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Flexi Plug Bluetooth-controlled programmable timer outlet


Arkayology

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Arkayology

Hey everyone, I have a review here for a newer product to hit the market. It’s called the Flexi Plug. Essentially, it is a Bluetooth-controlled programmable timer outlet that was specifically designed for aquariums. It is a really neat little gadget with some interesting features. The plug supports both iOS and android. I want to make it clear from the start that I was given this product to review.

 

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First, the setup is super simple. Take the plug and chip out of the box, put the magnetic chip into the box, and plug it into the wall. Next, get out smartphone out and download the Flexi Plug app in your app store. Once you have the app, just simply open it, make sure your Bluetooth is on, and connect to the Flexi Plug. Your app is find the plug and bring you to a setup menu to make a profile. One thing I will note is that when you plug the Flexi Plug in, you initially have to press the button to get it to search for a device to connect to via Bluetooth. When I say press, I mean actually press the button a little hard because it doesn’t look like it but below the surface is a little button that actually has to “click” for it to search. I thought it was some kind of touch sensor so it had me confused for awhile.

 

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There are three different main settings for the plug: a light, a pump, and a miscellaneous piece of equipment. The different profiles are there because each one has a couple features that are specific to that piece of equipment. For example, the pump setting has a button to turn off the pump for 5, 10, 15, or 30 min if you wanted to turn the pump off while you feed your tank. You can also make of to 5 time profiles that the plug will follow to turn the connected device on or off when you want.

 

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There are many things you can do with the programmable timer though so you just need some imagination. I could see this working well for fans, heaters, powerheads, return pumps, skimmers, refugium lights or aquarium lights in general, dosers, reactors, and more.

 

Overall, I think this is a great little piece of equipment. Who would want this? I think this would be a great tool for anyone who does not have a super elaborate system and can’t justify buying a full-blown aquarium controller with all the bells and whistles. If you just need to turn a light on and off, or only want an outlet to control your skimmer so that it is on for 8 hours instead of 24/7, this would be the product for you. At a relatively low price point ($64.99), this provides the controllability to do some fun things with your equipment without having to purchase a controller at all. Someone that has an aquarium controller would want one of these to independently control something so there is more than one point of failure, or if they have run out of space on the programmable powerbar for the controller and don’t want to buy another.

 

There are a couple things that I would like to see improved on this product. First, it does not have a three-prong outlet on it. Many pieces of equipment have the grounding prong on the plug, so we are limited to what we can use this for. Second, the programmable timer for the plug only goes down to the minute. I would like to see seconds added to the app so that you could turn a doser pump on/off for only 35 second if you wanted.

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Arkayology

This looks very similar to the Belkin Insight (Wemo)

 

Same idea, can control the outlets and set up timers and stuff. Plus it monitors electricity usage! I use them in my freshwater tanks

 

http://www.belkin.com/us/F7C029-Belkin/p/P-F7C029/?kpid=10002&gclid=Cj0KEQjwv6WrBRD4gbngqe7mosYBEiQAIB5oTMloEXGRNIm-LnCWPgwLLPHj4U61E1Ni5odTstUuGkMaAjok8P8HAQ

Monitoring electricity would be another great feature that I hadn't thought about that would be a great addition to this product!

 

Good review Ark.....reminded me that I need to write mine! LOL

NP :D

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Arkayology

What happens if that little chip thing comes out somehow? Would the outlet still function?

It just turns the timer/electronic device off. It's not likely to fall out; the magnet holds it in place fairly securely. You can clip it back in and it will run as normal.

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was looking at this the other day after you told me about it. wish the video that marine depot has up wasnt private. think im gonna snag one for water change purposes

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Arkayology

was looking at this the other day after you told me about it. wish the video that marine depot has up wasnt private. think im gonna snag one for water change purposes

Are you going to hook a powerstrip up to it and put two pumps on it to move the water?

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Marine Depot

was looking at this the other day after you told me about it. wish the video that marine depot has up wasnt private. think im gonna snag one for water change purposes

 

Video is live now... sorry, just an oversight we caught thanks to you post. :blush:

 

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Anything I would want to plug into it has a three prong plug. I don't see a benefit over a regular digital timer with a manual on/off switch (I can remember to turn it back on) which can be had for $15.

