Experience with the LIDL smart socket
The smart socket is another basic component for any smart home. There are very many providers: The variant from LIDL is one of the cheapest on the market. But does it deliver what it promises? My experience with the smart LIDL socket as an intermediate plug for other consumers has been absolutely impeccable. What is the most important positive and negative quality:
- Positive: Inconspicuous design and in a pleasant white color
- Negative: Still a bit big, especially for 3-way plugs in Switzerland
First impression
There is not much more to say about a smart socket. Therefore short and sweet:
Inexpensive and functional: that’s all it takes!
Design
Again, I’ll keep this short: the design fits and can be used well in visible places.
Installation
The smart socket is basically ready to use right away and does not require any installation per se. There is a button on the socket so that it can also be turned on or off manually. But if you want to use this also smart, then you need either the LIDL Home App (I can not help, but as far as I know is very easy to connect) and for all those who have Home Assistant and the Conbee II in use, can connect and use this as follows via the Zigbee network:
- Launch Deconz in Home Assistant
- Start search
- Then press and hold the On/Off button on the power strip for five seconds
- The 3 sockets are displayed as “on/off plug-in
The socket is then visible as a separate entity in Home Assistant and can be controlled accordingly.
Functionality
On the socket itself it has a button to turn it on and off. Otherwise, the smart socket simply does exactly what it has to do: Switch on and switch off. No more, no less.
In the app of LIDL Home you can realize the following functionality according to the description:
- Multiple timer programs
- Countdown function
- Automatic power on/off (at sunset/sunrise)
- Automatic time change (summer/winter)
Conclusion
My experience with the LIDL smart socket has been absolutely positive. From the very beginning, everything worked as it should. No fancy-schmancy, no features, but simply a smart socket that can do everything and can be integrated into a Zigbee network. I never had a failure or problem, which is why I can recommend it without reservation. In the end, of course, the price is always an important factor for such basics: CHF 14.99 is a really good price!
More information is available here.
