Having long names can cause confusing for your smart speaker or display. priced purchase, 30% Back in Bonus Rewards on All Ink & Toner, Free next-business-day shipping on qualifying $45 order, Amazon Alexa; Google Assistant; WiFi; Bluetooth. Next, go to the Cync app and connect your plug to your home Wi-Fi. As we mentioned, make sure the names you use to label each outlet on your Cync Outdoor Smart Plug are easy to remember and not cumbersome to say when using voice commands. GE doesn't list the IP rating for the product, but, for comparison, the Wyze Outdoor Plug carries an IP64 weather-resistance rating. The Cync plug supports Alexa and Google Assistant commands and routines, but lacks support for Apple HomeKit and the numerous third-party integrations that you get with IFTTT. He oversees all evergreen content as well as the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories, but also tests out the latest standing desks, webcams, drones, and electric scooters.

Select the bulb or plug youd like to set up. More importantly, they let you control each outlet separately, making it much easier to control when things turn on and off. Control your lights from inside by pairing Outdoor Smart Plug with a Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa device. ESR Deal: Only $17 + Free Shipping ESR iPhone 12/13 Series HaloLock Wallet Stand, Amazon Halo Deal: Get 15% off Amazon Halo Band - Measure how you move, sleep, and sound. Theres even an offset if you want the lights to turn off at a set time before sunrise, or on before sunset. Tip: make sure the names you use to identify each outlet on your Cync Outdoor Smart Plug are easy to remember and not cumbersome to say when using voice commands with a smart speaker or display. If your Cync (C by GE) devices arent set up in the Cync (C by GE) app, you can set them up in the Google Home app. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. However, you can also create a schedule based on a set time of day, as well as sunrise and sunset though theres no offset, such as 15 minutes before or after sunrise. For information on how to set up and control bulbs or plugs from other manufacturersor a Cync (C by GE) smart switch, checkour smart device control pageandsmart device setup page. Then, follow the steps to connect other smart devices in the Google Home app. Please refresh the page and try again. Weatherproof outlet covers and 3-prong plug compatibility are ideal for outdoor use. Yourdevice may receive an update and blink a few times. There also should be a reasonable amount of security, in the form of two-factor authentication. This dual-outlet, weather-resistant smart plug lets you control each plug independently, and works with both Alexa and Google Assistant services. Smart outlet plug turns ordinary lights and devices into smart devices with enhanced functionality like out of home control, scheduling and scene setting. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. To find the control screen for your device, open the Google Home app tap your device. Try to use the device in a different lamp or socket. Most outdoor outlets have a protective cover to shield them from the elements. You will receive a verification email shortly. They can also help save you money on your energy bill by having them turn on/off at specific times. Make sure your bulbs or plugsare powered on. Tap the Scenes button on the home screen to set up an automation that lets you control both the plug and other Cync devices with the tap of a button. The plug is a substantial 4.9 x 2.4 x 2.3 inches, but housed inside its thick plastic housing is a Wi-Fi radio that should connect to your router from up to 300 feet away. According to our Cync customer service representative, the firmware could pose a problem for some. Tip: The name you give your device is used for voice commands. The Kasa app has a ton of features, from scheduling to connecting the plug to other TP-Link smart home devices, to controlling it with Alexa, Google Assistant, and SmartThings. The Ring also comes with three screws and wall anchors. Your subscription has been confirmed. 1996-2022 Ziff Davis. Its not the most attractive, but it gets the job done. During the installation process, both outlets and the plug name automatically showed up on my Alexa device list. If you have a nearby Wi-Fi router, cordless phone, microwave, or Bluetooth speaker, move it further away if you can. What better way to see how an outdoor smart plug works than with our outside holiday lighting. This should be a given, but any outdoor smart plug should be able to withstand some rain and snow. A smart outdoor plug's prongs should be able to fit easily into the outlet, and allow you to close the cover. Heres why you can trust us. Like the best smart plugs, the best outdoor smart plugs can make anything that's plugged into them smart. The Cync app is available for iOS and Android devices. Editor-in-Chief for Toms Guide. From the Lighting panel on the home screen, you can turn each outlet on or off. Setup of the Cync outdoor smart plug is extremely simple. Your deviceblinks when selected. It was the perfect time to test this type of smart home device. Lutrons plug also makes it harder to fit into covered outlets. