Everything You Need to Know About Smart Wall Sockets

Smart technology is most useful when it makes everyday life easier without making your home feel more complicated.

It might be switching off a lamp after you’ve already climbed into bed, setting the living room to come to life before you arrive home or checking that something has been turned off when you’re halfway to work.

Smart wall sockets replace a standard UK double socket, giving you app, voice and manual control without the bulk of a plug-in smart adapter. Available initially in black, gold, silver, white and chrome, they are designed to coordinate with the wider Dowsing & Reynolds switches and sockets range.

Here are the key things to know before choosing one for your home.

What is a smart wall socket?

A smart wall socket has connected technology built into the fitting itself. It looks and works like a conventional switched socket, but when paired with a compatible smart-home system, it can also be controlled through an app, voice assistant, schedule or automation.

Is it a replacement wall socket or a plug-in adapter?

It is a direct replacement for a standard UK double wall socket rather than an adapter that plugs into an existing one. This gives you a cleaner, built-in finish without a bulky smart plug adapter protruding from the wall.

Our smart wall sockets require a standard UK double-gang wall box with a minimum depth of 32mm.

Do the smart wall sockets match the rest of the Dowsing & Reynolds range?

Yes. The smart sockets have been designed to sit alongside the wider Dowsing & Reynolds switches and sockets collection.

They will initially be available in black, gold, silver, white and chrome, making it easier to coordinate your smart technology with the other electrical fittings in the room.

You can install them only where smart control would be useful rather than replacing every socket in your home.

Which smart-home systems are compatible, and is a separate hub required?

The socket uses Zigbee technology, so it requires a compatible Zigbee hub or smart-home controller.

Compatibility typically includes:

Amazon Alexa, with a compatible Zigbee hub such as the Philips Hue Bridge or an Echo device with a built-in Zigbee hub*
Google Home, through a compatible Zigbee hub such as the Philips Hue Bridge
Apple Home, through a compatible Zigbee hub such as the Philips Hue Bridge

*The following Echo devices have built-in smart home hubs and do not require a separate hub: Echo 4th Generation, Echo Plus, Echo Show 10 (except 1st Gen), Echo Studio.

Can the two plug outlets and USB-C outlets be controlled separately?

Each mains outlet can be controlled independently through your compatible smart-home system. The USB-C ports work as they would on a usual socket – when something is connected, they will emit power. When not in use they will use a low-energy standby mode.

Can I still use the socket without a smart-home system?

Yes. It continues to work as a normal switched wall socket using the physical controls. Smart features such as app control, scheduling, voice commands and automations are simply unavailable until the socket is paired with a compatible Zigbee hub.

This also means you can install the socket now and add it to a smart-home system later.

What happens if my internet connection goes down?

The socket will continue to operate using its physical switches. If your Zigbee hub supports local control, some automations and controls within your home may also continue to work without an internet connection.

Remote access and cloud-based voice assistants may be unavailable until your connection is restored.

Can I control the smart socket when I’m away from home?

Yes, provided your Zigbee hub supports remote access and remains connected to the internet. You will be able to check and control the socket through your chosen smart-home app wherever you are.

This can be useful when you want to check that a connected appliance or lamp has been switched off after leaving home.

Can I control it by voice?

Yes. When paired with a compatible smart-home platform, the socket can usually be controlled using Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri, depending on the compatibility of your hub.

Naming each outlet clearly within your app will make voice control easier. You might call one “bedside lamp” and the other “dressing-table lamp”, for example.

Can I create schedules and routines?

Yes. You can create schedules, timers and automations through your compatible smart-home platform.

You might set a lamp to come on before you arrive home, create a bedtime routine that switches off selected lights and sockets, or arrange for a hallway lamp to turn on at a particular time each evening.

Are there any appliances that shouldn’t be used with a smart socket?

The socket is suitable for most everyday household appliances within its rated electrical load.

It should not be used with:

Appliances that exceed the socket’s maximum load
Equipment requiring a permanent power supply
Medical or life-support equipment
Appliances where unexpected switching could create a safety risk

Always check the appliance manufacturer’s instructions.

Can I use a smart socket with lamps?

Yes. Smart sockets are particularly useful for table lamps, floor lamps and other plug-in lighting. You can turn them on remotely, add them to a schedule or include them in a wider smart-home routine.

The lamp itself will usually need to be left switched on so it can respond when power is supplied through the socket.

Can the smart sockets work with Dowsing & Reynolds smart dimmers?

Yes. Smart sockets and Dowsing & Reynolds smart dimmers can be used within the same compatible smart-home ecosystem.

This allows both products to be included in the same rooms, scenes and automations. An evening routine could dim your main lighting while switching on a table lamp connected to the smart socket, for example.

The smart socket itself does not dim a connected appliance – it switches the power on or off.

Can my electrician install it like a normal socket?

Yes. Installation is similar to fitting a standard double switched socket and should be carried out by a suitably qualified electrician in accordance with current electrical regulations.

The socket requires a minimum wall-box depth of 32mm, and the wiring and circuit should be checked before installation.

How do I pair the socket with my smart-home system?

Once the socket has been installed:

Put your Zigbee hub into pairing mode.
Put the smart socket into pairing mode, following the product instructions.
Wait for the hub to discover the device.
Complete the connection in your smart-home app.
Name the socket and assign it to a room if required.

You can then add it to schedules, routines and automations supported by your chosen platform. Full instructions are included with your order.

What happens if I change my smart-home hub?

You will normally need to remove the socket from your previous hub or reset it before pairing it with the new Zigbee hub. Any names, rooms, schedules or routines saved in your old system may also need to be set up again.

How do I clean a smart socket?

Switch off the power before cleaning where possible.

Use a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth to wipe the faceplate. Do not use abrasive cleaners, solvents or excessive water, and never spray cleaning products directly onto the socket.

A smarter socket that still belongs in the room

Dowsing & Reynolds smart wall sockets give you greater control over lamps and other suitable appliances while continuing to work like normal sockets when you need them to.

With two mains outlets, dual USB-C connections and a choice of black, gold, silver, white and chrome, they bring smart-home convenience into the room without compromising the finish.

Explore Dowsing & Reynolds smart wall sockets.

Written by: Natalie Walsh

Natalie is our Marketing Coordinator. She shares the ideas, inspiration and behind-the-scenes detail that help bring our brand to life... and she’s currently renovating her own 1850s cottage in the Yorkshire countryside - so she absolutely knows first-hand what it’s like to make design decisions surrounded by never-ending dust. Natalie's other passions include country music, reading and uncovering the history of her home.

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