Smart plug use to control charging - any long-term users?

I have not used a smart plug to control my PP charging, but have used a kill-a-watt meter on the wall for over three years without any ill effect. One possible problem is the quality and durability issue. Some cheap smart plugs even if rated for 15A, can not sustain a constant 12A load for repeated use. I have had a few of those cheap smart plug die after a while using on high load appliances such as electric kettle or space heater.

 

Let us know how it goes longer term. That could be very helpful for others considering a smart plug. The only potential problem I can foresee is turning it off before it's done charging. That could cause more rapid wear on the contacts in the smart plug due to them opening while carrying high current. AC isn't as bad as DC, but there is still an arc most times. The turning on function won't have that problem because the car won't ask for power until it and the EVSE have agreed that it's OK to do so.

 

I do use a Wemo Insight plug to control the charging. I found the build-in Prime scheduling is not very convenient. Sometime I just forgot to hit the "charge now" button if I am not within my scheduled charge time, wish I have the "charge now" button where the EV plug is. And the Insight plug can estimate power usage.

I have few schedules setup (like 25%, 50%, 100% - 1 hour/2.5 hour/5.5 hour), and I will enable the schedule according to my departure time. Also I have a timer put in the smart plug, so that the charger is automatically turned off after 5.5 hour if I turn it on manually.

 

You can override the scheduled time charge by plugging in the charge cord and remove it and within a second or two re-plug into the charge port. This will start the "Charge Now" mode.

 

+1 on @Salamander_King's comment. I do this several times a week. Sometimes I forget to hit "Charge Now," and other times it's just that something comes up.