Setup
How PowerPlay works
Movement first. Screen second. The plug is the referee — not another reminder kids can swipe away.
1. Plug in a Wi-Fi outlet
Buy a Shelly US smart plug and put it in the wall. Plug the TV, game console, or PC into that outlet — not the wall. Connect the plug to your home Wi-Fi once. The Setup page walks through every tap. You can add up to three plug IPs so more than one screen follows the same timer.
2. Count steps — phone or watch
Default is the phone in a pocket. A parent can switch to Watch / Fitbit / Samsung in Parent controls so a Fitbit, Galaxy Watch, or Garmin counts instead, through Google Health Connect. Auto keeps whichever total is higher that day. Phone and watch are never added together. Sitting still with the phone on the couch does not count if you chose Phone only.
3. Minutes unlock the plug
Parents set the trade — default is 200 steps for 15 Power Minutes. As steps come in, minutes go into a bank they can save forever until they spend them. When they have enough, they tap Turn Power ON. The app tells the Shelly plug to turn the outlet on.
4. Time runs out, power stops
While they play, PowerPlay spends the banked minutes one by one. When it hits zero, the app turns the plug off. The screen cannot stay on because someone ignored a reminder. If they want more time, they walk more.
5. Parents stay in control
A password opens parent controls. Change the step rate, set a minimum steps before the On button works, cap daily minutes, set bedtime hours when power will not turn on, add bonus time, or reset the bank to zero if they get in trouble. Kids cannot open that section.
6. Achievements keep them walking
Fifty custom badges unlock as they walk and bank time. Locked badges stay grey so they can see the goal. Unlocks stay on the phone — a slow grind that can last a year, not one weekend.