ConnectSense, a manufacturer of home automation products, has unveiled a new Wi-Fi-enabled smart outlet that is able to control and monitor devices plugged into it.
“The new ConnectSense In-Wall Smart Outlet puts possibility in the palm of your hand,” the company says about the smart outlet. “Control devices with the sound of your voice, check if you remembered to turn off the heater, and schedule your lights so you never come home to a dark house. Even lock usage when it’s time for homework, not video games. It’s energy monitoring and control--seamlessly designed to fit right in.”
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With the ConnectSense app on a phone or tablet, users can turn on and off each individual outlet. Homeowners can also use touch-controlled buttons or voice commands. It supports Apple Homekit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant smart home platforms, while the app is compatible with both iOS and Android. As a result, users can access the outlet’s controls anywhere via their phone with no hub required.
“We’ve made the In-Wall Outlet faster, more powerful, easier to use, and designed to seamlessly fit into any home or commercial space. We have just started to scratch the surface of what is possible with this device, ” says Adam Justice, founder and CEO of ConnectSense.
By using a Near Field Communication, which helps the device discover nearby signals, the dual controlled and metered 20-amp outlet can connect to devices via WiFi and is available in 15-and-20-am options. This allows users to monitor and control devices such as lights, fans, and appliances, even while remote. The outlet’s “utra-precise energy monitoring within 0.1% accuracy” also allows users to check the voltage readings and power usage so that they can understand how they’re using energy. With this knowledge, users can adjust power through their app to cut costs accordingly, which the company claims can reduce overall usage by 20-to-40 percent.
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Each unit houses two individual outlets that can be controlled independently and sustain up to a 10 Kiloamp impulse. The outlets can automatically sense when a device is plugged in or not. With this feature, the capacitive touch-controlled buttons on the outlet can lock out power when the outlet isn’t in use, adding unparalleled safety for homes with younger children,” according to the company. “Once paired with the ConnectSense app, users can control each individual outlet remotely, turning off power to devices not in use, saving time, money and energy while gaining peace of mind.”
The outlet is end-to-end encrypted and includes an onboard security chip, which protects the outlet from security threats.
“I’m excited to hear from and work with our customers to see how we can continue to help them control their environments, save energy and money, keep their homes and businesses safe, and improve their lives with technology,” Justice says.
The outlets are now available on the company website and on Amazon, starting at $79.
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