There are many smart home appliances on the market. Sockets, lamps and radiator thermostats are just a few examples. With the MTS960, Meross has an interesting product that combines many possible applications. An aquarium, for example, quickly springs to mind. Read on to find out what the switchable socket can do in combination with a thermometer.
Technical data
Power supply | 100-240V / 50/60Hz |
Output power | max. 16A / 3840W |
Cable lengths | Meter/base: 150 cm Socket: 25 cm Sensor: 200 cm |
System requirements | iOS 13.0, Android 6.0 |
WiFi standard | 2.4 GHz b/g/n |
System environment | Temperature: 0°C ~ 40°C Humidity: 10% ~ 90% |
Certifications | CE, RoHS, WEEE, UKCA, FCC, ETL |
Price | € 60.00 * |
Scope of delivery
This information is almost negligible. On the plain cardboard box we find the product image and on the back the technical details. Inside you will find the MTS960. There is no need to assemble anything.
The switchable socket is permanently connected to the measuring device. The thermometer can be replaced if necessary, but this is also pre-plugged for us. Meross delivers the MTS960 ready to set up – plug it in and you’re done.
Setup and features
Together with the Meross app, setup is done in no time at all. Plug the MTS960 into a socket, open the app and press Add device. In the subsequent menu, select “smart thermostat” and the MTS960 socket will appear there. After a short scan and subsequent connection, the setup was already complete.
The currently measured temperature can be seen in the overview. In the first view, we see the set temperature from which heating/cooling is to take place. This can be quickly adjusted using two buttons. Quick access to presets and a timer function have also been placed directly on the start screen. As we can switch both cooling and heating devices with the MTS960, the direction of the temperature change is also easy to set here.
However, most of the features can be found in the advanced settings. We can set a differential value for the temperature measurement. This allows us to switch devices on earlier/later. A higher value means earlier switch-on or switch-off. The shortcuts on the start page for the schedules and default settings can also be set here.
A measurement deviation can also be set if required. This item can be found in the “Advanced” tab. The MTS960 also provides an indication of the power consumed – in real time and as statistics. If the gadget is working in areas that may be affected by frost, frost protection is even built in. Appliances connected behind the socket can also have a compressor. This should not be switched on permanently. A delay can be activated for protection.
Integration
The Meross app offers easy access to all functions. In the smart home sector, however, it is important for many people to be able to switch everything centrally. Be it via various assistance systems such as Google Home, Amazon Alexa or Apple HomeKit. And in short: the Meross MTS960 can be integrated into all three of these. For our test, we were only able to test the scope for Google Home and this is comprehensive.
One platform that many smart home users like to use is Samsung SmartThings. The integration is even advertised on the box. Here too, the Meross product is fully integrated with all setting options.
Since we use the Smart Home Assistant in our tutorials for the Smart Home, we naturally want to see what we can do with the MTS960 here too. We can integrate Meross devices in two ways. It is important to mention that many integrations are created by users themselves. So there is always room for improvement, and this is the status at the time of testing.
There are two integrations for Home Assistant. One uses the integration of the cloud. However, only the current power consumption is visible here. Another provides a direct connection in the network here. All the information provided by the device is visible there. Unfortunately, the socket cannot be switched on and off directly here.
Conclusion
The MTS960 thermometer socket from Meross is a very special product. Nevertheless, thanks to the temperature sensor and the many setting options, some applications are possible without much effort. For example, heating systems can be switched when the temperature falls below a certain value. Or it can go in exactly the other direction if, for example, an air conditioning system is connected.
However, the specialization of the product means that it cannot be fully integrated into other systems. The MTS960 can quickly become a lot of work, especially for users of their own smart home systems. Nevertheless, we can recommend the socket, especially in view of the ease of use and the range of functions.
Meross MTS960
Workmanship
Features
Value for money
93/100
Comprehensive product for a special case. Well implemented, with a clear app.