Useful new smart power strip

[Joe Rice]

Just bought a new power strip that I think others might find interesting as well. It's expensive ($40) vs. other power strips but it's allowed me to avoid buying another energy bar for my APEX so overall a big cost savings.

It's a 4 outlet power strip where you can set ON/OFF timers for each outlet via an app you download to your phone. I'm using it for my refugium light and my frag tank light.

For what it's worth, you can also turn each outlet on and off via the app, and you can even configure an Amazon Echo to allow you to control each outlet by voice. I think voice control is probably not that helpful in general but had to laugh today when I had my hands in the sump and needed to unplug a Magnum filter I was using, and realized I could just say "Alexa, turn off switch 4". Big limitation is that you can't rename the outlets (yet?).

It's called the "Geeni SURGE Smart Wi-Fi 4 Outlet & 4 USB Surge Protector".

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071R9N4Z7

 

[Crabs McJones]

So if you were to get two of these, to get 8 outlets total, do you have to have two separate apps or can one app control both of them?

 

[Joe Rice]

So if you were to get two of these, to get 8 outlets total, do you have to have two separate apps or can one app control both of them?

From the user guide it looks like you can control multiple power strips from just the one app and you CAN rename the whole strip. So they show "Living Room", "Study", etc. But not sure how the voice control would work with more than one strip.

I think they're going for a whole line of smart products, not just the power strip, all of which can be controlled from the one app.

 

[AlexStinson]

This is really cool. Practically the same price as those crappy timed strips from the big box pet stores with the day/night outlets.

 

[krullshards]

Yeah very cool! Thanks for the heads up. I've added it to my amazon wishlist.

 

[GHsaltie]

This is perfect timing, as I have been looking for two programmable power strips, but hadn't seen any I like.

 

[Joe Rice]

This is perfect timing, ...

No pun intended?

 

[GHsaltie]

Haha! I promise no pun intended, that was a happy accident.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Poseidon's Paradise]

If you have a z-wave network get this.....
https://www.amazon.com/ZEN20-Z-Wave...=1505262305&sr=8-2&keywords=zwave+power+strip

I don't use a controller, I run everything thru my home automation network...power heads, pumps, lights and currently working on sensors....if you have it, might as well put it to work..

 

[radiata]

Neat product! Are there any limitations specified on the types of bulbs you can dim with it?

 

[Poseidon's Paradise]

Running LED's and using Fibaro's RGBW Controller....I schedule sun/moon and clouds....

 

[Flameback Pair]

This is an energy outlet monitor I thought would be very useful. There is a video by Inappropriate Reefer on Youtube about it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...in-20&linkId=98feea498eff575c40a42d4c9c3ba7d2

 

[Forsaken77]

I am using the Kill A Watt PS10. It's a 10 outlet surge protector that monitors every aspect of power that's running through the strip and has a ground check as well. It tells the volts, watts, amps (current power usage as well as your highest & lowest amount).

But one of the features that I had to lookup is called "Power Factor." It tells you how efficient your equipment is using the power. Sad to say, most aquarium gear uses more power than it actually requires to run, according to the strip.

 

[Jim Harrison]

My only problem with these is they have so many names plastered on them. A myriad of Logo's and Company names. Makes me leery. Though I really like the idea of them, until someone uses them from our community and has a review after a few months I'm sitting here waiting to pull the trigger.

 

[Joe Rice]

My only problem with these is they have so many names plastered on them. A myriad of Logo's and Company names. Makes me leery. Though I really like the idea of them, until someone uses them from our community and has a review after a few months I'm sitting here waiting to pull the trigger.

Assuming you're talking about the original post, I also found that concerning. Definitely looks like a lot of rebranding of the same item, although not as much for the Geeni model. I've been using mine for just a few days now and it's working like a champ but I'll get back here in a few months and give an update.