Lightwave LP42WH Smart Socket, 3000W, Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, iOS & Android Compatible - White Metal

It's surprising how few devices like this there are available on the market.Packaging is relatively simple, and to be fair, installation is as straightforward as a normal socket plate. It does need a reasonably deep back box, this is usually the case with socket plates that have extra function like USB chargers (this doesn't have that obviously!). A black plastic spacer is provided to allow for mounting on shallower back boxes, and I found this was needed anyway as the plate by itself is quite flush to the wall, and the extra depth matched a standard socket depth on the wall so it didn't look out of place.The metal plate levers off to allow you to hide the screws that attach the plate to the back box, and I had no issues connecting the existing wiring to the new socket.Once powered up, the sockets default to off (red light) and even if they're not paired to the Link Plus, you can still use the sockets manually by simply pressing the buttons, on is represented by a blue light.The socket paired easily with my link plus, but the app on the smartphone needs a bit of work still, and implies you need to pair twice for a dual socket when you don't... so I called the socket 'Kitchen Socket 1' thinking I'd have to do it again and create 'Kitchen Socket 2' only to find it automatically added both, but they were now called 'Kitchen Socket 1 1' and 'Kitchen Socket 1 2' !! Oh well... The app is also not great for renaming, it took a lot of attempts before I ended up with the names I wanted. When added to Apple Homekit, that picked up the original names, so it obviously keeps those somewhere. The name change in Homekit however was much easier :)So, it works fine with Homekit, I can remotely turn them on and off, and also via Siri.There is also an Alexa skill available, and this integrates with no issues allowing Alexa control.So, a good start, but more refinement is needed on the software, and probably more options on finish would be useful to others longer term. The Link Plus app is currently very basic, but then there's not much you can do with a switch I guess... what would be useful is easier renaming if you get it wrong, and the ability to over-ride the device type that say Alexa sees... If you have a lamp plugged in, Alexa sees the device as a switch and won't turn it on when you say "Alexa turn lights on".The built in energy monitoring is not yet working, but Im told by Lightwave support that will be coming in a couple of weeks with an app update. So it's now mid November 2017, I'll update if/when it arrives.If the software was a bit slicker, and the energy monitoring was there out of the box then it would be a five star product. As it stands, it works well with Apple Homekit and Alexa, and the LED's aren't too bright, although maybe another potential software refinement would be an option for no LED at all when the switch is off.

It is by far the "best" UK "remote control" socket available. But I would NOT buy itIt is easy to use - and with the gateway it connects to different home control platforms.But the big issues with it are the following :1. The electricity measurements are COMPLETELY WRONG!No matter what I put on it - it measures 20-40% wrong (it shows too little consumption vs actual) I have no other devices that measure as wrong as the LightWave. (Eve great, range of Zigbee devices great etc) Lightwave is the ONLY one that is as far off as 40% a lot of the time. Two caps and a resistor could have provided power measurements that are within 3% on all kinds of loads - both for capacitative and resistive loads. Combined cost of maybe 5-6p and it would be close to reality. The current way LightWave is doing the power consumption measurement is based on really bad engineering.2. The LED management is bad.In the default setting - the LEDs will light up a bedroom all on its own. So it is NOT suited for any dark rooms. It should be easy to completely disable the LEDs. It is not. It should be possible be possible to lower the LED output so they are so dim they can be used in a bedroom - it is not (even with latest V5 firmware just released) - V5 is better but still not perfect.3. I have removed a STAR as LightWave now wants "new features" to be for subscribers only (yes paying a subscription for just about nothing)So now it is down to 1 star where it belongs until they fix the above issues.

The Lightwave 2 Smart Sockets; are smart to use and smart to look at. I adore the brushed metal of mine - but if you prefer you can get a white finished version. I had a combination set of Socket and Lightwave hub to test from the vine program and was so impressed I ordered 3 more to cover the most used sockets in my house. Installation on my modern code wired flat was a breeze. Power off the home distributor - all of it - and unscrew the old faceplate. Then 3 screws on the old plate to get the live, earth and neutral and 3 more screws on the new faceplate. There is a colourful chart to help you do it; just turn the power off first - and be confident the power is off - leave a lamp plugged in so you can see its off.When you reenergise the sockets you should have an orange led glowing on them showing they are off. Putting a plug in the led flashes and you press the button to turn it on. The sockets pair to the Lightwave hub (when can we get a single hub for everything) by pressing and holding a button. The hub isnt included with the socket - unless the amazon product says so - without the hub they are a stylish power socket with an led power indicator light but you can't use them with your phone or Siri home system.When they are configured with the hub you can label sockets in the lightwave app or homekit; group them into rooms for bulk control. After that the real win comes when you commanding Siri to turn off the TV or microwave as I leave the room and save the stand by energy. In the Lightwave app you can also change the LED colors so mine go green when they are on rather than the standard blue.I really like the Lightwave system; and plan to replace out the less used sockets around the house in the coming months. Just being able to turn everything off; or view the energy usage by socket makes for some interesting discoveries - by day my Apple HomePod uses less power than my amazon Alexa for example.