Broadlink SP1 is a smart socket with Wi-Fi connectivity that you can control remotely with your Android or iOS mobile device through a specific app in order to turn on and off lights, water heater, and other electrical appliances. This type of product already exists for example with Belkin Wemo, but Broadlink SP1 is cheaper as it sells for $32.90 including shipping, against $49.99 + shipping for Belkin Wemo Switch. So let’s have a closer look.
For this type of device there aren’t that many technical specifications, but they are very important as you need to make sure it matches your electrical grid specs, equipment power rating, and socket type:
- Material – ABS
- Power Plug – Three flat-pin plug (Australia type)
- Voltage – 90~245V @ 50-60 Hz
- Output Current – 10A
- Output Power – 2200W
- Dimensions – 8.9 cm x 7.7 cm x 5.8 cm
- Temperature Range – -10’C to 55’C
The smart socket comes with a user’s manual in English and Chinese.
Unless you live in Australia, China, Argentina, New Zealand, and the few other countries using this type of plug, you’ll need an adapter, or use an universal power strip.
The company provides “Broadlink Smart Plug” app for iOS that’s compatible with iPhone 3GS to iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd, 4th and 5th generation), as well as an Android app (apk). I’ve tried the app in Android, and the UI shows up in English. For some reasons, during installation, the applications requires permission to access the camera… Without the plug, I can’t obviously try much in the apps, but according to the FAQ in Chinese, it lets you configure the smart sockets (Up to 100 units), turn them on and off, and set up to 7 timers. For security, there’s a “lock function” that only allows your device to control the sockets.
You can find more information (in Chinese), including a promo video, on Broadlink SP1 page. In China (Taobao), the device sells for 159 RMB ($26 US) + shipping.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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So you have to be on the local network to switch it on and off?
(When I read this first, I thought it might also be a wifi range extender, which would be cool…)
@onebir
I understand it connects to your router, so you can control it as long as you have an Internet connection, if you open your LAN to the outside world.
Hi all,
I’ve bought one online, but I can’t get it to work.
The manual is only in Chinese and any online translation is not very clear.
The Wifi networks here are all password protected, so no way to let this socket connect to the router 🙁
I the manual it is mentioned how to enter the password in the software on my phone, but no clou how to get it in the socket.
If anyone has an idea…. would be great. Otherwise it may be useless..
@NoChinese: You need the apk from the link in the article above.
Plug in the switch, long-press the button on its side until the light quick-flashes yellow.
Go into the app, go to config tab then select your wireless network and load the password. Once done, tap config.
This should load the network ID and passwd into the switch.
You can then go back to the system tab and tweak out the device – icon (including from your own gallery – probably why it asks for camera access) and name.
Note that if the switch is removed from power, it loses all settings. You need to refresh from the app within the wifi network and it reconnects.
@onebir: interestingly, I set up no port forwarding on my router, but was able to operate the switch via the cellular network after 5 mins or so. Looks like it has some sort of dynamic DNS on-board.
Overall, highly impressed. Would like it to save settings into firmware (in case of power outage whilst I’m away from home) -but great value for the price.
Just got one.
Works perfect in Belgium 🙂 witch a chinees adaptor
In the meantime I got the switch to work. Problem was that the network SSID is hidden bij default in my router and then the switch can’t connect. After unhiding the network SSID the switch works perfectly.
But the software is still in Chinese, also with using the apk from the link above in the article.
Anyone found a way to control it from Internet? Please post steps if you did.
Greg
Nope only with a local network
@benny
Could you forward the ports used by device in your router, and use DDNS to access it? It would work with a web interface, but I’m not sure with the Android app, as it may just look for devices on the local network.
If you read @Plebinator above, it seems he managed to control the device from the Internet.
What wifi chip does it use?
@cnxsoft
Port is foward. But i cant connect the device with a web interface on my local network. So i dont think i can acces it bij ussing dns.
1. You need the apk from the link in the article above. (done !)
2. Plug in the switch, long-press the button on its side until the light quick-flashes yellow.
Go into the app, go to config tab then select your wireless network and load the password. Once done, tap config.
This should load the network ID and passwd into the switch. (done)
You can then go back to the system tab and tweak out the device – icon (including from your own gallery – probably why it asks for camera access) and name. (it dit not ask for a name )
I set up no port forwarding on my router, but was able to operate the switch via the cellular network after 5 mins or so. Looks like it has some sort of dynamic DNS on-board.(this does not work ousite my local network I do have 3G data acces)
Can someone please translate the app screenshots from chinese to english ? That woud be very helpfull
@Benny
One guy left a comment on DX:
“1.The android app which can be downloaded is in Chinese. The solution is to tap the left button of the two buttons (in Chinese) which appear after starting up the app. This will trigger an online update which fortunately is in English”
Link: http://club.dx.com/reviews/text/235189/486230
@cnxsoft
Thanks but i have on ios device. So i will search some more .
To bad i can’t contact broadlink itself.
There’s now a similar device on kickstarter for about the same price, but more functionalities such as power consumption monitoring.
See http://www.cnx-software.com/2013/12/05/27-plugaway-wi-fi-smart-sockets-support-australia-china-europe-u-k-or-u-s-standards-crowdfunding/
@cnxsoft
looks nice ,lets see where we can bey it ……
You can control the switch from any other Internet connection Outside the wifi network the switch is connected to as follows . The switch has a variable DNS address synchronized to a server in Beijing at Broadlink so that server will route your request from your phone to Beijing then to the router of the switch . If the switch is behind a firewall, it will not be found by the broadlink server , so nothing happens . Either you disable the firewall on router of the switch ( not smart ) or enable uPNP and put MAC address of the switch on DMZ status in your router firewall settings ( usually can see the switch MAC address under its chinese or english name- if you changed it – in the Broadlink App after you link it ) . Then you can be on any network worldwide ( 3G or LTE or Wifi…..) and can get it to work. It took sometime to reconfigure the router firewall settings , so you may need the ” know how” .. Not very difficult if you google DMZ and wifi firewall router settings.
I controled the switch from my Iphone over 3G Network, you put MAC address on Mac filte of router.
You have to set the iphone language to englisch instead of dutch en download the lattest app.
But i still havent got it to work on 3G also the timer dus not seem to work.
the middel tap of the ap = e-remote device list ,what do you have to do here ?
Share to : sinaWzibo (seems to login )
Wechat or wechatgroup (dus not do anything)
does anybody know a broadlink customer service number or how to find instructions on how to reset this socket? I changed routers and it wont work on my wifi anymore, im getting fast yellow lights but no connection