How to Make a Cheap Smart Outlet: A Quick & Easy Guide

Smart outlets are the perfect addition to any room, especially those with limited space. You can control your appliances from your phone or laptop, run your whole home from one outlet, and even get an instant overview of how much energy you're using. With so many benefits, smart outlets are a great way to save money on electricity. But what if you want a cheap smart outlet? What if you just want something that will work for now? Let us show you how to make a cheap smart outlet that will last for years and is still affordable.

What You'll Need to Make a Smart Outlet

Here are the things that you will need for you to create your own smart outlet:

• A power outlet
• A smart outlet kit
• A power strip
• A smart outlet box for your power outlet
• Wire nuts
• A crimping tool (if you don't have one, use a set of needle-nose pliers)
• Electrical tape 
• An extra plug if your power outlet is not a standard US plug

How To Make Smart Outlet

First and foremost, you must determine the size of your electrical outlet. Then you'll need to acquire a little circuit board for the smart outlet. It has to be tiny enough to fit into the power outlet without becoming too bulky. After you have purchased your circuit board, the only thing left to do is to put it together and test it.

• Create your own smart outlet by first measuring the size of your existing power outlet and sketching a rough shape of it on a piece of paper using a pencil.
• Locate an outdated or unused circuit board that has an integrated Wi-Fi connector and utilize it as your next step. You can choose one that takes up the least amount of room possible in the power outlet or one that has extra length wires so that they are less likely to tangle up within the walls of the power outlet box, depending on your needs and preferences.
• Locate a set of screws and nuts that will fit into the inlet and outflow holes of the power outlet's power outlet.
• Into your chosen power outlet, slide the circuit board into place, then secure it with three screws in each corner of the circuit board and two screws in between each hole where wires attach to it (see illustration) (5 total).
• Connect the Wi-Fi antenna on your device to any nearby Wi-Fi router or hotspot via a wireless connection.
• Finally, connect the USB connection from your device's connector on the rear to any accessible USB port on your computer (or another device).

Why You Should Make Your Own Smart Outlet?

Smart outlets save you money and are a great way to control your appliances, making them more efficient than using the old-fashioned switch. Plus, they can help you monitor how much energy you're using. But there's a downside to this convenience: it's expensive! If you want something that will last for years, that won't cost too much, and is still affordable, then look no further--you've found the perfect outlet.

The biggest reason why you should make your own smart outlet is that it's cheaper than buying one. It's much cheaper to make a smart outlet than a new one, and it can save you money even if you replace your old outlets.

Another reason is that you will have more control over what goes on in your home. You can use your smart outlet to turn off lights, TVs, and electronics when no one is home so that the power doesn't go to waste. It also lets you set presets for when people are home - like a "home" or "away" setting - so that the electricity only goes where it needs to go.  This gives you more control over how much electricity you're using and when which means less wasted energy.

Another thing to consider with making your own smart outlet is that it won't need expensive parts like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. All of these are add-ons for an already expensive product, which makes them more costly than making your own cheap smart outlet at home.

Additional Tips

You could spend a lot of money on all the materials you need to make one, but that's not necessary. Here are some things you should keep in mind when building your outlet:

• Make sure you have a little bit of space left over at the bottom of the box to put in the three wires coming out of the outlet.
• Use a fastener to make it stay together once it's built.  Make sure that this is something you don't mind having permanently attached to your wall!
• When connecting multiple devices, keep all of the wiring neat and orderly so it's easy to identify which color goes where.
• Make sure your device is powered down before plugging anything into the power strip so there's nothing dangerous happening when someone unplugs something else or when children are playing around.
• If your outlet is going into a drywall opening, cut an opening for each input and output wire so they can stick out and still touch each other without getting tangled up  You'll want to use two small screws for this because it will be easier to screw them into the drywall.
• Don't forget about safety! Hot surfaces can cause serious burns, so make sure your outlet is covered with insulation or electrical tape.

Conclusion

Smart outlets aren't just for the famous and wealthy. With a few simple tools and some extra time, you can make your own. It's well worth the effort, as smart outlets are quickly becoming the go-to option for saving money on electricity. It is also an excellent approach to improve the appearance of your property.

However, not all smart outlets are made equal, so knowing how to design a cheap smart outlet is essential.

So, what are you holding out for? Start working!