The Amazon Echo DOT has a lot of potential to make life easier by installing smart home devices.
There are many new electronics to choose from that are compatible with the Alexa and do a variety of things.
One of the simplest is a Smart Plug wall outlet that turns On or Off with a voice command.
Smart Plugs are small low cost units that are very useful in many situations.
Here is our picks for the best Echo DOT Alexa Smart Plugs. As always be sure to read the reviews on Amazon or elsewhere to be sure a unit is a good fit for you.
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TP-Link Smart Plug, No Hub Required, Wi-Fi, Control your Devices from Anywhere, Works with Amazon Alexa (HS100)
The TP-Link Smart Plug HS100 is very popular since it is low cost and requires no HUB to work.
It has one port to plug a 110 Volt AC electronic device into and control power going to it via voice commands.
More than one can be setup and strategically placed about for automated controls.
When more than one is used a name is given to it each plug for example “Living Room Light”. Alexa can than control the plug with a voice command “Alexa Turn On Living Room Lights.
Besides Alexa they can also be controlled from a smartphone app, and have other features such as being scheduled to turn on or off automatically.
The one downside of the HS100 is it has only one plug port and covers the other wall outlet, this of course doesn’t matter if a AC strip is being used.
TP-Link Smart Plug HS100 is a good Smart Plug AC outlet that works well with the Echo DOT and Alexa at a low cost.
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iDevices Switch – WiFi Smart Plug Works with Apple HomeKit, Android and Amazon Alexa
iDevices is anther good Smart Plug outlet that works well with Alexa.
The design is nice since it doesn’t cover a second outlet when plugged in.
A light displays from the bar when commands are given.
No hub is needed and it is a stand alone controller ready to work with the DOT and Alexa. Besides Alexa it also works with a smartphone app or Apple HomeKit.
The one downside is the price which is higher than other units such as TP-link.
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WeMo Insight Switch Smart Plug, Wi-Fi, Energy Monitoring, Works with Amazon Alexa
The WeMo is another popular Alexa controlled wall outlet that work well the Echo DOT.
It also has many other features such as monitoring electrical usage and automating lights to turn on and off.
It has a electrical rating of 120 volts / 15 Amps / 1800 Watts.
Summary
Smart Home technology with the Amazon Echo DOT has very real world applications that make it more then a convenient device.
AC wall outlets that can be controlled with a voice command are one of those devices, but there are many more such as Smart Light bulbs or even Bluetooth Speakers for sound.
Since smart Plugs only control the power going to a device, there are better solutions when volume or other more more detailed controls are needed.
When using a Smart Plug be sure not to overload the rated power load since as with any electrical device precaution should always be taken.
As always be sure to read the reviews on Amazon or elsewhere to be sure a unit is a good fit for you.