GivEnergy Smart Plugs. Unboxing, Setup and Use

In this video I take a look at the GivEnergy Smart Plugs. From unboxing to set up via the GivEnergy app and then I add a second plug and look at grouping plugs, ungrouping. I also look at the timer and scheduling functionality and how to control them via the Amazon Alexa app.
02:35 Setup
04:45 GivEnergy Plug App
08:38 Grouping GivEnergy Smart Plugs
11:40 Timer and Scheduling (in Amazon Alexa app)
13:26 Summary
Where to buy:
Buy from eBay UK:
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[@tonantos]

It should be noted that GivEnergy smartplugs have a major bug/flaw: they lock themselves to the first wifi network that you connect with. So if you change broadband provider, the smartplug won't be able to connect to the new wifi no matter how many times you reset it and go through the setup process again. I found this out the hard way unfortunately. Until this is fixed, I would strongly avoid these smartplugs.

[@daniel_coe]

They also have a mind of their own sometimes regarding scheduling. I have no idea why. Sometimes they don't turn on and off and sometimes they do. It's a bit like they go to sleep

[@andrewlightfoot1830]

Having problems connecting.. get to the WiFi password set up, press next and then I get network connection error. Any ideas?

[@lukemarshall5058]

Just installed first one of three. Connected up OK amd can turn on and off remotely via the app, but it doesn't seem to be registering usage. Tried it withe the kettle and it just stays at zero. Any ideas? There seems to be zero info online from manufacturer and instruction manual is so minimal it's laughable.

[@daniel_coe]

There was a problem over the weekend with them. it should be fixed now. The known issues are reported on the givenergy cloud dashboard if you have a solar setup that is.

[@Zebsy]

Solar excess functionality seems like a no-brainer here, I'm surprised they don't do that at present. I would probably buy a couple if they did.

[@daniel_coe]

Yes, we are still waiting on that functionality, although some people do have it working through 'Home Assistant'. If you can be bothered to set all that up.

[@CarlosArruda77]

They do look good. I have ordered two and they do feel well built. Caution though. If you have an old phone, mine's only 4 years old, it won't work on it. At least not mine. It goes to step 4 or 5 when you're adding the home wifi and then it says you are not connected to the internet EVEN when my phones internet is ON. Rubbish. On my sons phone which is under a year old it worked flawlesly.

[@buddywheels]

Hi Daniel, I can’t seem to find these for sale in the UK. Could you provide a link? Many thanks

[@lesterrobinson3169]

Agreed… link would be good

[@IM35461]

They look good with good report options. It would be interesting to check how much power they use as some brands would use over 2 watts 24/7.

[@daniel_coe]

I've got 4 now, and luckily, I haven't had any go wrong yet. Although I do believe some times they forget to turn on via the scheduling. I think that's happened once or twice.

[@mxbox2814]

Interesting. Unless I missed it, is there the ability to configure a socket to turn on / off when system is solar power only? I'm thinking aircon unit.

[@ianwilliams5915]

Output up to 220v? These type of devices measure current flow and cannot restrict voltage. Do they mean operating range? If so then if your mains voltage is say 240v (as many property’s have) then this will be under reporting your power consumption.

[@ianwilliams5915]

P=V*I

[@daniel_coe]

Interesting point have to ask GivEnergy this.

[@ianparkin9046]

I do not have an Alexa and the App isnt clear on how to set up the timer controls. Where can I go for a help guide?

[@alisterg3582]

Nice - I hope SolarEdge are watching as they currently want 100 notes for their smart plugs. The givenergy ones seem great value.

[@daniel_coe]

Yes I saw the solaredge ones were expensive, these are a lot better value. If they last. I've had only one Kasa tp link plug go wrong on me so far, and that was an energy monitoring version.

[@simonloker8334]

I found taking a picture and then zoom on the phone

[@terryrigden4860]

Good idea

[@daniel_coe]

I think that's also what I ended up doing.

[@vannicrider7953]

I have ordered two but would want the function of turning it on to charge the car when the home battery is full. Any sign that this will happen? At least I can control it manually as an alternative to the car app. Very useful guide, thanks!

[@daniel_coe]

It can't do it yet, but I believe if you run home assistant, you probably might be able to

[@rosielee9557]

We've got Tapo smart plugs - but it looks like you cannot (easily) erase the data and then start again with another appliance - i.e we had one plugged into a fridge freezer for a month to see what the consumption was - but now want to do the same on the garage fridge but can't seem to reset the plug. Do these plugs allow for this?

[@daniel_coe]

I think there is now an option for this in the settings. Unless you delete the plug out of the app and then add it back in.

[@jamestroup]

I'd be interested to know if the scheduling will be able to be triggered by cheap Agile rates...?

[@daniel_coe]

I'm not on agile so don't know. Probably not yet is my guess, if the Solar excess functionality is not in it yet.

[@thepowersource1602]

These are really good value but are they compatible with IOS?

[@daniel_coe]

As far as I know, yes. The givenergy app runs on apple and android. But I think they still like 2.4ghz

[@charliebadcock9142]

Yep really neat, currently using them to find the culprits of background power consumption. will be great for switching on electric blanket.