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. MacBook Pro M2 just got a $200 price drop for back to school, The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. A green LED above each plug indicates whether its on or off. You can also use other Wyze products as triggers for example, having the plug turn on a light if a Wyze Cam detects motion. Turn the bulbor plug off and on. You can also use your voice if you have either an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant enabled device. GE Lighting recently renamed its C By GE smart home brand to Cync, and the Cync Outdoor Smart Plug ($29.99) is one of the first devices to bear that new moniker. Like the Cync Indoor Smart Plug, the Outdoor plug pairs with the Cync mobile app (available for Android and iOS). It includes not only smart lights and light strips, but switches, cameras, thermostat, sensors and indoor plugs. Plug in your device in the same room as your speaker or display. If the bulbor plug light doesnt blink, it means youneed to factory reset each, Choose a home to set up the device in and tap. Try your light or plug and check if it works. If weak, you might need a Wi-Fi extender to help improve the wireless connection. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Thank you for signing up to Tom's Guide. Name your device: Type in thenamethat you want to use for voice commands. Tap. This action also factory resets the device. Once you download the mobile app and create an account, tap the Add Devices panel on the home screen. NY 10036. The plug also adhered to the usage schedule I set up without issues. Our recommendation is to keep it simple. We recommend setting up the Cync plug close to your Home Wi-Fi router before taking it outside. The Cync app will allow you to setup custom schedules and connect with other compatible devices, including the smart speakers and displays which can act as your smart home hub if desired. Yet another has four plugs, but no way to turn them on or off on the device itself. You can turn your device on and off or change the Tunable White bulb color temperature. Make sure the outlet receivespower. Turn on your Cync (C by GE) device. The device takes up to one minute after it receivespower to reconnect to your speaker or display. To do a factory reset, you must plug in your Cync Outdoor Smart Plug and hold down the two buttons on top of the plug for 15 seconds. The Smart Life app is generally well-designed, but pretty basic. GearBrain helps you find, buy and connect any smart device. Use a name like "reading light"or "overhead light." Whatever your purpose, an outdoor smart plug is an inexpensive, yet handy smart home gadget. However, if a smart plugs prongs are in line with its cord, then this often means that the cord will have to be bent 90 degrees in order for you to close the cover, which could lead to the smart plug wearing out sooner. Ive been working with computers for ages, starting with a multi-year stint in purchasing for a major IBM reseller in New York City before eventually landing at PCMag (back when it was still in print as PC Magazine). Its always good to test the Wi-Fi signal prior to installation of the outdoor device. Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. But the best feature of this outdoor smart plug is the cost. However, once connected, Lutron has a very robust app and ecosystem you can control it with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, and you can not only create schedules, but even use geofencing to have the lights turn on automatically when your phone gets within range of your house. Michael A. Prospero is the U.S. You might not be a member of the home that the Cync (C by GE) device was set up in. You can connect up to 6Cync (C by GE) bulbs and plugs with each speaker or display. One of the features we look for in the best outdoor smart plugs is the ability to schedule them to turn on at sunset and off at sunrise. Overall, the Cync Outdoor Smart Plug is a plug and play smart device, no pun intended. We take these, as well as other factors such as the price into consideration, and then compare that to competing devices to determine our final rating. Above each outlet is a small button to control each independently, with two small LEDs indicating their status. The new name is Cync, and the company has started to launch a few new products under this new brand name. When you removeone Cync (C by GE) device through these steps, itremovesall Cync (C by GE) devices: Note: If your bulbs or plugs dont show up in either the Google Home app or the Cync (C by GE) app, they probably need to be factory reset. Best of all, it costs less than $20. If you"re still unable to resolve the issue, share feedback aboutyour speaker, displayor the Google Home app. Your bulbs or plugsmight also use older firmware,so follow the second factory reset sequence if the first sequence doesnt work.

