Exploring Zigbee Smart Plugs for Low Power Consumption

Hi everyone, I’ve been diving into the world of smart home automation, and I wanted to share my experiences and insights regarding Zigbee smart plugs, particularly their ability to measure low power consumption. This has been a topic of great interest to me as I aim to optimize energy usage in my home, especially with devices that consume minimal power, such as standby electronics or small appliances.After extensive research and testing, I’ve tried several Zigbee smart plugs, including the Blitzwolf SHP13, generic Tuya models, and the NOUS A1Z. While these devices have been reliable in many aspects, I’ve encountered a consistent issue: their inability to accurately measure power consumption below approximately 20W. Even when connected to devices consuming as little as 5W or less, the power readings often default to zero, despite the current being detected. This has been quite puzzling, especially since I’ve found that Wi-Fi-enabled plugs like the TP-Link Tapo P100 can measure as low as 0.1W, which suggests that this limitation might be inherent to the Zigbee technology itself.I’ve scoured through numerous forums and community discussions, seeking insights or workarounds to this issue. While there seems to be a consensus that Zigbee smart plugs struggle with low-power measurements, I’m still hopeful that there might be a solution or a workaround that I’ve yet to discover. Perhaps there’s a specific configuration or firmware update that could enhance their sensitivity? Or maybe there’s a lesser-known brand that has addressed this limitation?In the meantime, I’ve been exploring alternative strategies to monitor low-power devices. One approach I’ve considered is integrating multiple sensors or using a hybrid system that combines Zigbee with Wi-Fi devices for more accurate measurements. However, this approach adds complexity to the setup, which I’m trying to avoid.I’d love to hear from anyone who has successfully tackled this challenge or has insights into the technical limitations of Zigbee in this context. Your experiences and advice would be invaluable as I continue to refine my smart home setup.Thank you for your time and for sharing your knowledge! Let’s keep the conversation going and explore how we can make our smart homes even smarter and more efficient.