The 10 Best Remote Control Outlet Switches
Special Honors
KasaSmart.com If you're the sort of person who's always losing all the remote controls in your life, then maybe you'd be better off with a model you can control from your smartphone. This company offers several such solutions, with everything from hardwired receptacles to six-outlet power bars with the option to control each socket independently, via Wi-Fi. Their prices are pretty reasonable, too. kasasmart.com
Leviton Smart Technology Plug-and-play, remote-control hardware can present a nice option for those who are wary of new technology, but the convenience presented by models like these is nothing compared to what you can get with modern, integrated smart-home systems these days. If you think you're ready to make the jump to some hardwired implements that can offer you everything from voice control to power monitoring, Leviton makes some of the best gear in the business. Just make sure to consult a reputable, licensed electrician if your project requires a complicated installation. leviton.com
Editor's Notes
March 23, 2021:
It was a fairly smooth round of updates, with almost all of our choices from last year still managing to pull their weight. One exception was the Goronya Wireless, which we removed after noticing that it wasn’t presently available.
We also gave some thought to replacing the Etekcity Zap 1FX with its next-generation model – the Etekcity ESO15-TB, which is only slightly more expensive and sheds the simple remote control included with the 1FX in favor of Wi-Fi connectivity – but ultimately decided that, while we like the looks of this new option, it just wasn’t what we were looking for on this specific list, which is focused on units that can be controlled remotely without a Wi-Fi connection or the additional purchase of a hub. Following this same logic, we also removed the Insteon Dual Socket, which was a hardwired model that offered app control via Wi-Fi, but didn’t include a designated remote control.
Our new picks this time around are the BN-Link Mini — which comes in a pack of five with a pair of remotes, each offering separate control of all five outlets; and the Toveenen Ultra Long Range — which offers 10 times the range of many of its competitors, and is operable from distances of up to 1,000 feet.
As app-controlled options become more and more prevalent, we still see the value of maintaining this list – for the benefit of technophobes, users who abstain from smartphones, and those equipping properties without Wi-Fi access – but for users who are specifically interested in app control, don’t despair, we still have you covered. For weather-resistant options, head over to our list of remote control outdoor outlets, which includes several options with app connectivity (including the ESO15-TB, at the time of this writing). For plug-and-play options that work well with Wi-Fi inside the home, check out our list smart plugs.
February 10, 2020:
We had a reasonable variety of options here from before the update, including single-plug options like the GE mySelectSmart, and the recently-updated Dewenwils Wall; multiplugs, like the Woods Photoelectric and Woods Outdoor, both of which have 3 outlets, but with the latter being waterproof, and also, the Etekcity Zap 1FX, and Dewenwils Heavy Duty which I’ve updated, and; sets with multiple outlets like the J-Tech Digital 3rd Generation, which has 5 outlets, and which I’ve updated from the 2nd gen. model, and the Etekcity Kit, which is very similar to the Etekcity Compact that I had removed.
The sets can be used on different sockets around your home and are your most versatile option. They’re also fairly well-priced and I would them over other options. I’ve removed a couple of the single-plug options like the Eve Energy and replaced it with the Goronya Wireless, which has 5 outlets and is a particularly nice choice for the elderly and disabled. Instead of the learning button being placed on the more traditional position on the right of the outlet, it’s on top, which is a nice accessibility feature. Also, the remote can last for ages on its batteries.
I’ve also replaced another single-plug option for something a little different that wasn’t on the list before – Insteon Dual Socket. This model easily replaces your traditional wall socket, and quite frankly, I really like it. It would have been my first pick, save for the fact that it’s a little more expensive and inconvenient to install, and the remote has to be bought separately, so I can’t recommend it to practically-minded people on a budget; however, it’s still my favorite personal choice, and I would still get this smart plug installed around my house.
In terms of remote accessibility, you’ve got a few options, and the best ones involve purchasing the Insteon Hub to operate it via a smartphone, or get one of the mini remotes- of which I believe they have 3 different models. They have quite a few more control options actually, including a keypad, which is what I think makes this outlet better than similar models that often only offer smartphone control via the company’s own hub that you have to purchase separately. I hope, for the sake of convenience, that Insteon starts selling the Dual Socket in a bundle package with their remote – if that happens, then I will surely move the model up the list.
Burning Down The House
This compounded matters, because wrapping the cables to protect them from arcing actually caused the insulation to melt, causing even further catastrophe.