https://www.officedepot.com/images/us/od/, 20% off your qualifying reg. Earlier this year we reported on the rebranding of GE Lightings C by GE brand by Savant, the premium home automation company. I especially like that the prongs are at a right angle to the cord; it makes it much easier to close the door. One of the problems with most smart outdoor plugs is that they lack a dimming function. The Routine should still start automatically at the time you schedule. We got to test one of the new Cync products, Cync Outdoor Smart Plug on a real home with normal connectivity. Turns out we continued to have an issue with connecting to our home Wi-Fi network. The lights will turn red then back to blue. PCMag Digital Group. Many outdoor smart plugs we have tested to-date come with only one outlet. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. You can create schedules for the plugs to turn on and off at scheduled times, but theres no sunrise or sunset option, for instance (you could do this with Alexa, but thats a separate step). They should be no more than 15 feet apart. To get the most out of Google Home, choose your Help Center: U.S. Help Center, U.K Help Center, Canada Help Center, Australia Help Center. The LEDs glow green when the outlet has power and flash blue during setup. I spent more than 14 years on staff, most recently as the director of operations for PC Labs, before hitting the freelance circuit as a contributing editor. For our tests, we wanted to see how the Cync Outdoor Smart Plug would work with our holiday lighting. However, Cyncs new Outdoor Smart Plug comes with two outlets instead of one. Cyncs new outdoor smart plug is a smart plug that works either inside or outside your smart home on a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection. Some didnt have sunrise/sunset settings in their apps very useful for outdoor smart lights; another has two plugs, but you cant control them separately. If you're looking to keep your yard lit up, be sure to check out our picks for the best solar lights. Rubber covers protect each of the three-prong, downward-facing outlets. Note: Youneed to enter a voice command for your Routine. We look at all of the features in the app, and see how they compare to other apps. The plug worked as intended in my tests. Here, you can also create schedules for the plug to turn on or off at a specific time of day. However, the plugs can also be controlled via Alexa or Google Assistant, so you can use those assistants. Other devices near your speaker or display or Cync (C by GE) device might cause interference. Control outdoor lights with the touch of a button thanks to the GE CYNC Outdoor Smart Plug. However, the dumbest thing about WeMos smart plug is that while it has two outlets, you cant control them separately. www.youtube.com, GE Lighting Cync Outdoor Smart Plug, Alexa and Google Assistant Compatible, Wi-Fi / Bluetooth Enabled, No Hub Required, 2022 GearBrain, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Dont include the name of the room when you name the device. Regardless, you should always try and mount an outdoor smart plug so that its outlets are facing down, and cover up the plugs that aren't being used. How well does it fit into an outdoor outlet? Backed by the manufacturer's 2-year limited warranty. The Cync Outdoor Smart Plug costs only $29.99 and is available on Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. These too, can be time-based, but you cant specify if something should work only after it gets dark out. SimpliSafe Deal: Get 45% off any new SimpliSafe system and get free shipping. You can add. Here are the results from our testing. Just follow the instructions in the Cync app or supplied Quick Start Guide. Might have to do a factory reset to pair your Cync outdoor plug with your home Wi-Fi Network.GearBrain. The Ring Outdoor smart plug is a massive brick. your two outlets on Cync outdoor plug in the app.GearBrain. Follow these steps to reset your Cync (C by GE) lights and plugs: New to smart lights? Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. In order to determine which are the best outdoor smart plugs, we install them outside our home, and evaluate a few key factors: Ease of setup and security What features does the app have? Note: You can't unlink individual Cync (C by GE) lights or plugs. If you want to turn exterior lighting, pool pumps, and other outdoor electronics into connected devices, the Cync Outdoor Smart Plug gets the job done. Check that your wall switch is on. While the plug itself has an on/off switch, you can also pair it with a remote ($20, sold separately) if youre looking for an easy way to control it from inside. Note:When your speaker or displayand Cync (C by GE) devicesare in the same room, your speakeror displayshouldknow your voice commands are for the Cync (C by GE) devicesin that room. You might have too many Cync (C by GE) devices in one Home app home. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Patent No. And, not only does WeMos plug work with Alexa and Google Assistant, but its also compatible with HomeKit the only outdoor smart plug on this list with that ability. For many homeowners, a smart plug will be one of the first forays into the smart home, so it should be easy to set up via the app. It'srecommended to use a contextual name like "reading light"or "coffee maker plug." We contacted customer service and they assisted us in getting the outdoor plug to connect with our router. The signal between your device and your speaker or display might not be strong enough. Get an answer from an expert on the Google Home Help Forum. By updating the firmware, it can help eliminate many issues. We like that the prongs on the GE plug are perpendicular to the 7-inch cord; the prongs are slightly angled, too, so you can fit more than one in a standard outlet. For homes that dont have many outdoor outlets to power outdoor lighting or devices, this new Cync outdoor smart plug can help solve this problem by providing two smart plugs for each outdoor outlet.

