Hey everyone, I wanted to share my experience installing the Shelly Plug S Gen3 in my garage and basement. It’s been a fun project, but I ran into a few challenges that I thought I’d document here in case others are facing similar issues.
First off, the installation itself was straightforward. The plug is compact and fits neatly into any standard outlet. However, I noticed that my Wi-Fi signal wasn’t reaching the basement or garage areas, which is a common issue in multi-level homes. To resolve this, I ended up using a wired Ethernet connection for the Shelly Plug. It’s a bit old-school, but it ensures a stable and reliable connection.
Now, one thing I was really excited about was the energy monitoring feature. I love being able to track my power usage in real-time. However, I quickly realized that this feature only works when the device is connected to the internet. That’s a bit of a downside if you’re looking to monitor energy usage offline. I reached out to Shelly support about this, and they mentioned that there’s no offline data logging feature at the moment. Hopefully, they’ll add that in a future update!
Another thing I wanted to mention is how easy it is to integrate the Shelly Plug into my smart home ecosystem. I’m using it alongside my existing smart lights and thermostats, and it’s been a breeze to set up automations. For example, I have it turn on my garage lights when I open the door in the evening. It’s little touches like that which really make a home feel smart.
If I had one piece of advice for others looking to install the Shelly Plug S Gen3, it would be to test your Wi-Fi signal in the installation area first. If you’re in a dead zone like I was, consider running an Ethernet cable or investing in a Wi-Fi extender. Trust me, it’ll save you a lot of frustration down the line.
Overall, I’m really happy with the Shelly Plug S Gen3. It’s a reliable device with great features, and I’m excited to see how it continues to evolve. If you’re on the fence about getting one, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try!
Cheers,
Holger