Most smart plugs on the market have one thing missing: they’re not designed for outdoor use. The iClever IC-BS06 smart plug, however, is built for outdoor life and nasty weather—and even has some nifty features tacked on.
Let’s get the outdoor-related specs and jargon out of the way first. The IC-BS06 is rated for temperatures as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 140 degrees. So even on the coldest and hottest of days, the plug will continue to power your outdoor displays, water feature or whatever it’s controlling. Furthermore, it’s IP44 certified, which means that it can take the occasional splashing of water like rain and melting snow, but it can’t be submerged. Luckily, submersion won’t be a problem unless there’s significant flooding. By then, you’ll likely have worse things to worry about anyway.
So how is it as a regular smart plug? It works great, but there are a couple things to be aware of.
The Setup Process
The plug uses an app called Smart Life for both the setup process and remote control via your phone. It’s made by a Chinese developer, so while everything is in English, it’s roughly translated from Chinese.
For the most part, this isn’t a huge deal, and you can navigate just fine and understand most of the menus and buttons, but there may be some instances that could confuse some users, like this firmware update pop-up that says “Wi-Fi module: Increase power-off memory function” and then a button that reads “Will upgrade shortly,” but it actually updates the firmware right after you hit the button.
The setup process overall isn’t as quick as I’d like it to be (you’re stuck on a connecting screen for a solid 45 seconds or so), but it’s at least painless and easy.
The Nifty Features
Once you’re up and running, the iClever plug has some pretty nice features, including two receptacles that can be controlled individually, as well as some cool automation features that you can base on the temperature, time of day, and even the humidity.
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