Smart connectors are great little devices that can turn ordinary devices into smart products, allowing you to control them from your phone or by voice via Alexa or Google Assistant. But, unfortunately, many smart plugs take up the space of two outlets.
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Of course, many of the newer smart plugs are better at this, as the design has improved to only take up one outlet, rather than taking up most of the outlet’s space. However, if you just can’t move on from your trusty old smart jack, that’s completely understandable.
Luckily, there are ways around this, and we’ll look at some of the options you can take advantage of. But keep in mind that there is no perfect solution if you want everything to look clean.
Use an extension cord or outlet
Perhaps the easiest and quickest way to make room for both sockets in your socket when you want to use a bulky smart plug is to bring out this reliable power strip. Not only do you gain access to another outlet, but you create multiple more outlets to connect to it.
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I’d be surprised if you didn’t have a splitter somewhere else, but if you don’t, you can get one for pretty cheap on Amazon.
If you want to keep things off the floor, consider an outlet faucet. They come in all shapes and sizes, but the main goal is that they don’t take up as much space as an extension cord. I have several of these GE faucets around the house and they do a great job turning two vessels into six without taking up much space.
With these faucets, I can plug a smart plug into one of the front outlets, and even though it occupies both front outlets, I still have four outlets on the sides that I can use for any other need.
It’s important to note that if you’re using an extension cord or faucet, don’t place a particularly heavy load on it (such as a heater) unless you know the extension cord can handle it. However, many of the cheaper options are not designed for heavy loads, so keep that in mind.
Get a 1ft extension
If you don’t need any extra outlets, then an extension cord or tap is redundant. You’re not entirely out of luck though, as you can also just purchase some handy 1-foot extension cords.
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You can buy individual units for around $5 each, or buy them in bundles for a little less. I’ve scattered them all over the house where I have bulky power adapters plugged into outlets or splitters where they wouldn’t normally fit. However, they also work great for smart plugs.
Keep in mind that this is probably the least attractive option, as you’ll have a short extension cord hanging down from a socket with a smart plug on the other end. So I would reserve something like this for places that are not outdoors and can be easily hidden behind furniture or whatever. Also make sure your smart plug isn’t so heavy that it weighs down the extension cord and loosens the connection.
And just like with extension cords and outlets, make sure you have an extension cord that can handle any heavy loads. Otherwise, stay away from things like heaters and other energy-hungry appliances.
Just buy a new Smart Plug
I know, I know. It’s really not what you wanted to hear, but if you don’t want to add any extra volume to your outlets in the form of extensions, taps, or extensions, your last option is to simply buy a new smart plug that works best for your setup.
As I mentioned above, many of the newer smart plugs are much smaller and don’t take up the entire outlet. Eufy’s Smart Plug Mini is a good example, as is Belkin’s Wemo Mini.
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Or, if you want both sockets to be «smart», you can buy a smart plug with two sockets. Believe it or not, they exist, although there aren’t many of them. Perhaps the most popular option is the ConnectSense smart outlet, which completely covers the entire outlet when plugged in, but comes with two outlets, each of which is intelligent and can be controlled independently.
