a cloudy or stormy afternoon & it gets dark well before sunset. So I wanted to override the current setting & turn the lamp on. Well low & behold when I opened the app, it said there were "no current devices configured, would you like to configure one now?" Then a little popup display said "You have had a previous unit configured which you can access after setting up a new device".
After several minutes of getting out of the app, going back in, getting out, disconnecting the phone from the LAN, reconnecting, disconnecting, rebooting the phone, reconnecting, I was ready to unplug the unit & plug the lamp into the wall socket. I thought, "All I want to do is turn on the lamp. How lazy am I that I can't reach up and turn the knob, I have to have a 'Smart Plug'." BUT, I wanted the Smart Plug for the timer function. So I was going to Add Device for the fourth time. After picking the Smart Plug icon & giving it a name (the lamp, how original) the app found my previous device & the schedule I was able to turn on the lamp (losing 1 star for this). Haven't had an issue with it since but it's been a mere four days.
On another note, I want to comment on others posts regarding this unit.
There is a question/post about why it will not turn on a TV. Unless you have one of those old tube style TV's with a manual toggle switch that you can keep in the ON position, this will not turn on a TV. This Smart Plug is designed to simply deliver power to the TV. As I mentioned earlier, in its most basic form this unit is a one outlet power strip, that is all.
The specifications of this unit are for a 100-120 Volt AC outlet with a 15amp load maximum. I have not overloaded this unit to see what would happen but my current wiring for my entertainment system (TV, DVD Player, Wii, etc) are all on one six outlet power strip on a 15amp breaker & they have not tripped the breaker yet. With that said, there is a lot of residual power being leaked by these devices while in a dormant state. I plan to order another TP-Link Smart Plug and schedule a time for these devices to receive power so they can be used. They will be off during the night & when I'm away from the home, powered when I am home so I can use them.
Another post or two or four mentions this unit is large & covers both wall outlets. While technically this is true, this is also technically not true. This unit has a lip on the back side where the prongs plug into the wall. A standard two prong plug can fit nicely under this unit & both seat perfectly (see the pics I loaded) while anything larger will not. You just have to plug the two prong plug into the bottom outlet first, then plug this unit into the top outlet. In the pics, I have my iClever 6 port charging station plugged into the bottom outlet (need constant power to a charging station) & 'the lamp' via the Smart Plug in the top outlet.
****************
After finally getting my Hue lights set up and working with Alexa, the next step of my home automation process was to begin to integrate wi-fi smart plugs into the equation. I wanted smart switches for my televisions, fans, air conditioners, air purifiers, and wax burners. What I didn't want was to pay through the nose for it.
I've learned over the years that you generally do get what you pay for, but some of the pricing on these "smart" gadgets is ridiculous; the Hue ecosystem is insanely overpriced, and while I like it, you're essentially paying for the guarantee that you won't have to deal with the troubles that buying non-brand cheap Chinese electronics brings. I've purchased other TP-LINK products before (wi-fi adapters), but I was hesitant to get these because all of the other, branded, smart plugs were much more expensive. I thought I'd become a victim of the cheap Chinese electronics phenomenon.
I'm glad I listened to the reviews and chose to buy one, because it works perfectly and does exactly what I wanted. It's well-made and was pretty easy to set up. I'd read that before there was direct Alexa integration it was kind of a pain to set these up but now, after they've added the integration, I found it incredibly simple. Here are some abbreviated directions that I've streamlined from TP-LINK's two or three setup pages; do it in this order for the easiest setup:
1) Download the TP-LINK Kasa app from your app store of choice.
2) Install and open the Kasa app
3) Create a Kasa cloud account (requires email verification),
4) Allow Kasa to discover your plug
5) Set your plug to "remote control on" to allow Alexa to control it
6) Name the plug (i.e. Bedroom TV)
7) Exit the Kasa app and enter your Alexa app
8) Swipe down to Learn More Skills and search for "Kasa"
9) Authorize Kasa in the Alexa app by entering your email and password
10) Go back to the main Alexa screen and discover new devices
11) Once Alexa has found it, assign your plug to whatever group you want it in (Bedroom group for Bedroom TV plug)
12) Enjoy
The first one I set up was for my TV in the bedroom. Keep in mind, in order for one of these smart plugs to work with Alexa to turn your TV (or other device) off AND back on, it must have an auto restart after power failure function. If it doesn't you'll only be able to turn it off, but have to use the remote to turn it on.
