Got an outdoor smart plug? Here are 5 ways to put it to good use

I tested the Tapo Matter Outdoor Smart Plug to see where it ranks on our list of the best smart plugs. While I only connected it to a few weatherproof lights I found in my yard, it sent me down a rabbit hole trying to figure out how useful these gadgets are beyond outdoor lighting.

After going through my shed and doing a bit of research, I found a ton of things you can connect to your smart outdoor plug to make your life easier. Read on to find out how you can take advantage of the best smart outdoor plugs and control your gadgets remotely, on a schedule, or in response to a smart home trigger like motion.

Electric fans or sprinklers

Whether you have fans lining your gazebo or a loose sprinkler on your patio, you can use an outdoor smart plug to create a breeze in flight. Program your smart plug to turn on these devices at specific times or automatically in response to heat. This can help cool down your main entertainment spaces on hot days.

Insect killer lamps

Warm weather brings in midges and mosquitoes. While it’s helpful to know the best mosquito repellent plants, you can automate your electric mosquito zappers to go off during peak times. This will help to repel and reduce pests, especially after sunset. Add this to a motion-sensor routine so that when you sit down at certain times, the zapper goes off for a few minutes and automatically turns off when you leave the room.

Fountains, Pumps and Aerators

You can automate water features, such as a birdbath in the garden or a waterfall in the garden pond, by connecting them to a smart plug. This way, you can turn them on from your phone before guests arrive, or program them to run at specific times each day. It also helps to optimize the timing of pond aerators or pool pumps to run at specific times and reduce energy consumption.

Outdoor speakers and TVs

Automatically turn on your outdoor entertainment systems without searching for the remote. Simply tune your speakers to the station you listen to most often and set your smart outdoor TV to open live internet channels (e.g. Pluto, Roku, etc.) when it turns on. That way, you can grill or swim to your favorite tunes or enjoy a game at the same time.

Inflatable

Whether it’s a bouncy castle for kids, an inflatable pool or an inflatable hot tub for adults, you can power up the inflatables when needed and power them down instantly with a smart plug that automates the tedious process of inflating and deflating. For an inflatable hot tub — which you probably don’t want to deflate — you can use a smart plug to automate its filter pump and jets.

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