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This looks very similar to the Belkin Insight (Wemo)

 

Same idea, can control the outlets and set up timers and stuff. Plus it monitors electricity usage! I use them in my freshwater tanks

 

http://www.belkin.com/us/F7C029-Belkin/p/P-F7C029/?kpid=10002&gclid=Cj0KEQjwv6WrBRD4gbngqe7mosYBEiQAIB5oTMloEXGRNIm-LnCWPgwLLPHj4U61E1Ni5odTstUuGkMaAjok8P8HAQ

This looks cool. It can turn things on based on sunset/sunrise times the IFTTT thing seems interesting: http://www.belkin.com/us/wemo/ifttt/. The power usage feature may be useful. That would be good as it could let you know of a power failure (heater). It looks like it could also be set to alert at more power usage than typical--think stuck heater. Hmmm...

 

"Get notified when your laundry cycle is finished so that you avoid wrinkled clothes, know when your child has exceeded their daily TV limit and turn it off, or find out if you left the space heater on accidentally."

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HarryPotter

This looks cool. It can turn things on based on sunset/sunrise times the IFTTT thing seems interesting: http://www.belkin.com/us/wemo/ifttt/. The power usage feature may be useful. That would be good as it could let you know of a power failure (heater). It looks like it could also be set to alert at more power usage than typical--think stuck heater. Hmmm...

 

"Get notified when your laundry cycle is finished so that you avoid wrinkled clothes, know when your child has exceeded their daily TV limit and turn it off, or find out if you left the space heater on accidentally."

I have a few extra if you're in the market ;)

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chicagoreef

The concept is decent and I'm sure more and more of these types of products will come out. However, the price is high once you factor in needing a bunch of these. I have three belkin wemos to control my lights and well its pricey. I'm waiting for a power strip from Belkin or another company where each and every outlet is controllable from an iphone/android - I wonder why this product doesn't yet exist. I guess most people only have one or two things they need to control from out outlet, not a dozen!

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HarryPotter

The concept is decent and I'm sure more and more of these types of products will come out. However, the price is high once you factor in needing a bunch of these. I have three belkin wemos to control my lights and well its pricey. I'm waiting for a power strip from Belkin or another company where each and every outlet is controllable from an iphone/android - I wonder why this product doesn't yet exist. I guess most people only have one or two things they need to control from out outlet, not a dozen!

I have a few Belkin Insight Wemos and they're great. They tell you the electricity usage, can be set on timers, manually controller, Iphone controlled, and even wireless switch controlled!

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chicagoreef

I have a few Belkin Insight Wemos and they're great. They tell you the electricity usage, can be set on timers, manually controller, Iphone controlled, and even wireless switch controlled!

 

 

I agree and I do love the wemo's. They solved an issue very elegantly - turning lights on and off on a schedule - though I have the older models that don't tell me the electricity usage. I LOVE using my iPhone to turn the lights on and off.

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HarryPotter

 

 

I agree and I do love the wemo's. They solved an issue very elegantly - turning lights on and off on a schedule - though I have the older models that don't tell me the electricity usage. I LOVE using my iPhone to turn the lights on and off.

 

I actually have mine connected to a "Wemo Switch" that mounts on the wall. When I touch it, the Wemos shut off my skimmer, return pumps, and the Vortech. Pretty awesome!

 

Its a feed mode for $50, much cheaper than an apex lol

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This is considerably more robust and much greater value.

Ubiquiti mpower

http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Networks-Power-8Port-MPOWER-PRO/dp/B00HXT8IN2/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1434169668&sr=1-1&keywords=Mpower

 

Has wifi and Ethernet. Once connected to wifi the ethernet plug can function as a bridge to say give internet to an apex. Monitors power usage and plethora of other stuff.

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chicagoreef

This is considerably more robust and much greater value.

Ubiquiti mpower

http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Networks-Power-8Port-MPOWER-PRO/dp/B00HXT8IN2/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1434169668&sr=1-1&keywords=Mpower

 

Has wifi and Ethernet. Once connected to wifi the ethernet plug can function as a bridge to say give internet to an apex. Monitors power usage and plethora of other stuff.

 

VERY interesting!

 

https://www.ubnt.com/mfi/mpower/

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