TP-Link Possible Fire Risk: My HS100 Smart Plug Nearly Caught Fire
Thursday, 4th September 2025
Recently, one of my TP-Link HS100 smart plugs failed in a way that could easily have led to a fire in my home.
The device had been in service since 2022, running nothing more than a set of fairy lights. While I was out for the day, my home internet went offline. When I returned, I found that the RCD on my consumer unit had tripped, cutting power to the circuit where the HS100 was installed.
When I inspected the plug, it was dead - no LED light, no response. There was a faint smoke mark on the casing, which prompted me to open it. Inside, I found charred and burnt components.
I contacted TP-Link support to report what I felt was a very serious safety issue.
To their credit, my case was escalated to their senior engineers and investigated over the course of several days. They later told me:
"Our R&D team has conducted an in-depth analysis of this issue and concluded that the NTC resistor inside the device is broken. This issue may have occurred due to overcurrent or overvoltage conditions in your operating environment."
At the same time, they warned me:
"We recommend that you stop using all HS100 plugs, since the unit you mentioned shows signs of burning."
To me, this was a clear acknowledgement that the danger was not limited to the single failed unit.
TP-Link told me that while they would replace the one failed HS100, but I also had another eight which I didn't feel comfortable using any longer even before TP-Link advised me to stop using them, so I asked them to replace them all - which seemed fair given the serious nature of the fault and the fact I am a valuable TP-Link customer.
Initially, TP-Link said they would look into replacing all eight with a newer model, the Tapo P100s, but in a subsequent email they told me the other eight I owned would not be covered because they were out of warranty. As Addy from TP-Link wrote:
"Regarding the replacement of your other eight plugs, we see that they were purchased in 2017 and 2019, which is beyond the warranty period. We will need to consult with our UK subsidiary to explore the possibility of replacements for you."
This stance was deeply frustrating given the cost I'd be facing to replace eight products that TP-Link has recommended I stop using. Warranty or not, once a manufacturer has admitted their product may be unsafe to use, surely they have a responsibility to act.
After I made it clear that I was disappointed with this response and would have no choice but to go public with my experience to warn others, TP-Link's position suddenly changed. Addy immediately wrote back:
"I'm pleased to confirm that we can replace all nine of your HS100s with Tapo P100s."
Those replacements have now arrived, but the bigger issue remains. If I had not pressed TP-Link, I would still be sitting on eight plugs they themselves had told me not to use.
If you own HS100 smart plugs, I would urge you to think carefully about continuing to use them. In my case, the device was controlling a very low load and had been working without issue for years, yet still failed with visible signs of burning.
Although TP-Link handled the situation promptly and fairly, I still feel it's important to share my experience publicly. I don't know how widespread this issue might be. None of my other HS100s had shown signs of failure before this incident, but the risk of fire is too serious to ignore. If others have experienced similar problems, then perhaps this post will help raise awareness.
The device had been in service since 2022, running nothing more than a set of fairy lights. While I was out for the day, my home internet went offline. When I returned, I found that the RCD on my consumer unit had tripped, cutting power to the circuit where the HS100 was installed.
When I inspected the plug, it was dead - no LED light, no response. There was a faint smoke mark on the casing, which prompted me to open it. Inside, I found charred and burnt components.
I contacted TP-Link support to report what I felt was a very serious safety issue.
To their credit, my case was escalated to their senior engineers and investigated over the course of several days. They later told me:
"Our R&D team has conducted an in-depth analysis of this issue and concluded that the NTC resistor inside the device is broken. This issue may have occurred due to overcurrent or overvoltage conditions in your operating environment."
At the same time, they warned me:
"We recommend that you stop using all HS100 plugs, since the unit you mentioned shows signs of burning."
To me, this was a clear acknowledgement that the danger was not limited to the single failed unit.
TP-Link told me that while they would replace the one failed HS100, but I also had another eight which I didn't feel comfortable using any longer even before TP-Link advised me to stop using them, so I asked them to replace them all - which seemed fair given the serious nature of the fault and the fact I am a valuable TP-Link customer.
Initially, TP-Link said they would look into replacing all eight with a newer model, the Tapo P100s, but in a subsequent email they told me the other eight I owned would not be covered because they were out of warranty. As Addy from TP-Link wrote:
"Regarding the replacement of your other eight plugs, we see that they were purchased in 2017 and 2019, which is beyond the warranty period. We will need to consult with our UK subsidiary to explore the possibility of replacements for you."
This stance was deeply frustrating given the cost I'd be facing to replace eight products that TP-Link has recommended I stop using. Warranty or not, once a manufacturer has admitted their product may be unsafe to use, surely they have a responsibility to act.
After I made it clear that I was disappointed with this response and would have no choice but to go public with my experience to warn others, TP-Link's position suddenly changed. Addy immediately wrote back:
"I'm pleased to confirm that we can replace all nine of your HS100s with Tapo P100s."
Those replacements have now arrived, but the bigger issue remains. If I had not pressed TP-Link, I would still be sitting on eight plugs they themselves had told me not to use.
If you own HS100 smart plugs, I would urge you to think carefully about continuing to use them. In my case, the device was controlling a very low load and had been working without issue for years, yet still failed with visible signs of burning.
Although TP-Link handled the situation promptly and fairly, I still feel it's important to share my experience publicly. I don't know how widespread this issue might be. None of my other HS100s had shown signs of failure before this incident, but the risk of fire is too serious to ignore. If others have experienced similar problems, then perhaps this post will help raise awareness.