In an attempt to reduce our electrical energy footprint, I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out how much energy various devices are using. However, it's difficult to get an accurate picture of the power consumption of any device unless you integrate it's usage over time. Additionally, even if you determine that a device is consuming a lot of electricity, you need to be able to do something about it.
Currant's Dual Outlet Smart Energy Meter is the first product that solves this problem. It gives a highly accurate measurement of the amount of power being consumed by a plugged in device (the Kill-a-Watt is surprisingly inaccurate compared to Currant!). The rules engine is absolutely fantastic, allowing you to easily setup a rule to cut the power to the device when you don't expect to be using it. No more trying to remember to unplug something because it's going to sit there and keep sucking down the power and adding up on the electricity bill as once you've set a rule the Currant outlet will take care of it.
I also liked the ability to see how much energy (and dollars!) a particular device has consumed over time.
The iOS app is beautifully designed and is very simple to use. It's clear that the creators thought about how the device would be used as the ability to swap the plate on the back to change the orientation of the device is just a nice touch.
This is definitely the next generation of a Kill A Watt like device. But it's way more. It's also a Smart outlet that can be controlled from your phone. It's also the best timer device you could buy as the rules make is so simple to set it up, unlike all those other timer devices where you're left staring at the manual to figure out how to "program" them.
Brilliant device and the price point is right too (especially since it's got dual monitored/controlled outlets!)
I'm using this to monitor my sump pump and some heat tape that share an outlet in my basement. I can easily see how often each is cycling on in the Currant App, even when I'm not at home.
I originally bought a WeMo Insight for this, but found out (the hard way, with a flood in my basement) that the WeMo outlet defaults to "OFF" following a power interruption. The Currant outlets revert to their last position, which means that when power is returned, both my switches return to "ON". This is super important for my application. (no floods!)
It has a nice, metallic finish that looks more professional than the other (plastic) smart outlets on the market. The app is polished and easy to use. Setup was a breeze. I just downloaded the app, started it up and plugged in the outlet. The app guided me through the rest.
Some nice features that I've tested, but don't use much:
It is easy to toggle the outlets on/off with the app, both at home, and away (when logged in).
It is easy to set a schedule for the outlets to turn on/off with the app.
It connects with Google Home so I can use Google Assistant to toggle the outlets on/off.
Bottom line: This is the best smart outlet I have used (I also have outlets from WeMo and TP-Link). If you need two smart outlets in the same location, this is worth the extra money. If you'll only use one of the outlets then you may be better off with a less expensive single outlet device, unless your using it for something critical (like my sump pump).
I bought this so that my espresso machine could be scheduled to turn on and heat up before I woke up in the morning. I was also curious what the energy consumption was for the machine, and the Currant was one of the few that offered that function. I had the currant outlet working in five minutes from unboxing it, and I have not had a single issue with it in the two months it has been powering my machine.
The thing that sold me was that the power outlets are featured on the side of this machine. I hate the look of most smart outlets because the plug comes so far off the wall. This model is very sleek, and looks good, even when appliances are plugged in.
I highly recommend this product.
When I first opened it, the shiny, mirror-like surface looked beautiful. Way more presentable than a Wemo switch. The setup was a breeze and the on/off indicator lights (for each plug) look slick. Mobile app is well designed and I was impressed with how real-time the current level data is - it seems like <1s refresh. A little more expensive than wemo insight but this is a more modern looking and data rich (days/months? of granular energy data)
I had been looking for a product to switch on/off for my TV setup based on a timer and presence.
I needed to switch off TV+AndroidTV+network switch+sound bar at night from Monday to Friday but be on when I come back home too and have also a manual override. These are not rules that you can program with usual smart plugs.
This currant outlet ticked all the boxes and some more.
I like the app too, it is so easy to set the time based on/off rules and also allow a rule for when I am back home. The application is clean and easy to use.
The mirror like finish with the manual switch ">" is also very useful as you sometimes need to switch on an outlet and don't have your phone at hand.
I also like that there are 2 outlets that you can switch from right to left. This is very handy if the appliances are mainly on one side.
I have not used the energy monitoring feature yet but by having just a few rules, I know that I already have reduced my energy consumption.
Feature Product
- Advanced Energy Monitoring: Currant's real-time energy meter shows you exactly how much energy your devices use, and the Currant App (for iOS and Android) features interactive charts that display your energy usage and cost by hour, day, month, or year.
- Put Your Home on Autopilot: Create customized rules to control your smart home and turn devices on and off according to your schedule.
- Unique Design: Includes two plugs in one and a rear plate that can switch directions to keep cords organized and out of the way.
- Find Patterns and Uncover Savings: Currant uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify energy usage patterns and suggest changes that can help you save.
- Safe and Secure: Highest safety ratings of any smart outlet.
Description
Currant reinvented the smart plug from the inside out. The Currant WiFi Smart Outlet brings real-time energy monitoring and complete smart home control to almost any device in your home. Control your lights, electronics, or appliances with your phone or your voice (works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home). Set schedules to automate your home, or simply plug in, connect the app (for iOS and Android), and let Currant analyze your energy usage. With Currant at work in the background, you'll receive suggestions for quick changes and uncover simple ways to save both energy and money.
Sometimes we forgot to turn off electronics at home and worry the whole day at work or when away from home! Here comes the solution! Just ordered one! Sleek design! Match my Apple products!
We are trying to reduce the electrical usage in our house, and we came across Currant's smart outlet. First, it's beautiful - reminds me of a shiny Apple product. Installation is a snap as it just plugs in to your existing outlet, with no screwdrivers required. But best of all, the functionality is slick. I like that I can track usage across different devices, and set rules to reduce energy use. My favorite feature is the ability to stop charging my phone overnight, so I don't waste electricity trickle-charging and I can still maximize battery life. Recommended, and we are considering buying more outlets for our other rooms.
I’ve had Currant for a full week now, and I’m surprised about how useful of a tool this is for managing the power to my kitchen appliances.
I have a rice cooker that is always plugged in and consuming electricity, and the only way to turn it off is by unplugging it. With Currant, not only can I tap the device to turn off it’s outlet, I can see exactly how much electricity an appliance is using on the phone app. A lot of thoughtful considerations have been put into this simple but sophisticated product, and I’m excited to see what updates they do to their intuitive software to get the most out of this intelligent hardware.
As a designer myself, I can envision many practical uses for Currant, and am excited to see more “how-to’s” and other use case examples for how to make my home smarter for the future!
I love the slick modern look of the product plus the ability to plug it from the side with less outward protrusion from the wall when adding a plug. The Currant dual outlets have a locking option which allows you to turn off and on the locking feature through the currant app and still have function. The only big complaint I have is it worked for a few days with The android Alexa app then one day it decide not to recognize the outlet via the Alexa app but worked fine with the Currant app this happened right after the last currant app update....coincidence?...maybe. I had to factory reset the currant product for it to work no problems since. The Currant and the Alexa android app marriage, could use a little counseling.
Putting this in perspective, it's hard to get really excited about a beautiful power outlet, but it IS easy to get excited about such a seamless experience to get it connected to WiFi. Not only is the app really well-designed, but the process of connecting to my (5GHz) WiFi network was flawless. REALLY well done!
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