The outside sensible plug works over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, has on / off performance (there’s no dimming), and a built-in gentle sensor for automating any lights you plug into it to activate at night time and off through the day. This can be a neat characteristic you gained’t discover on numerous sensible plugs and means you don’t want to make use of any app or programming for it to be helpful proper out of the field.
The Decora Outside Plug-in also can pair with Leviton’s Anywhere Switch Companion, a wire-free distant management that may be wall mounted, making it simpler to regulate the plug from inside the home, one other characteristic you gained’t discover on the sub-$30 plugs on this class. It helps 120V, 60Hz, and 15A general-purpose masses, can management motor masses as much as 3/4HP, and encompasses a 10-inch line wire and six-inch load wire.
With help for Matter straight out of the field, the plug can work with all Matter-enabled sensible units and Matter-certified smart home platforms, together with Apple Dwelling, Amazon Alexa, Google Dwelling, and Samsung SmartThings. To make use of the plug with Matter, you’ll want a Matter controller from the platform you wish to pair it to — so an Echo sensible speaker to pair to Alexa or a Nest Hub for Google Dwelling, and so forth. Leviton has a Matter guide on its website with extra particulars.
Exterior of Matter, the Decora is licensed to work immediately with Alexa, Google Dwelling, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, and Schlage. You can too use the My Leviton app for scene management, schedules, and an auto shut-off timer characteristic.
Outside sensible plugs are helpful for extra than simply lighting. Vacation decorations, pumps for water options, and outside followers are only a few use {cases}. I’ve been operating a fan hooked as much as a Lutron Caséta Outdoor Smart Plug all summer time to maintain my chickens cool within the scorching summer time warmth.
The brand new Leviton plug has the same design to Lutron’s Caséta plug, each of which characteristic a sturdier construct with extra weatherproofing than most outside sensible plugs I’ve examined. However at $80, the Lutron prices $25 greater than the Leviton and requires a proprietary hub for many sensible options. Each plugs solely have one managed outlet and are IP65 rated, which means they’re sturdy sufficient to deal with dust, mud, rain, and snow. However Leviton’s working temperature is damaging 20 levels Fahrenheit to 122 levels Fahrenheit, so it will possibly deal with colder temps than the Lutron (damaging 4 to 122 levels Fahrenheit). The Lutron helps as much as 1/2HP motor masses and also can pair with a wireless wall switch, without having the hub.
Lutron has not introduced help for Matter however is a member of the Connectivity Requirements Alliance, which runs the brand new sensible residence customary. Nonetheless, the corporate’s merchandise already work with most platforms. Lutron’s Caséta does require the hub for a lot of options, whereas the Leviton can work simply over Wi-Fi. Nonetheless, in my experience, utilizing the hub with Lutron’s Clear Join protocol means the Lutron plug will get spectacular vary. Wi-Fi sensible plugs usually battle the additional they’re out of your Wi-Fi router. I’ll be testing the brand new Leviton outside plug and can report again.