[@daniel_coe]

Funny you mention the electric blanket I've used a tp link kasa smart switch on that for a few years now.

[@arcanedefiance]

Where can you buy these? I can't find them available from any retailers

[@daniel_coe]

I've put some links in the description. Thanks

[@lesterrobinson3169]

I may be being really stupid here but I have a few of these. there seems to be a major flaw….. while my Givenergy battery is powering my house (which I charged at cheap rate) it is showing my unit price as the day rate and not the battery rate?!

[@daniel_coe]

I'm sure mine does the same thing. I guess it's just reading the day rate when the plugs are on during the day. Hopefully, they can fix that in the software.

[@lesterrobinson3169]

@@daniel_coe I contacted them and was told it will be fixed at some point 🤷‍♂️

[@BritishAnts]

Interesting ❤

[@bernardcharlesworth9860]

Really want them turning on at solar excess

[@daniel_coe]

Me too, hopefully sometime soon.

[@cnjelly7876]

How often does it update wattage on the plugs, the TP Tapo ones only updated every few seconds and in 8 hours of gaming on my PC there was a substantial kwh different between a dumb meter (plug with screen) and what the "smart plug" recorded. The peak on the Tapo was off by over 70w as it apparently kept updating at the wrong time.

[@001ml]

If, after setting the plug up, you then want to see what some other device is using, do you need to set the plug up again? Nice video. I have been considering buying one of these just to get a baseline for various devices. Thanks

[@daniel_coe]

You don't need to set it up again, just unplug it and move it. You may want to reset the data though.

[@eddyd8745]

@@daniel_coe Any idea how to 'reset the data'. I can't find it as an option.

[@anthonyhill6943]

Thank you … very helpful video and well presented.

[@rocketry100]

I cant for the life of me work out how the app is getting the whole house load in addition to the plug (@ 6:00) I presume there is a CT clamp and some other equipment that you don't mention?

[@PaulLambertUK]

Yes, CT Clamps. He will have a Givenergy Inverter, which is collecting all the data, Solar PV, Battery, House Load etc.

[@pumpkinhead456]

Are they planning to be able to trigger them when there is excess solar? That'll absolutely be the main selling point for me.

[@daniel_coe]

They are planning that, don't know when, though. They have just added scheduling this month.

[@DanielBarron]

What will you turn on? Immersion for example is not powered by a mains plug normally. A filled dishwasher?

[@pumpkinhead456]

@@DanielBarron I was going to trigger an electric heater but ended up going down the home assistant route and have made an immersion controller for £40 :)

[@DanielBarron]

@@pumpkinhead456 so the smart plug triggers an immersion controller or you don't use the smart plug? What does the home assistant do?

[@pumpkinhead456]

@@DanielBarron I'm not using the smart plug for this, it needs 20 amps for an immersion really. Home Assistant is the software that controls the hardware, it's open source, does all 'smart home' stuff but is also pretty technical so not completely user friendly.

[@lg_believe333]

Hello. Can I use these plugs on my American fridge freezer, integrated heat pump dryer, integrated washing machine, electric fan oven, electrical gas hob and microwave?

[@daniel_coe]

They are rated at 16amps, so I would guess most of your list would be fine, but probably not the main oven.

[@lg_believe333]

@@daniel_coe I bought 11 of these plugs but it wasn’t made clear in their advertising whether these smart plugs would work with Shell energy tariffs. When I received delivery, I set up 3 of the 11 plugs to see if they work with my wifi. They did. But I cannot upload my tariff info from Shell Energy, so I’m now trying to send them back for refund.

[@colingoode3702]

Interesting & compatible with the existing GivEnergy App. Just thinking about what I could use these plugs on. I guess anything that is on standby overnight or anything that needs scheduling.

[@daniel_coe]

That's probably the best idea at the moment until solar excess triggering comes into play. One of mine is still on the fridge the other is now in my office telling me how much power my PC set up uses.

[@colingoode3702]

@@daniel_coe Yep. My office set up would be a candidate. Shift all the wall plugs onto a surge protected multi extension lead & plug that into the wall via the smart plug. Question. Who / where did you get / buy your smart plugs from?

[@daniel_coe]

@@colingoode3702 I've put some links in the video description. Mine came from Mark Casey in the GivEnergy Facebook group. I've linked to that in the description, although there are other places as well.

[@colingoode3702]

@@daniel_coe I've now got a few of these Smart plugs. Set up the first one on my office surge protected multi extension lead to turn every thing connected to it off / on based on a schedule of some sorts. The other three I've not decided about yet. Perhaps one on the fridge freezer. I'd like to get one on the Air to air heat pump in our conservatory but that's hard wired into a fused spur so it's not suitable for a 3 pin smart plug. I have the GivEnergy program on my PC but no solar system installed as yet. I've downloaded my Octopus tariff & historical data into the GE program but it does not look correct e.g. no night rate is showing & the daytime rate does not look correct either. There is no tariff data showing on the Smart Plug either so I'm guessing something is amiss or not connected or, just my fat fingers pressing the wrong buttons. Looks like I have a bit of fettling to do or perhaps wait until the solar / battery system is installed & start all over (a few months away yet). As for the Smart Plugs they look pretty good & well priced compared to others.