I have various groups set up in Alexa in order to achieve various functions. I've included the TV in the the "turn everything off" group so that I can turn it off at the same time as my 5 other Hue ambient lights. I've also got it in the "Bedroom" group so that I can turn it on and off by itself. The way you do this will depend entirely on how you have your room/house setup. For me, "Turn everything off" applies only to the bedroom and leaves the rest of the house alone, because this is something I usually only use when I'm laying in bed and ready to sleep, and I've already turned the other stuff off before going to bed.
You could use these switches instead of buying smart bulbs, but I find it more convenient to have all the lighting independent of the plug. The normal white light Philips hue smart bulbs, and the other brands, are already less expensive so you're not saving anything. I find this option attractive for controlling non-lighting electronics. I've since ordered and connected these to my fans, air conditioners, wax burners, and electric fireplace. Anything you want to work completely with these MUST auto restart after power failure, because that is essentially all you are doing when you turn it on and off - removing and supplying a power source. For example, I had to buy a floor fan that had a manual mechanical switch because the one I had with a remote wouldn't function except to turn off. My air conditioner automatically restarts when power returns after the (simulated) power interruption that these plugs create, so I didn't need to replace it even though it is "smart" and has a remote and no switches. It's not something that's widely discussed, but important for people who are just getting into home automation to know. Until the technology improves to allow deeper integration, you're stuck completely controlling (mostly) dumb devices.
All told, this is an excellent bargain for getting into home automation. It works very well, and the build quality is excellent. The only complaint I have is that it covers more than one socket on your outlet, but as I understand it, almost all of these do simply because it is necessary to house the wi-fi components. Expect to have to also buy additional power strips for areas where you plan to use these. They are less expensive than the "brand name" smart plugs and have excellent compatibility with Alexa. I've already purchased 6 of them, and will continue to buy more as I expand my home system.
Pro tip: you can use one of these to control the power to a power strip, enabling to you to simultaneously connect and control more than one device. I've successfully done this with this Amazon Basics power strip ( AmazonBasics 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, 790 Joule - Black ) without tripping the fuse. Or, alternatively, you can have these Smart Plugs plugged in to the power strip and still maintain individual control. You'll only be able to insert two or three, depending upon your power strip, but you can expand the outlet easily that way. Your mileage may vary, however it's something to keep in mind.
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2016
****************
After finally getting my Hue lights set up and working with Alexa, the next step of my home automation process was to begin to integrate wi-fi smart plugs into the equation. I wanted smart switches for my televisions, fans, air conditioners, air purifiers, and wax burners. What I didn't want was to pay through the nose for it.
I've learned over the years that you generally do get what you pay for, but some of the pricing on these "smart" gadgets is ridiculous; the Hue ecosystem is insanely overpriced, and while I like it, you're essentially paying for the guarantee that you won't have to deal with the troubles that buying non-brand cheap Chinese electronics brings. I've purchased other TP-LINK products before (wi-fi adapters), but I was hesitant to get these because all of the other, branded, smart plugs were much more expensive. I thought I'd become a victim of the cheap Chinese electronics phenomenon.
I'm glad I listened to the reviews and chose to buy one, because it works perfectly and does exactly what I wanted. It's well-made and was pretty easy to set up. I'd read that before there was direct Alexa integration it was kind of a pain to set these up but now, after they've added the integration, I found it incredibly simple. Here are some abbreviated directions that I've streamlined from TP-LINK's two or three setup pages; do it in this order for the easiest setup:
1) Download the TP-LINK Kasa app from your app store of choice.
2) Install and open the Kasa app
3) Create a Kasa cloud account (requires email verification),
4) Allow Kasa to discover your plug
5) Set your plug to "remote control on" to allow Alexa to control it
6) Name the plug (i.e. Bedroom TV)
7) Exit the Kasa app and enter your Alexa app
8) Swipe down to Learn More Skills and search for "Kasa"
9) Authorize Kasa in the Alexa app by entering your email and password
10) Go back to the main Alexa screen and discover new devices
11) Once Alexa has found it, assign your plug to whatever group you want it in (Bedroom group for Bedroom TV plug)
12) Enjoy
The first one I set up was for my TV in the bedroom. Keep in mind, in order for one of these smart plugs to work with Alexa to turn your TV (or other device) off AND back on, it must have an auto restart after power failure function. If it doesn't you'll only be able to turn it off, but have to use the remote to turn it on.
