5 useful gadgets for a modern apartment

TP-LINK has separated the products of the smart home ecosystem into a separate Tapo subfamily. It opens with a smart socket for one socket named P100.

The model is assembled in a white plastic housing and serves as an intermediate link between the stationary outlet and the power cable of the connected equipment. Of the control elements on its "body", only a mechanical power on/off button is visible. All other commands are sent to the "smart" outlet from the control smartphone, in whose memory the TP-LINK Tapo programme is preloaded.

Through the application, the socket is tied to the home Wi-Fi network, after which it becomes possible to fill in the power on and off calendar, activate the "No Home" mode or start a 24-hour timer. The "Not at home" mode creates the appearance of the presence of people by randomly turning on and off the light or an audio system connected to an outlet during your absence. Thus, TP-LINK Tapo P100 (1-pack) scares away uninvited guests who covet someone else's property.

The smart socket was created with an eye to "registration" indoors — the operating temperature range for the model ranges from 0 to 35 °C, also the case water protection is not claimed for the socket. And TP-LINK Tapo P100 (1-pack) interacts with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice assistants, understanding speech in English. Of the disadvantages of the model, it is noted that complicated access to sockets located side by side with sockets, and for the sake of completeness, the option of monitoring energy consumption would not hurt it. However, with an eye on the democratic price tag of the product, the indicated reasons for the "smart" outlet are entirely excusable.

The Philips EasyTouch Plus GC 527 clothes steamer will serve as a good addition to the iron, and in some cases — a full-fledged replacement for it.

The model is equipped with a height-adjustable rack with clothes hangers and two clips-clothespins. Also, a vertical board can be attached to the support, allowing you to smooth out the folds on clothes or bedding in a shorter period of time. The water tank in the lower lobe of the steamer holds 1.6 liters of liquid, which is enough to perform large volumes of work. It is possible to replenish the water reserves in it without turning off the device.

Various nozzles are installed on the tip of the steam supply hose made of elastic and durable silicone: an accessory for creating arrows, brushes for ironing dense fabrics and mechanical removal of stains, and a protective glove is also attached to the model. The intensity of steam supply at the outlet of the Philips EasyTouch Plus GC 527 nozzle is regulated in 5 modes — depending on the type of surfaces to be treated. The rotary handle for this case is placed on the "facade" of the steamer body.

In the reviews of the model, there is often a claim regarding the bending hose. To avoid interruptions in the operation of the device, it is better to hold it with your free hand. In order to extend the service life of the steamer, it is advisable not to forget to use the Easy de-calc descaling function. Taking into account the dubious quality of tap water in the east european expanses, this option is very relevant and in demand.

The name of the Aquastore systems has become a household name when it comes to protection against leaks. In order not to accidentally flood the neighbors from below, take a closer look at the "watchman" of the Expert family, which will help minimize the consequences of intra-apartment accidents on the water supply.

"Out of the box" the model is equipped with one ball valve with an "inch" threaded connection, four leak sensors and wires to them with a length of 4 m each. In case of a circuit break from the control unit to the sensors, a special alarm system is provided. To prevent stagnation in the ball mechanism of the crane, the device has a protection function against "souring". Preventive measures are taken automatically once every two weeks.

The automation of the "Aquastore" reacts to leaks in just 2.5 seconds. When confirming an emergency situation, the device controller first of all transmits a control signal to block the cranes. In total, up to 5 "smart" cranes can be connected to the system with full control of their current state and operability.

The main power supply of the Akvastorozh Expert 1x25 Pro is a block for connecting to a 230 V mains or a trio of 4.5 V type C batteries (optional). The system also carries a built-in uninterruptible power supply based on ionistors (high-capacity supercapacitors) in the standard on-board equipment. The integrated UPS acts as a guarantor of the operation of the "Aquastore" in critical situations when power is not supplied from the outside, and the batteries have run out for some reason. With such a device in the apartment, the probability of floods due to your fault is practically nullified.

The Xiaomi Xiaowa E20 robotic vacuum cleaner will not allow you to get rid of the hated general cleaning of the apartment, but it will help to keep it clean on a daily basis. Moreover, by methods of both dry and wet cleaning.

In operation, the vacuum cleaner relies on the readings of four optical sensors in the front circumference of the housing, an integrated motion sensor, touch sensors, a gyroscope and an accelerometer. Based on the information received, the robotic cleaner draws a map of the room, remembers the perimeter and optimizes the cleaning scheme. First, he will drive, poking his "nose" into all the walls, and then the vacuum cleaner will begin to pass the room along a Z-shaped trajectory.

Xiaomi Xiaowa E20 is able to determine the type of surface to be cleaned, adjusting the suction power to it, and perform wet cleaning of hard coatings. For this case, the model has a special nozzle with a cloth and a built-in water tank with a capacity of 150 mL. In dry cleaning mode, the robot first sweeps away the specks with a side brush closer to the centre, after which the garbage is dragged into the dust collector. At the baseboard, where the most dust accumulates, the cleaning efficiency automatically increases.

Obstacles in the manner of interior thresholds up to 2 cm high are completely beyond the robot vacuum cleaner. But the model should be protected from staircases. Virtual walls in the form of special Xiaomi magnetic tapes come to the rescue in such situations. Finally, it is worth mentioning that on a single battery charge, a robotic cleaner can ride around the perimeter of the room for up to 2 hours in a row. The process of replenishing energy reserves in the battery tanks on the charging base takes exactly the same amount of time.

The Mitsubishi Electric VL-50ES2-E supply and exhaust system with recuperation supplies more than 50 "cubes" of fresh air per hour to the serviced room. The device can be used for ventilation all year round, and its strength is sufficient for effective work in the kitchen or in a living room with an area of 17-20 m2.

The model is subject to wall mounting in a horizontal or vertical position. Air is supplied to the installation and removed through an air duct with a diameter of 120 mm. In winter, it is heated and humidified by warm air masses that are removed from the room, and in summer the supplied air is partially cooled and drained. For ventilation of residential premises, the recuperator is used in the temperature range outside the monastery from -10 to +40 °C.

The air flow rate is regulated from a modest figure of 15 m3/hour to 54 m3/hour. Also, depending on the speed of rotation of the fan impeller, the noise threshold of the installation "floats" —The recuperator makes no louder than 15 dB "on minimalks", due to which its operation will not disturb the sensitive sleep of the household. On frosty days, the device can operate in the "Hood only" mode, blocking the supply channel if it is too cold outside.

The model uses a plate membrane heat exchanger as a heat exchanger. It helps to maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity level in the room. The installation is switched on and off by means of a cord switch, the fan speeds are adjusted by a separate switch. This unpretentious "workhorse" will provide the abode with fresh air for the benefit of the well-being of the household and the maintenance of comfortable microclimate conditions in the dwelling.