2024 is truly a year of major innovations at Freedompro, particularly with regard to Smart Modules, the range of Wi-Fi-connected smart relays that make any home ‘smart’ without the need to modify or upgrade the electrical system.
Following the award of the prestigious Matter certification (we are proud to note that our Smart Modules are the first complete range of smart home products to achieve this milestone!), the mark of conformity and standardised protocol that guarantees interoperability and security between smart devices from different manufacturers, two new Modules are now available to complete and make your “smart home experience” even more comfortable.
These are the Smart Outlet and Dry Contact Modules, designed to control your home’s electrical sockets and devices with pulse or dry contact outputs.
Let’s find out more about them!
Smart Outlet Modules: to make your power sockets smart
The new Smart Outlet Modules are professional smart switches connected via Wi-Fi that interact with the electrical system, making your power sockets smart. They have been designed and developed to take up very little space, so they can be easily connected and concealed behind existing wall switches or sockets.
What’s more, Smart Outlet Modules are Plug & Play devices (meaning they can be used immediately once connected) and Ready-to-Play (meaning they require no complex configurations or additional installations to be used), and are fully compatible with any type of device already in your home.
Just like the rest of the Freedompro Smart Modules range, they are Matter-certified and can therefore be used with all the best mobile apps for smart home control, including the most popular voice assistants (Siri, Alexa and Google, as well as our Freedompro Home app, of course).
By installing the Smart Outlet Modules, there will be no need to buy additional smart sockets – which generally aren’t exactly a thing of beauty… – because the standard ones already in your home will become smart without changing their appearance.
The new modules are currently available in four different variants of the MINI version, and can therefore be installed directly in junction boxes, behind wall sockets or switches:
- 2-channel MINI Outlet Module , which allows you to connect and control up to two accessories powered by 110–240 V AC or 24 V DC.
- 1-channel MINI Outlet Module , which allows you to connect and control a single accessory powered by 110–240 V AC or 24 V DC.
- 2-channel MINI Outlet Module , which allows you to connect and control up to two accessories powered by 12 V DC.
- 1-channel MINI Outlet Module , which allows you to connect and control a single 12 V DC-powered accessory.
Now that we’ve clarified what Smart Outlet Modules are, let’s explore in more detail what it means for them to intelligently control devices connected to power sockets.
When we talk about voice or remote control of devices plugged into sockets, we are referring to the ability to manage the power socket directly. In this very simple and intuitive way, Smart Outlet Modules allow you to control a huge range of accessories commonly found in our homes:
- Kettle : by controlling it directly from the socket (and obviously leaving it switched on at all times), you can heat water for tea without having to go to the kitchen.
- Espresso machine : simply leave it switched on to turn it on or off directly from the power socket. And, with the latest, most advanced models, you can even programme it!
- Floor lamps : switch them on or off with a simple ‘tap’ on your smartphone.
- Fan : just like the coffee machine, simply leave it plugged in and switch it on or off directly from the socket.
- Induction hob .
- Electric oven and microwave .
- Fridge or freezer : to cut the power before defrosting them, or when they’re empty because you’re going on holiday.
- Air fryer .
- Electric car charging point .
And many other devices connected directly or indirectly to electrical sockets, such as certain devices integrated into alarm or anti-theft systems.
There are two immediately apparent benefits: the convenience of being able to manage even ‘traditional’ non-IoT devices in a smart way, and the ability to save energy even more easily. Consider, for example, the status LEDs found on many household appliances and devices connected to power sockets: even when they indicate that the device is in sleep or standby mode, they continue to consume energy! Thanks to the Smart Outlet Modules, you can instead choose to supply power only when it is truly necessary.
What’s more, Habits become even more comprehensive because, as well as being able to include many more accessories, you can now manage them comfortably and sustainably, switching them off automatically at night or when you’re not at home.
Dry Contact Modules: for automating pulse or dry contact devices
Dry Contact Modules are the smart, professional actuators connected via Wi-Fi that Freedompro has designed to automate dry contact or pulse-controlled devices (i.e. those that respond to on/off pulses). Just like the Smart Outlet Modules, they have been developed to be easily connected and concealed directly behind existing wall sockets or switches.
Matter-certified and compatible with the most popular smart home apps (Siri, Alexa and Google), the Dry Contact Modules are available in a MINI version and come in four variants:
- 2-channel Dry Contact MINI Module , for connecting and controlling up to two accessories powered by 110–240 V AC or 24 V DC.
- 1-channel Dry Contact MINI Module , for connecting and controlling a single accessory powered by 110-240 V AC or 24 V DC.
- 2-channel MINI Dry Contact Module , for connecting and controlling up to two accessories powered by 12 V DC.
- 1-channel Dry Contact MINI module , for connecting and controlling a single accessory powered by 12 V DC.
As mentioned, Dry Contact Modules allow for the automatic management of dry contact or pulse devices, i.e. those components found mainly in control and automation systems to trigger specific actions.
In practice, this means you can use them with a wide range of accessories, such as garden irrigation systems, pedestrian and vehicle gates, garage doors and – in some cases – even the boiler.
This makes them particularly suitable for those living in detached houses or single-family homes who want the most versatile solution available in the Freedompro Smart Modules range, not only to automate a wide variety of daily tasks and enhance existing automation (an example? Watering the garden only on certain days or under specific conditions!), but also to make tangible energy savings through less intuitive actions, which would be harder to remember to carry out manually.
With the Dry Contact Modules, which, together with their ‘siblings’ the Smart Outlets, perfectly round off the Habits package and guarantee a complete smart home experience, the first chapter of the Freedompro smart home comes to a close.
Keep following us: we still have plenty more to tell you!
