Using Wi-Fi Based Smart Plugs in Your LiveReach Setup
Expanding your Livereach AI infrastructure with Wi-Fi based smart plugs can significantly enhance your network management capabilities. This article provides a comprehensive guide on the purpose, functionality, and benefits of integrating smart plugs into your existing setup. We'll also walk you through the process of setting up smart plugs using the Kasa App.
Wi-Fi based smart plugs are devices that allow you to control electrical appliances and devices remotely. They are connected to your home Wi-Fi network and can be managed using a smartphone app, enabling you to turn devices on or off, and monitor power consumption. Integrating smart plugs into your LiveReach AI setup offers several advantages. If you have multiple locations to manage, smart plugs allow you to power cycle devices remotely from anywhere, improving operational efficiency and reducing the need for on-site intervention.
After setting up your smart plug, it connects to your Wi-Fi network, enabling you to manage it using a TP-Link account and access the cloud. You can control the smart plug using the Kasa mobile app. Some smart plugs even offer additional features such as surge protection and voltage monitoring capabilities, enhancing the safety and reliability of your networked devices.
TP-Link smart devices can be controlled both locally and remotely via the Kasa App. Follow these steps to set up your smart plug
Download and install the Kasa Smart app from the App Store or Google Play.
Connect your smartphone to your home Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz only).
Plug your Smart Plug into a power outlet.
Open the Kasa App and log in using your TP-Link ID / Cloud account.
If you don’t have an account, please sign up for one using the steps outlined in How to create a TP-Link Cloud Account on Kasa
Some steps in this setup guide are different for Android and iOS Devices
The EP25P4 Smart Plug is used as an example in this case
Log in to the Kasa App with your TP-Link ID / Cloud account.
Add your Smart Plug on Kasa APP. Tap “+” and “Add a Device”, then click on “Smart plug” and choose an icon according to your model number.
Select Smart Plug option from the list and click next
Select Smart Plug model from the list. In this example, its EP25.
Follow the instructions in the Kasa app, power on the EP25 (Click the button on smart plug once), and wait for the Wi-Fi light to blink orange and green/blue.
Blinking orange & blue means smart plug is ready to set up. Click on next as shown below. If the light does not blink orange and green, please reset the EP25 as per the User Guide/Quick Installation Guide [Included in the box].
Connect your phone to the Smart Plug’s Wi-Fi. Please note that the process varies between Android and iOS for this step.
For Android: The Kasa app will look for your Kasa device automatically. This may take about a minute.
For iOS: You will need to connect to the smart plug’s Wi-Fi network manually. Please go to Settings → Wi-Fi on your smart phone and connect to the smart plug’s Wi-Fi network. The smart plug’s name should appear as “TP-LINK_Smart Plug_XXXX”. Then, return to the Kasa app and continue the setup process.
If a message appears on your phone stating, “this Wi-Fi network is unsecured/unprotected, your privacy and data may be at risk” and presents you with 2 options. Please select, "connect anyway/keep using this Wi-Fi/stay connected", then continue the setup.
Wait for few minutes for the device to be added to your account.
Kasa App will show you the network to be connected. You can either select I am already connected or Connect the smart Plug to your different network. If you cannot find your network in the Wi-Fi list, please tap “Join Other Network” at the bottom of the Wi-Fi list, then enter your home network SSID and password manually. After this step, your smart plug will be connected to your home network.
Enter name for your smart plug and wait for the set up to complete.
you should be able to see your device in the home screen
login into your Kasa Account
You should first add devices before creating a group. Follow above section to add devices to your account.
After adding devices, go to home screen and click on + icon at top right corner and click on Group
You can access your groups in different locations. A location is defined as a "Room" in Kasa App. You can create new Locations from home screen.
Select devices to be mapped to this group and click on save.
Once you've grouped devices into a room in the Kasa App, you can control all the devices in that room simultaneously. This means you can turn off devices collectively for the entire group with just a few taps on your smartphone
Setting up a smart strip is similar to setting up a smart plug. Each plug in the strip will be treated as a separate device, and you will need to name each plug individually. For detailed steps, please refer to the above section on setting up a smart plug using the Kasa App.
We have tested these Wi-Fi smart plugs and strips using our Livereach setup to ensure compatibility and performance.
