Most smart plugs and their app-based controls are designed for indoor use. For outdoor smart plugs, you need to find a specialized model — which is where our hours of testing at CNET come in handy.

My smart home extends to both my front and back yards. But I have only one weather-protected duplex outlet in each location, which isn’t enough to accommodate all the smart devices I need to plug in.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. An outdoor electrical outlet with a cover - Watchara_tongnoi/Getty Images Outdoor outlets serve as a reliable power source for ...

Before you plug in every appliance in your home, know the risky ones. These common device categories can overload smart plugs or create safety issues.

Forgot to unplug the iron this morning? The top smart plugs, outlets, and power strips we've tested let you control anything you can plug into the wall from your phone. I'm PCMag's managing editor for ...

Chris Wedel is a fan of all things tech and gadgets. Living in rural Kansas with his wife and two young boys makes finding ways to stay online tricky — not to mention making my homestead smarter.

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. When people think about smart home technology, they typically think of things inside the house such as a smart speaker or a smart thermostat.

I'm not sure if this even exists, or if I'm overthinking it and there is a completely different/better way of accomplishing this. Here's the setup: I have a patio light controlled by a switch inside.

John Carlsen has more than a decade of experience testing and reviewing home tech products, with a major focus on smart home security. He earned his BS in journalism from Utah Valley University. In ...