Recommend me a smart plug for Home Assistant

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Recommend me a smart plug for Home Assistant

elpenguino

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#319941 15-Jun-2025 22:32

I'd like something like a Shelly Smart Plug because I find their products integrate easily with Home Assistant and I don't have to faff with any apps (other than HA).

Shelly don't make an Australian/NZ smart plug so can you recommend me an alternative that:

connects to WiFi reliably
integrates with Home Assistant
isn't hellishly expensive ?

I don't have any Zigbee devices so I'd prefer WiFi. I'd consider adding Zigbee if that was cheap and easy to do (I haven't looked into it).

Thanks !

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

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#3384527 15-Jun-2025 23:09

I’ve started playing with HA and my old TP-Link smart plugs were detected and work great.
Their smart bulbs as well.

I’ve been able to now set a notification if we’ve forgotten to plug in the EV. :)

We just charge with a standard 3 pin charger from 9pm-7am on cheaper night rates.
HA allows you to check the smart plug power usage, if it’s one that supports reading the power usage, and I can tell it to notify me if the power usage is below 10W for more than 10 mins after 9pm.

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elpenguino

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#3384528 15-Jun-2025 23:14

CYaBro:

I’ve started playing with HA and my old TP-Link smart plugs were detected and work great.

Thanks - like this one ? Tapo P110M

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

Handle9

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#3384531 15-Jun-2025 23:19

If you are going to go down the smarthome route zigbee is well worth the investment. Once ikea launches in NZ you'll have access to a decent range of well priced stuff.

The Smilight SLZB-06 is by far the easiest and nicest way to do it. Don't muck about with USB dongles.

elpenguino

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#3384533 15-Jun-2025 23:30

Handle9:

If you are going to go down the smarthome route zigbee is well worth the investment. Once ikea launches in NZ you'll have access to a decent range of well priced stuff.

The Smilight SLZB-06 is by far the easiest and nicest way to do it. Don't muck about with USB dongles.

I gather Zigbee is good for battery powered sensors ( window sensors and the like).

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

Handle9

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#3384534 15-Jun-2025 23:33

elpenguino:

Handle9:

If you are going to go down the smarthome route zigbee is well worth the investment. Once ikea launches in NZ you'll have access to a decent range of well priced stuff.

The Smilight SLZB-06 is by far the easiest and nicest way to do it. Don't muck about with USB dongles.

I gather Zigbee is good for battery powered sensors ( window sensors and the like).

Sensors, lights, pushbuttons, outlets, thermostats, it goes on and on. I have 82 zigbee devices on my zigbee network. As a mesh network the more devices you have the better it works.

CYaBro

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#3384535 15-Jun-2025 23:34

elpenguino:

CYaBro:

I’ve started playing with HA and my old TP-Link smart plugs were detected and work great.

Thanks - like this one ? Tapo P110M

Yup that’s the one but I have the older HS110.
I assume the new ones would work the same with HA.

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peng1nz

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#3384538 16-Jun-2025 00:01

CYaBro:

Yup that’s the one but I have the older HS110.
I assume the new ones would work the same with HA.

I have those Tapo P110M. I have only just got started with HA and have not connected the P110M yet however I read elsewhere that the power monitoring feature was introduced in Matter 1.3 and these P110M do not support 1,3 (yet?). Therefore are only good for switching on and off. Seems a bit odd that the older Hs110 does support power monitoring, perhaps via another protocol?

petearr

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#3384604 16-Jun-2025 08:17

The Tapo P110M's work great locally in Homeassistant (just like the Tapo P110's). I have several that I've added via the Tapo integration.
It's only running them over the Matter protocol that doesn't support the energy monitoring. It's supposedly passed certification but has been "coming soon" for a long time now.

peng1nz

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#3384613 16-Jun-2025 08:58

petearr:

The Tapo P110M's work great locally in Homeassistant (just like the Tapo P110's). I have several that I've added via the Tapo integration.
It's only running them over the Matter protocol that doesn't support the energy monitoring. It's supposedly passed certification but has been "coming soon" for a long time now.

Thanks petearr for confirming. I now have my P110Ms connected to HA via the TP-Link integration (no need for cloud). I can see power consumption data. (Maybe I should have got the slightly cheaper P110s instead of P110M as it seems the Matter feature does not 'matter' to HA.)

lxsw20

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#3384614 16-Jun-2025 09:08

I've got a couple of these at home they are just Tuya behind the scenes. Works well with HomeAssistant. https://www.bunnings.co.nz/arlec-white-grid-connect-smart-plug-in-socket-with-energy-meter-4-pack_p0273368

elpenguino

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#3384616 16-Jun-2025 09:10

Handle9:

I have 82 zigbee devices on my zigbee network. As a mesh network the more devices you have the better it works.

I'm going to need a bigger subnet !🦈

Thanks everyone, the TP Link 110 is around $30 - I'll try a couple of those.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

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elpenguino

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#3384617 16-Jun-2025 09:26

lxsw20:

I've got a couple of these at home they are just Tuya behind the scenes. Works well with HomeAssistant. https://www.bunnings.co.nz/arlec-white-grid-connect-smart-plug-in-socket-with-energy-meter-4-pack_p0273368

$17 each and I'll go past a bunnings tonight ..... hmmm. Thanks for the tip.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

timmmay

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#3384631 16-Jun-2025 10:05

Athom ESP32 smart plugs work well for me and are reasonably priced, so do my older TP Link Kasa plugs. I would be wary of putting things like 10 amp heaters through any smart plug, though I do that for a short time with my TP Link plugs which control a bathroom heater. The TP Link Kasa plug has been in the ceiling for 5+ years controlling a ventilation system with no problems. The Athom ones we've had mostly in the house doing bits and pieces, not used as often as the TP Link. Make your own judgement call on relative brand quality, they're all likely made in China as cheaply as possible.

openmedia

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#3384634 16-Jun-2025 10:17

Another vote for Athom - you can use Tasmota or ESP32 for plugs.

I previously used Tuya generic plugs when you could still convert them to Tasmota, but the new chips they use aren't compatible.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

lxsw20

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#3384639 16-Jun-2025 10:34

Only trick with the Bunnings one is to set them up using the Tuya Smart app rather than the Arlec one, and have the Tuya add in setup in your HA.

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