If the lights you want to control are up all year-round, you dont want to have to keep fiddling with the app as the days get longer and shorter. The Smart Light Starter Kit is your first step to home automation with aGoogle Nest Mini (2nd gen) or a Google Home Mini (1st gen), and a GE Soft White Smart Bulb in one package. imilab deal: $99 for imilab Smart Video Doorbell with 90 days free video storage. Aside from the hardware, it's TP-Link's Kasa app that sets this device apart from other smart outlets. The device must be turned on before you continue. The very best apps in this regard also have an offset, so you can have your lights turn on at a set time before sunset when its getting dark. Its well built and works with both major voice platforms, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Keep an eye on your inbox! It responded immediately to app-based and Alexa requests to turn on and off, and the physical power buttons worked well. All these devices are controlled by the Cync app and voice commands. Besides Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant enabled devices, Cync Outdoor Smart Plug also works with all C by GE products as well as Savant Home, the customizable smart home platform. Once you have your Cync Outdoor Smart Plug paired with your home Wi-Fi network, you can set up control for each individual outlet on the plug. At the bottom are two plugs, each protected by a rubber flap. If it had the ability to control each outlet separately, this would be darn near perfect. Deal end July 30th. You then repeat this process for the right outlet and update the firmware (if necessary) to complete the installation. However, Kasas app still lacks two-factor authentication. Designed to withstand the elements, this Wi-Fi-enabled smart plug offers two independently functioning outlets that you can control via the Cync mobile app or with voice commands. How did Cync Outdoor Smart Plug perform during testing. Dont include the name of the room when you name the device. For voice commands, Cync devices work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant enabled devices. When hes not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, hes probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight or chagrin of his family. Read on to see what we liked about the best outdoor smart plugs. Keep in mind that not all lights will react the same to being dimmed some may flicker.

The best premium and luxury smart speakers to buy in 2022, Back to school and college tech guide 2022, 11 best robotic vacuum cleaners under $500, 8 back-to-school helpers that take the sting out of the fall routine. Set up and control Cync(C by GE) light bulbs and plugs, Tell us more and well help you get there, set up your device in the Cync (C by GE) app, connect other smart devices in the Google Home app, Ask the person who created the home to add you as a member, up to 6 Cync (C by GE) devices per Google Assistant device, share feedback aboutyour speaker, displayor the Google Home app, To turn on or off a particular light (Example: "desk light"), "Dim the desk light" or "Dim all the lights", Set a light brightness to a certain percentage, "Set desk light to 50%" or "Set lights to 70%", Dim or brighten lights by a certain percentage, "Dim lamp by 50%" or "Brighten lights by 10%", "Turn on all of the lights" or Turn off all of the lights", Set Tunable White bulbs to Vibrant or wake color, Set Tunable White bulbs to Active or everyday color, Set Tunable White bulbs to Calm or sleep color, Change the color temperature of Tunable White bulbs, "Change lights to 2700 kelvin" (2000-7000 range), To turn on or off a particular plug (Example: "desk plug"), "Turn on all of the plugs" or "Turn off all of the plugs". When looking at Cyncs product line of smart devices, its rather big. Extending from the body of the PowrUI are four plugs, all of which can be controlled independently. Fortunately, WeMos app is pretty robust. What's more, outdoor smart plug apps let you create schedules for when things should turn on and off, and can be linked to other smart home devices. Similar to Rings outdoor smart plug, in order to control the Lutron plug from your phone or use any of its features, you need to connect it to a Lurtron bridge, which itself costs $80, and which needs to be within 30 to 60 feet of the plug. Another nice feature of this outdoor smart plug is the individual outlet control. No hub is required. And it can control more than one strand of lights separately using one outlet. The Wyze Plug has two sockets; at the top of the front of the Plug are two buttons to control each socket, with small LEDs that show which is active. He has worked at Tom's Guide for many a year; before that, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. An outdoor smart plug connects to the cloud via your home Wi-Fi network, allowing you to control it remotely from your smartphone. Most outdoor outlets have a protective cover of some sort that shields them from the elements; some covers can close even when something is plugged in to the outlet. However, its high price of $80 four times that of other outdoor smart plugs and the fact that it only has one plug for its massive size moves it well down our list. Outdoor smart plugs are smart devices which can make operating your outdoor lighting easier, especially around the holidays. An Alexa routine I created for one of the outlets to turn on when I unlocked a Utec Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro smart lock worked every time. Schedule and control each socket individually or grouped together. This will make sure you plug gets paired with your Wi-Fi router and is fully operational prior to being plugged outside. With an IP44 rating, its a little more susceptible to rain than other plugs, but it has covers for both outlets. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. Follow the in-app instructions to complete setup. Your Cync outdoor plug should connect quickly like ours did when we did the factory reset. Just below the buttons is a small light sensor; this can be used to tell the outlet when to turn on or off, based on the ambient lighting conditions. Even though we had a good wireless connection by our outdoor outlet, we ran into pairing issues. You can also set a vacation mode, where the Plug will turn on and off so it looks like youre home, but Im not sure how useful that is for an outdoor light.

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