Smart plug setup in Exeter
Professional smart plug setup services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
20-30 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Smart plugs connected to your WiFi and paired with your phone. Control lamps, fans, or devices remotely, set schedules for automation, add voice control - simple home automation sorted.
Stop Walking Across Dark Rooms
You're in bed, reading, and the bedside lamp's across the room because there's no socket near the bed. Or you left the house and can't remember if you turned off the hair straighteners. Or you want the living room lamp to come on automatically when you get home instead of arriving to a dark house.
💡 Pro tip: Smart plugs are the easiest entry to home automation. No rewiring, no complicated installation - just plug them in and control anything from your phone.
Why Professional Setup Matters
"Just download the app" they say. Then you're 20 minutes in, the plug won't pair, and you've reset it three times:
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Connected to correct WiFi network | Can't find plug, won't pair |
| Sensible names (Kitchen Lamp) | Socket_3847_2.4GHz nonsense |
| Voice control working properly | "Alexa doesn't understand me" |
| Useful schedules configured | Technically working, doing nothing useful |
What You Get
🔧 Complete Setup
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| App install | Manufacturer app installed on your phone |
| WiFi pairing | Each plug connected to your network |
| Naming | Sensible names instead of random codes |
| Voice control | Linked to Alexa/Google Home if wanted |
| Schedules | Automation rules set up as needed |
📦 You're Left With
- Smart plugs working on your network
- Phone app controlling them all
- Voice commands set up (optional)
- Schedules running automatically
- Understanding of how to use and modify
Pricing Guide
Quick job for a few plugs:
| Number of Plugs | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 smart plugs | 20-40 mins | £60 |
| 4-6 smart plugs | 40-60 mins | £60 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour). Rarely takes longer unless WiFi issues or complex automation.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Lamp control - turn lights on/off without getting up
✅ Security - lights on timers while you're away
✅ Convenience - coffee maker starts before you wake
✅ Safety - turn off devices remotely if you forget
Why Choose Us for Smart plug setup in Exeter?
Plugs paired with WiFi and app
Devices controllable from phone
Schedules and timers set up
Voice control configured if wanted
What to Expect
Step 1: App Setup
I install the manufacturer's app on your phone (different brands use different apps - TP-Link Kasa, Wemo, whatever yours needs) and create an account if required.
Step 2: Pair Plugs
Each smart plug gets plugged in, put into pairing mode, and connected to your WiFi network. I give them sensible names based on what's plugged into them - "Bedroom Lamp" is easier to remember than "Smart Socket 4".
Step 3: Automation & Voice
If you want schedules (lamp on at sunset, off at midnight), I set those up. If you use Alexa or Google Home, I link the plugs so voice commands work. Then I show you how to control everything and modify settings yourself.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to set up your own smart plugs? Here's how:
🔧 What you'll need
- Smart plugs (same brand makes life easier)
- Phone or tablet
- WiFi network (2.4GHz - most smart plugs don't work on 5GHz)
- Manufacturer's app
📱 Setup process
- Download manufacturer app
- Create account if needed
- Plug in smart plug near router
- Put plug in pairing mode (usually hold button)
- Follow app instructions to connect to WiFi
- Rename from default name to something sensible
- Test by turning on/off from app
- Repeat for additional plugs
🏠 Automation ideas
- Lights: On at sunset, off at bedtime
- Security: Random schedule while on holiday
- Coffee maker: On 10 minutes before alarm
- Fan: Off after 2 hours
- Phone charger: Off overnight to save power
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Trying to connect to 5GHz WiFi (most plugs only do 2.4GHz)
- Not putting plug in pairing mode first
- Giving up after first failure instead of resetting
- Same names for different plugs (Living Room Lamp 1, 2, 3...)
- Never using the automation features you set up
💡 Pro trick: Group related plugs together in the app. "Living Room Lights" controls all living room lamps with one command. Then "Alexa turn off living room lights" does the lot, or schedule them all together.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔌 Energy monitoring? Some smart plugs track power usage and tell you how much electricity a device uses. Useful for finding phantom power drains. Worth the extra couple of quid if you're curious about consumption.
Multiple brands? Try to stick with one manufacturer - it's simpler having everything in one app. If you've already got a mix of brands, most work with Alexa/Google so you can control them all with voice even if the apps are separate.
Old Exeter houses with thick walls? Smart plugs connect to WiFi, so if the room has poor WiFi coverage, the plugs won't work reliably. Might need WiFi coverage sorted first - mesh systems work well in Devon's solid-walled properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does smart plug setup involve?
It's connecting smart plugs to your WiFi network, installing the manufacturer's app on your phone, pairing each plug, naming them sensibly (Living Room Lamp not Socket 3), and setting up any schedules or voice control you want. Then you can control whatever's plugged into them from your phone or with Alexa/Google commands.
What can I control with smart plugs?
Anything with a simple on/off switch. Lamps, fans, coffee makers, phone chargers. Things with touch controls or complex buttons don't work well. If you can turn it on by flipping a switch, a smart plug can automate that.
Do they work with Alexa and Google Home?
Most do, yes. I'll connect them to whichever voice assistant you use so you can say 'Alexa turn off the lamp' or 'OK Google turn on the fan'. Makes more sense than opening an app every time.
Can you set up schedules like lights on at sunset?
Yes - that's one of the best uses. Lights on when it gets dark, off at bedtime. Coffee maker on before you wake up. Heater on before you get home. I'll set up whatever automation makes sense for your routine.
How many plugs can you set up in one visit?
As many as you need really. First one takes 20-30 minutes to get everything installed and working, additional plugs are quicker because the app's already set up. I usually do 3-5 in a visit.
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