Anglepoise Task Lamp Smart Outlet: Full Setup Guide

Plugging an Anglepoise task lamp replica into a smart outlet turns a lamp you flip on by hand into one that switches on at sunset, off at bedtime, or on command through a voice assistant. Instead of walking to the desk every evening to click the switch, set up a Wi-Fi smart plug once and let a schedule or a routine handle it from then on.

Why this matters

A Mobelaris Anglepoise task lamp replica is not a smart lamp out of the box. It's a manually switched desk light, same as the design it takes its cues from, and that's fine until you want it on before you sit down at the desk or off automatically after you've left the room.

A smart plug sits between the lamp and the wall outlet and takes over the on/off decision. The lamp needs no rewiring, no new bulb, and no app of its own - the plug does all the work.

A Wi-Fi smart plug turns any Anglepoise task lamp replica into a scheduled or voice-controlled light without touching the lamp's own wiring. That's the whole trick, and it takes under fifteen minutes end to end once the plug is out of the box.

Before you start

• A Wi-Fi smart plug that supports Alexa, Google Home or Apple Home - Matter-compatible plugs work with all three ecosystems.
• A 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network name and password. Most smart plugs cannot join a 5GHz-only network, so check your router's band settings before you begin.
• The relevant smart home app already installed and signed in on your phone.
• The gotcha: once setup is done, leave the Anglepoise task lamp replica's own rocker switch in the "on" position. Switch the lamp off at the lamp head and the smart plug has no power left to control - every schedule and voice command will silently do nothing.

Set up your smart plug

1. Plug the smart plug into the wall outlet you'll use, then plug the Anglepoise task lamp replica into the smart plug.
2. Open your smart home app and select Add device or the + icon.
3. Choose the plug from the device category list and follow the pairing prompt - most plugs flash an LED to signal pairing mode.
4. Name the device something you'll actually say out loud, such as "Desk Lamp" or "Office Lamp", and avoid a name that duplicates another device in the same room.

Expected result: the app shows the plug as Online, and the lamp is fully powered with its own switch left on.

Connect the smart plug to your Wi-Fi network

1. In the app's device setup flow, select your 2.4GHz network from the list.
2. Enter your Wi-Fi password and confirm.
3. Wait for the app to report a successful connection - this normally finishes in under a minute.
4. Test it immediately: toggle the device On and Off from the app and check the lamp responds each time.

Expected result: the lamp turns on and off from the app with no more than a second or two of delay.

Assign the smart plug to a voice assistant

1. Open the Alexa, Google Home or Apple Home app - whichever matches the smart plug's ecosystem.
2. Under Devices, select Add and link the smart plug's account if it isn't already synced.
3. Assign the device to a room, such as "Home Office" or "Study", so voice commands route correctly.
4. Say the wake word and test: "Turn on the desk lamp."

Expected result: the assistant confirms the command out loud and the lamp switches on within a couple of seconds.

Create a schedule for your Anglepoise task lamp replica

1. In the smart home app, open the device and select Schedule or Automation.
2. Set an On time for when you start work and an Off time for when you finish - most apps let this repeat daily or on weekdays only.
3. Save the schedule and let it run for a full day before making adjustments.

Expected result: the lamp switches on and off at the times you set without you touching a switch.

Trigger the lamp with a routine instead of a fixed schedule

A fixed schedule suits a regular routine, but a sunset-based trigger works better when your hours shift day to day. Instead of a clock time, most apps let you build a routine triggered by sunset, sunrise, or a voice phrase like "Good morning".

1. In the app, open Routines (Google Home and Alexa) or Automations (Apple Home).
2. Choose a trigger: Sunset, Sunrise, or a spoken phrase.
3. Add the smart plug as the action and set it to Turn on or Turn off.
4. Save and test by triggering the phrase, or wait for the time-based event to fire.

Expected result: the desk lamp turns on automatically at sunset rather than a fixed clock time, which suits task lighting better across the year as daylight hours change.

Troubleshooting

• Smart plug won't join Wi-Fi: Confirm the network is 2.4GHz - a 5GHz-only network won't appear in most plug setup flows.
• App shows the device offline after a power cut: Unplug and replug the smart plug; most units reconnect automatically within a minute of power returning.
• Voice assistant can't find the device: Check the device name doesn't clash with another gadget in the same room, then re-sync the relevant skill or service.
• Schedule fires at the wrong time: Check the app's time zone setting - it's set from the phone's location at setup and can drift after travel.
• Lamp doesn't respond even though the app shows "On": Check the lamp's own switch is left on at the lamp head. The smart plug can only control power it's actually receiving.

Customise the setup

Once the first plug and schedule work, expand it. Pair a second smart plug with a floor lamp in the same room and group both under one lighting scene, so a single voice command or trigger handles the whole space rather than one lamp at a time.

If the desk lamp shares a room with other fixtures, the guide on lighting a mid-century modern room with replica lamps covers placement before you add more fixtures to the same routine.

FAQ

One last thing

The single most common reason a schedule "doesn't work" isn't the app, the Wi-Fi, or the voice assistant - it's the rocker switch on the lamp head left in the off position after someone switched it manually. Check that first before touching the app again.

Related guides

• Best replica floor lamps for reading corners
• Styling a replica floor lamp in a minimalist room