Wi-Fi Smart plug : EP25P4
Wi-Fi Smart Strip : KP303
If you face any issues setting up the device - Reach out to us. Alternatively, you can also reach out to TP Link Tech support
https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/946/
https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/948/
Purpose and Remote Control
Wi-Fi based smart plugs are devices that allow you to control electrical appliances and devices remotely. They are connected to your home Wi-Fi network and can be managed using a smartphone app, enabling you to turn devices on or off, and monitor power consumption. Integrating smart plugs into your LiveReach AI setup offers several advantages. If you have multiple locations to manage, smart plugs allow you to power cycle devices remotely from anywhere, improving operational efficiency and reducing the need for on-site intervention.
How Does It Work?
After setting up your smart plug, it connects to your Wi-Fi network, enabling you to manage it using a TP-Link account and access the cloud. You can control the smart plug using the Kasa mobile app. Some smart plugs even offer additional features such as surge protection and voltage monitoring capabilities, enhancing the safety and reliability of your networked devices.
How to Set Up a Smart Plug Using the Kasa App
TP-Link smart devices can be controlled both locally and remotely via the Kasa App. Follow these steps to set up your smart plug
Prerequisites
Download and install the Kasa Smart app from the App Store or Google Play.
Connect your smartphone to your home Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz only).
Plug your Smart Plug into a power outlet.
Setting up TP Link Cloud Account
Open the Kasa App and log in using your TP-Link ID / Cloud account.
If you don’t have an account, please sign up for one using the steps outlined in How to create a TP-Link Cloud Account on Kasa
Adding smart plug to Kasa
Some steps in this setup guide are different for Android and iOS Devices
The EP25P4 Smart Plug is used as an example in this case
Log in to the Kasa App with your TP-Link ID / Cloud account.
Add your Smart Plug on Kasa APP. Tap “+” and “Add a Device”, then click on “Smart plug” and choose an icon according to your model number.
Select Smart Plug option from the list and click next
Select Smart Plug model from the list. In this example, its EP25.
Follow the instructions in the Kasa app, power on the EP25 (Click the button on smart plug once), and wait for the Wi-Fi light to blink orange and green/blue.
Blinking orange & blue means smart plug is ready to set up. Click on next as shown below. If the light does not blink orange and green, please reset the EP25 as per the User Guide/Quick Installation Guide [Included in the box].
Connect your phone to the Smart Plug’s Wi-Fi. Please note that the process varies between Android and iOS for this step.
For Android: The Kasa app will look for your Kasa device automatically. This may take about a minute.
For iOS: You will need to connect to the smart plug’s Wi-Fi network manually. Please go to Settings → Wi-Fi on your smart phone and connect to the smart plug’s Wi-Fi network. The smart plug’s name should appear as “TP-LINK_Smart Plug_XXXX”. Then, return to the Kasa app and continue the setup process.
If a message appears on your phone stating, “this Wi-Fi network is unsecured/unprotected, your privacy and data may be at risk” and presents you with 2 options. Please select, "connect anyway/keep using this Wi-Fi/stay connected", then continue the setup.
Wait for few minutes for the device to be added to your account.
Kasa App will show you the network to be connected. You can either select I am already connected or Connect the smart Plug to your different network. If you cannot find your network in the Wi-Fi list, please tap “Join Other Network” at the bottom of the Wi-Fi list, then enter your home network SSID and password manually. After this step, your smart plug will be connected to your home network.
Enter name for your smart plug and wait for the set up to complete.
you should be able to see your device in the home screen
How to group devices in Kasa
login into your Kasa Account
You should first add devices before creating a group. Follow above section to add devices to your account.
After adding devices, go to home screen and click on + icon at top right corner and click on Group
You can access your groups in different locations. A location is defined as a "Room" in Kasa App. You can create new Locations from home screen.
Select devices to be mapped to this group and click on save.
Once you've grouped devices into a room in the Kasa App, you can control all the devices in that room simultaneously. This means you can turn off devices collectively for the entire group with just a few taps on your smartphone
Setting up Wi-Fi Smart Strips
Setting up a smart strip is similar to setting up a smart plug. Each plug in the strip will be treated as a separate device, and you will need to name each plug individually. For detailed steps, please refer to the above section on setting up a smart plug using the Kasa App.
Our Recommendations
We have tested these Wi-Fi smart plugs and strips using our Livereach setup to ensure compatibility and performance.
Wi-Fi Smart plug : EP25P4
Wi-Fi Smart Strip : KP303
If you face any issues setting up the device - Reach out to us. Alternatively, you can also reach out to TP Link Tech support
References
https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/946/
https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/948/
Updated on: 09/07/2024
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