I have various groups set up in Alexa in order to achieve various functions. I've included the TV in the the "turn everything off" group so that I can turn it off at the same time as my 5 other Hue ambient lights. I've also got it in the "Bedroom" group so that I can turn it on and off by itself. The way you do this will depend entirely on how you have your room/house setup. For me, "Turn everything off" applies only to the bedroom and leaves the rest of the house alone, because this is something I usually only use when I'm laying in bed and ready to sleep, and I've already turned the other stuff off before going to bed.
You could use these switches instead of buying smart bulbs, but I find it more convenient to have all the lighting independent of the plug. The normal white light Philips hue smart bulbs, and the other brands, are already less expensive so you're not saving anything. I find this option attractive for controlling non-lighting electronics. I've since ordered and connected these to my fans, air conditioners, wax burners, and electric fireplace. Anything you want to work completely with these MUST auto restart after power failure, because that is essentially all you are doing when you turn it on and off - removing and supplying a power source. For example, I had to buy a floor fan that had a manual mechanical switch because the one I had with a remote wouldn't function except to turn off. My air conditioner automatically restarts when power returns after the (simulated) power interruption that these plugs create, so I didn't need to replace it even though it is "smart" and has a remote and no switches. It's not something that's widely discussed, but important for people who are just getting into home automation to know. Until the technology improves to allow deeper integration, you're stuck completely controlling (mostly) dumb devices.
All told, this is an excellent bargain for getting into home automation. It works very well, and the build quality is excellent. The only complaint I have is that it covers more than one socket on your outlet, but as I understand it, almost all of these do simply because it is necessary to house the wi-fi components. Expect to have to also buy additional power strips for areas where you plan to use these. They are less expensive than the "brand name" smart plugs and have excellent compatibility with Alexa. I've already purchased 6 of them, and will continue to buy more as I expand my home system.
Pro tip: you can use one of these to control the power to a power strip, enabling to you to simultaneously connect and control more than one device. I've successfully done this with this Amazon Basics power strip ([[ASIN:B00TP1C51M AmazonBasics 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, 790 Joule - Black]]) without tripping the fuse. Or, alternatively, you can have these Smart Plugs plugged in to the power strip and still maintain individual control. You'll only be able to insert two or three, depending upon your power strip, but you can expand the outlet easily that way. Your mileage may vary, however it's something to keep in mind.
Top reviews from other countries
El tamaño quizá es muy grande y poco estético pero si no es problema para ti, son muy recomendables.
Le he dado varios usos.. en época de Navidad conecto la serie de luces de mi terraza y le pongo timer o cuando voy llegando por la calle, enciendo las luces para verlo desde afuera.
En época de calor conecto mi ventilador en la recámara y le pongo timer para que se apague en un par de horas (para evitar pararme a apagarlo a media noche que me da frio)
En las demás épocas le conecto una lámpara de pie con luz baja y la programo para que diario encienda y apague a una hora determinada.
El único problema que le veo para las personas que no son muy buenas con la tecnología. es que no es tan fácil conectarlo al wifi.. las instrucciones están en ingles y si hay que hacer varios pasos para lograrlo.
En mi caso también tuve un problema porque me cambiaron mi red de wifi en casa a 5G y el smart hub no trabaja a esa capacidad por lo que tuve que cambiarlo y usar el normal.
The voice control works well through both echo and google. I really like the schedule feature. I can also control through the Kasa app or Amazon Alexa app on the phone.
I found the setup to be straight forward enough. Even when I switched out our home router, it didn't require too much effort to set this device back up again.
I'd prefer if the plug wasn't limited to 16 schedule events. The plug also takes up too much space all around. I considered removing a star for both of these points, but I was already aware of them when I placed the order. I feel it's earned the 5 stars considering how well it has worked out and how much trouble it has saved me.
I hv connected with floor light
Working fine
Tks to amazon and to links