I’m often asked where is the on/off switch for your LEDs?  The truth is there isn’t one built into the units.  Why not you might wonder?  Because if there were an on/off switch you would have to go and turn it on in the morning and wait the right amount of hours then go back and turn it off again and repeat this 365 days a year for the next who knows how many years.  Is this something you want to do?  Of course not.

Presenting the smart plug!  Any smart plug could do this for you, but I will tell you about the one I like and have multiples of in my growing area and around my home.  It is the Kasa Smart KP115 energy monitoring smart plug.  It is made by tp-link.  I like this smart plug for many reasons.  First let’s look at its features:

• Voice Control: Add voice control to any outlet. Kasa smart plugs that work with Alexa and Google Home Assistant. Enjoy the hands-free convenience of controlling any home electronic appliances with your voice via Alexa or Hey Google.
• Energy Monitoring & Scheduling: Monitor every consumption of your plug-in devices and set timers and schedules to avoid waste for LEDs, fans, humidifiers etc.
• Smart Outlet Control from Anywhere: Turn electronics on and off from anywhere with your smartphone using the Kasa app, whether you are at home, in the office or on vacation.
• Easy Set Up and Use: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection required. Plug in, open the Kasa app, follow the simple instructions and enjoy with the wifi smart plug.
• Trusted and Reliable: Designed and developed in Silicon Valley, Kasa is trusted by over 5 Million users and being the Reader’s Choice of PCMag 2020. UL certified for safety use. 2-year warranty.

That was taken directly from Amazon and you can purchase it directly from them:  https://www.amazon.com/Kasa-Energy-Monitoring-Smart-Plug/dp/B08LN3C7WK

I’m a lover of anything with wifi.  My grill wifi.  My TV wifi.  The washer and dryer you guessed it wifi.  The front door lock wifi.  Garage door opener yep,  wifi.  So it stands to reason I also want my LEDs…….wifi!

One of the reasons I like this unit is it only takes up 1 plug of the 2 plugs on a faceplate.  That means I can have 2 smart plugs per outlet if I want to.  That is handy when also running fans etc. on a separate plug.  Several of the other smart plugs and timers on the market cover up both plugs on the outlet just to use 1 plug.  Annoying!  But this isn’t the only reason.  I also like the fact I can set them up in under 5 minutes once you download their app.  I have an iPhone, so I use the Apple App Store.  It also has the built in Energy Monitoring function.  Most smart plugs lack this.  I like the idea of being able to see how much energy the LEDs and fans are consuming.  It easily tells me that with the touch of 1 menu button.  It displays for today the Current Power, Total Consumption, the past 7 days Daily Average, Total Consumption, and the past 30 days Daily Average, and Total Consumption along with today the Current Runtime, total Runtime, Past 7 Days Daily Average, Total Runtime, and the past 30 days Daily Average, and Total Runtime.

Programming is very easy.  You simply select what days you want an action to happen (every day), set a power on time save it.  Then select a power off time and what days you want this to happen (every day) and save it.  Viola you are done!

It also has a sunrise to sunset function.  If you want the LEDs to come on sunrise and go off at sunset you could select this.  I don’t use it, but it is there if you want it.

Beyond that it is set it and forget it.  It is easily assessable so when you want to ramp up hours in the spring and fall it just takes a second and then the same to bring the hours down in the fall.

If you don’t want this particular model that is fine.  There are cheaper smart plugs out there and maybe you don’t want the Energy Monitoring and don’t care if it cover both plugs on the outlet.  No problem, but I still suggest a smart plug over a timer any day.  Give it some thought and let me know in the comments below what you think.