Over 100 years ago, the most cutting-edge electrical systems relayed power using the knob-and-tube method. This wildly precarious setup consisted of a network of fully exposed live wires held a few inches away from a building's flammable timbers by a flimsy metal rod. The charged lines snaked through ceramic tubes as they passed through wooden walls and floor joists, providing a thin shield of non-conductive material between the possible spark and its potential fuel. By its very nature, K&T wiring dissipates a considerable amount of energy as wasted heat. This compounded matters, because wrapping the cables to protect them from arcing actually caused the insulation to melt, causing even further catastrophe.
Today, knob-and-tube configurations are illegal, except in approved cases of historical restoration.
We were able to ditch that dangerous design with the 1922 invention of Romex, the brand name of the original non-metallic sheathed cable. Containing positive, negative, and ground wires, and ultimately wrapped in some type of non-conductive insulation, this groundbreaking development changed everything about how we use electricity. It arose from early armored cable, which was protected by a rigid outer layer of solid metal that also served as the ground. The new, flexible wire was initially wrapped in a cotton mesh and sealed with a resinous compound. Synthetic polymers began to replace the organic insulation in the mid-20th century, with manufacturers eventually settling on various formulations of high-temperature PVC.
The 1962 revision to the United States National Electrical Code was one of the most important industry milestones, and led to the safe and plentiful power that we now enjoy. A federal mandate for fully grounded, three-wire setups in all new buildings ensured a future rife with multi-functional, high-amperage devices operating simultaneously on multi-level networks designed around each building's construction.
The Oldest Switcheroo
Electricity, itself, was not invented, or even really discovered. It's been right out in the open and subject to observation for all of human history in the form of lightning, also one of the primary natural causes of fire. And just like fire, electricity became relevant when people learned how to control it.
While on-off switches rely on quick, snappy action to work safely, modern dimmer switches are little more complex.
Less than two years after Edison illustrated that centralized power was a real possibility, John Henry Holmes became the first to control it with the flip of a switch. Prior attempts to create a mechanical break in a power line all caused an arc flash to form in the space between contacts. As one of the conductive surfaces shed electrons, it would break down and start to disintegrate. The flash of electricity oxidized (i.e., burned) some of the constituents of air, leading to a buildup of material, moisture, and corrosion. Holmes' design ensured that the opposing surfaces joined and separated too quickly for the atmosphere to light up, allowing for countless on-off cycles before the connection noticeably degraded.
How quickly this occurs is the deciding factor behind whether a switch successfully controls a circuit, or melts itself into an open circuit upon first use. Heat dissipation spikes during the moment of transition from a closed to an open circuit (or vice versa), and the longer that moment takes, the greater the chance that the switch will fail.
While on-off switches rely on quick, snappy action to work safely, modern dimmer switches are little more complex. Earlier versions simply diverted some of the electricity into a resistor, but the most recent type takes advantage of the consistent AC sine wave to portion out less than 110 volts. A dimmer switch actually disconnects the circuit as the sine wave approaches the base of the X axis, and while the relevant outlet still receives a signal at 60 hertz, it possesses only a percentage of the original charge.
These two relatively simple mechanisms allowed us to control homes with our fingertips, but today we live in a world inundated with invisible waves of information. Once switches joined up with that modern wireless technology, and started talking to each other in user-defined, programmable languages, the stage was set for the potential automation of an incredible range of devices.
Being Smarter Than The Smart Home
Technology has shaped few societies the way it has the modern United States. Radios, television sets, and eventually smartphones have all served as major gathering points for Americans in all walks of life. And while we haven't quite started beaming multimedia entertainment straight into consumers' heads, it seems like that might not be so far away. As it stands today, plenty of radio waves bombard our bodies at all times. Every different wireless technology, like each, individual mobile 4G network, and your home's dual-band WLAN, operates within a certain frequency range that the FCC has allotted it. Electromagnetic interference notwithstanding, some of those frequency bands are bound to be empty, and ripe for carrying pre-programmed timing information to lights, air conditioners, and sound systems.
Alternately, some transmitters utilize the margins of a building's existing electrical wiring as a data pipeline. In a simple system, the end result of powerline and wireless transmission are the same: control at a distance, without the need for running new conduit. But one of the most common applications for wireless switches is simply to make an end-run around complex or inaccessible wiring. Some of the most popular such solutions involve little more than pulling off some adhesive backing and sticking a switch to the wall. Other units are geared specifically toward coordinating multiple lights. Some advanced options communicate with wireless devices over the home Wi-Fi network and allow for multi-step programming, often using the If That Then This protocol. Still more models are integrated with comprehensive families of compatible smart products, just waiting for someone to take the plunge and install the entire line in their home of the future.
When it's all said and done, you can enjoy as little or as much automation among your appliances as you like. If you're just getting into the world of wireless home control, a light switch is a straightforward place to start, and it doesn't require much of a commitment or investment.