Home automation is becoming a very popular topic, as the technology and devices are becoming more readily available, easier to install, and priced so that just about anyone can add some "smarts" to their house. We have covered a number of home automation devices recently, and in this review we will look at another smart plug, this time in the form of the
Zooz ZEN06 Z-Wave Plus Smart Plug, sent over to us by
The Smartest House. The Smartest House is an online retailer dedicated to home automation devices connected by the Z-Wave standard, which offers you plenty of ways to automate things like your climate control, lighting, appliances, home security, and more.
The Zooz ZEN06 is shown in the promotional image above, where we see that it includes two novel features. Not only do you get a 110V 15A outlet, but there are also two USB ports included, too. While the AC power outlet is Z-Wave controllable, the two USB ports are not controlled and simply provide you with a convenient location for a 1.0A and a 2.4A charging port. Before taking a look at the sample provided for review, lets read up on some of the published data on the ZEN06 taken from the device's manual...
Features:
» Wireless control of floor lamps and small appliances
» Energy monitoring in live mode or over time (your Z-Wave gateway needs to support this feature)
» Scene inclusion for custom automation scenarios when included to a Z-Wave gateway controller
» LED indicator displaying Z-Wave signal strength and power usage
» Security enabled Z-Wave device with AES signal encryption (requires a security enabled gateway
controller for full functionality)
» Z-Wave Plus with improved 500 chip for faster and safer wireless communication
» Built-in range extender for a stronger, more reliable network
» 2 USB charging ports for your smart phone or tablet (no Z-Wave functionality)
» Built-in overload protection in Z-Wave outlet and USB ports
Specifications:
» Model Number: ZEN06
» Z-Wave Signal Frequency: 908.42 MHz
» Power: 110V, 60Hz
» Maximum Load: 15A, 1800W
» USB Charging Port Power: 1A and 2.4A
» Operating Temperature: 14 " 104 F
» Range: Up to 130 feet line of sight
» Installation and Use: Indoor only
» Dimensions: 4” x 2.5” x 1.2”
» Weight: 7oz
From the above we can see that you can control a device with a power rating of up to 1800W, which is higher than some other Z-Wave controlled plugs on the market. You should be able to plug in just about any home electronics device, lamp, or gadget without fear of overloading the outlet. Just keep it away from things like space heaters or larger appliances and you should be just fine. What we will see later in the review is that the LED ring around the outlet will actually change color to indicate the approximate power being consumed. Definitely a cool feature, but one that has a solid practical purpose.
