ISSUE386|COMPUTER SHOPPER|APRIL2020 97
Under each service, you’ll see along list of
pre-defined applets thatyou can clickand
turn on. Thedescriptions should makesense,
such as this one for TP-Link: Turn offanoutlet
when you leave home. This turns offasmart
plug when you leave aspecific area thatyou
can set. Note thatthis applet requires you to
have the IFTTTapp on your smartphone.
To fully understand how IFTTTworks,
you’rebetter offcreating your own applet.
We’ll takeyou through building asimple
applet to control asmartplug connected to
an electric heater.
To create anew applet, click Exploreand
then click the +icon next to Makeyour own
Applets from scratch. First, click the This link,
then search for the servicethatyou want to
trigger the applet. In our case, we’reusing
the Foobot indoor air quality sensor.
Once you’ve selected aservice, you can
see all of the actionsthatare available.
We’ve selected ‘Temperature threshold is
crossed’,which lets us choose to trigger an
applet when the temperaturefalls belowor
risesabove acertain temperature. We’ve
chosen to select when the temperaturefalls
below 13 ̊C. Click Create trigger.
Next, click the That link and then search for
the service you want to be called into action.
In our case, we’reusing the TP-Link Kasa.
Here, we get the option to select Turn on,
and we can choose which smartplug we
want to turn on. Click Create action when
done, and you’ll then see an overview of the
applet thatyou’ve created.Our applet will turn on the smartplug
when the temperaturedrops below 13 ̊C.
Click Finish when done. We can now create a
new applet, but this time we’ll say when the
temperaturegoes above 15 ̊C, automatically
turn offthe smartplug. In this way,we’ve got a
room thatwillstay between 13 ̊C and15 ̊C
automatically,saving power but preventing
mould growth or aroom
getting too cold.
Experiment with the
Applets thatare available
and your own to get things
happening automatically.
Remember the limitations of
the system, however.For
example, with our suggested
applet, if you want the room
warmer than 15 ̊C, you’d have
to turn on the smartplug
automatically,knowing that
it will turn offat15 ̊C. When
the plug turnsoff,you’d
have to turn it back on again
beforethe temperature
drops below 15 ̊C. In this way,
IFTTTwon’t trigger the ‘above
15 ̊C’ rule again and your
room can continue to heat
up.When you turn offthe
plug, IFTTTsteps back in
again when the temperature
drops below 13 ̊C.
Youcan see what applets
youhave connected to a
service by searching for that
service. When you click it,
you’ll see alistofapplets that
say ‘connected’ on them.
Click one andthen click
the Connected slider to turn
it off. Youcan click the slider
to reconnect the applet,
giving you the option of
editing its settings.SMARTHOME MADEEASY
ABOVE:Turn offyour lights and your heating
automatically when youleave home
ABOVE:Use an IFTTTapplettocontrol room temperaturesRIGHT:Setting up your own applets using
IFTTTisstraightforward