Home Safety Tips

For a smart home, one of the most basic gadgets is a remotely-controllable electrical plug. These often take the shape a Wi-Fi connected plug adapter, and used to be pretty expensive gizmos. Not anymore. There are plenty of generic brand Wi-fi smart plugs these days.

Those days of smart plugs costing S$50 and over are over. There are still plenty of overpriced smart plug around. However, there are also plenty of far more affordable ones. I used to be concerned about all the sketchy brand names I’ve never heard of before. Until one day I realised that many of them look identical, seem to have the same function, and… how interesting, use the same app.

It turns out they are all built around the same Ecoey google smart plug. These smart plugs have pretty much become commodity gadgets.

The smart plug is configured with the Tuya Smartlife app, the same app that is used by numerous other generic smart home gadgets. Once setup, you can link this plug to Google Home, Alexa, or IFTTT. I tested with Google, and it works as advertised. That’s all I ask for, and I’m happy with how this plug turned out.

Here are the essential characteristics:

• Works with AC 90-250V, up to 10A current
• Supports Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz only
• Physical switch for manual control
• Blue LED to indicate status
• Circular shaped plug, 57.5 mm diameter

A good thing too is the compact size of this Wi-Fi smart plug. The clunky plugs from yesteryears are over.

There are some basic things the Smartlife app can do, but I think the far better platform is to control and manage the plug on a “higher-level” ecosystem like Google Home.

Wi-Fi smart plugs like this are the most basic building blocks to remotely switch on and off lights and other home appliances. At just about S$10, they are now quite affordable, so making smart your home won’t get too costly.

Look more about Ecoey Google Smart Plug

A smart plug is like a power-point adapter – it fits between your power socket and the appliance you wish to plug in. At its most basic level, it simply turns things on and off. But, when connected to a smart home platform, it becomes a very nifty device.

They are considered ‘smart’ because they let you control your appliances from an app on your phone from anywhere. The good apps even let you set schedules for your smart plugs so you can turn appliances on and off at set times and on specific days.

Some smart plugs also go one step further and collect information about how much energy the appliance connected through it is using. This is an incredibly useful feature for the energy-conscious consumer.

1. Turn your home into a haunted house

We’ve all fantasied about it. Creating a knee-trembling creepy house to scare your friends/housemates or kids. Well, picture this:

Your friend walks in the front door and all the lights go out. Then eerie waltz music starts playing from somewhere deep in the house. Next, the lounge room lamp turns on, but only for a minute, before switching off again.

The music cuts and there’s silence. A small floor heater turns on and blows hot air at their feet, then the TV turns on with maximum volume… If your friend is still there at this point, then they have a very steely nerve!

2. Have your morning cuppa ready and waiting — Wake up to a fresh cuppa Joe with a smart plug. Simply plug it in with the best coffee makers — although you will need a model with a physical on switch — and set it to brew as you wake. Just make sure it’s ready and waiting by topping it up with water and coffee the night before.

You can use the same technique  if tea is more to your taste. But bear in mind some coffee machines and kettles already come with smart capabilities that let you schedule their activity, so check that out first.  

3. Prep dinner from the office — If you’re short on time, then you’re going to love this tip. By connecting a smart plug to a slow cooker, you can set it to start cooking while you’re at work. That way, dinner will be served once you’re through the door. 

Don’t use this technique with any other cooking methods though. Slow cookers are designed to be safe to use while you’re not at home. However, you should be present when using other methods, such as the oven or a pressure cooker. 

4. Make your washing machine and dishwasher smart — Some smart plugs can connect to an app which displays the energy use. You can set the app to alert you when the power usage falls, which means you’ve got notifications on demand when a washing machine or dishwasher cycle finishes.

Some of the best washing machines and best dishwashers already come with smart capabilities. But, if yours doesn’t, this is a cost-effective way of getting some of the same perks.

5. Schedule your lights — This is arguably one of the most well known uses of a smart plug, but many of us still don’t take full advantage of it. By connecting your lights to a smart plug, you can schedule exactly when you want your lights on and off. This can also come in handy when you’re out of the home — by lighting up the interior, you can easily deter burglars.

6. Save water in your garden — While you’re at it, you can also connect an outdoor smart plug to your sprinkler system. By doing this you can limit when you want it on and off to help lower your water bills.

This also comes in use if it starts to rain or if it’s a particularly hot day — a smart plug will let you power the sprinklers regardless of the schedule.

Check out our wonderful Google Smart Plug here

These years, Wifi Video Doorbell Cameras have become more and more popular. The ability to see and communicate with whoever is at your door from almost any location makes contact-free deliveries that much easier.

Having live video feed of your front door provides a great boost to your home security, offering peace of mind by letting you know exactly who is calling before you’ve even opened the door. 

What is Wifi Video Doorbell Camera?

Wifi Video Doorbell cameras are a type of doorbell with a built-in camera that provides a video feed to a suitable monitor when pressed. It differ from traditional doorbell cameras in that they’re designed to be more convenient and accessible. You can access your doorbell camera’s live video feed right from your phone to do everything from answering your door remotely, to accepting packages, to confirming your kids or guests arrived safely.

With certain doorbell cameras, you can communicate via a speaker on the doorbell. This can be useful when advising couriers attempting to make a delivery while you’re away, as well as allowing you to identify who is ringing your doorbell and what their intentions are, which can provide an extra sense of security before opening your door.  

How do Wifi Video Doorbell Cameras Work?

Doorbell cameras use either Wi-Fi or wireless data connectivity to relay a video feed from the camera to a paired monitoring device, usually a smartphone. When the doorbell is pressed, a notification will be sent to your phone, and once opened will allow you to view the video feed from the camera.

Some cameras will start recording as soon as they detect motion; obviously this is not ideal for homes with pedestrian traffic nearby, e.g. apartment buildings, as you can end up with a ton of unwanted recordings.

What are The Benefits of a Smart Video Doorbell?

WIth a Wifi Video doorbell camera, you’re digitally closer to home no matter where you are. For some, a view of your doorstep can provide some much-needed peace of mind.

Confirm When Your Kids Get Home

If you have kids who come home from school or practice without any parents or babysitters present, getting an alert that lets you know that made it home safely. They get the autonomy they crave, but you get the comfort you need.

Monitor Package Delivery

A smart video doorbell allows you to monitor deliveries right from your phone. With a remote garage door opener, you can also have your mail carrier leave your packages in a secure location. If your packages tend to mysteriously disappear, you can confirm whether or not they actually made it to your home—or if someone has been sneaking off with your Amazon orders when they think no one is looking.

Answer Your Door Remotely

Traffic holdups, mixed up schedules, and simply running late becomes infinitely less stressful with a smart doorbell. You can answer your front door using your smartphone and welcome your guests in if you have a hidden key or smart lock.

Choosing Your Smart Doorbell Camera

With so many considerations, the idea of doing all the research yourself might seem overwhelming.To make the decision easier on yourself, check out Ecoey Smart Wifi Video Doorbell Camera. It has a low, minimalist profile and comes with everything you need.

Brought to you by WIFI Video Doorbell Camera

How do you choose from the best Wireless Cameras Doorbell For Your Home? In this article, we will take you through some of the features to look out for in a doorbell camera.