Smart light switch?
Discussion
So my wife would like it if we could have a smart switch which could be controlled by an app specifically for a timer to turn on/off lights.
Here's the setup...
We have an open plan house, and we have a 3-way light switch, 2 switches control the internal lights - lounge & kitchen and the 3rd switch controls our outside porch light.
We also have a 2nd switch which is a 2-way switch which only controls the lights - lounge & kitchen.
My assumption here is that I would need to replace both switches 3-way and a 2-way to enable control of the 2 rooms in question and the outside light.
I have no idea how these are wired, and what I would need to make this work. I did have a quick look at Sonoff products but there wasn't much detail or detail I could understand to figure this out, ideally I don't want a hub as that's something else to be plugged in taking up a socket and hidden away.
Any thoughts, advice on what to look at and buy?
Here's the setup...
We have an open plan house, and we have a 3-way light switch, 2 switches control the internal lights - lounge & kitchen and the 3rd switch controls our outside porch light.
We also have a 2nd switch which is a 2-way switch which only controls the lights - lounge & kitchen.
My assumption here is that I would need to replace both switches 3-way and a 2-way to enable control of the 2 rooms in question and the outside light.
I have no idea how these are wired, and what I would need to make this work. I did have a quick look at Sonoff products but there wasn't much detail or detail I could understand to figure this out, ideally I don't want a hub as that's something else to be plugged in taking up a socket and hidden away.
Any thoughts, advice on what to look at and buy?
Those are called three gang and two gang switches. A two way switch is one of a pair of switches in different locations, each of which can turn a light off or on. Usually found at different levels on stairs.
We have Lightwave RF. But your bulbs need to be dimmable, and if you have lights that use transformers you will need dimmable transformers. It allows control at the switch, by an app, by timers, and by setting up automated routines.
The LWRF set up can be linked to Alexa. The whole lot can then be controlled by voice commands.
We have Lightwave RF. But your bulbs need to be dimmable, and if you have lights that use transformers you will need dimmable transformers. It allows control at the switch, by an app, by timers, and by setting up automated routines.
The LWRF set up can be linked to Alexa. The whole lot can then be controlled by voice commands.
In our house we have a number of Tapo smart lamps (I had it drilled into me as an apprentice that Bulbs grow, lamps glow), which can be controlled/dimmed over the tapo app.
They can also be set up with timers and random schedules for when you are away, they can be dimmed, and they can also be linked so that, say, certain ones come on when the doorbell is pressed. I think they can also be grouped. They are dirt cheap and work well.
Only problem is when you go into a dark room without a phone to operate them, but they can be over ridden by turning the switch off and back on again.
HTH
They can also be set up with timers and random schedules for when you are away, they can be dimmed, and they can also be linked so that, say, certain ones come on when the doorbell is pressed. I think they can also be grouped. They are dirt cheap and work well.
Only problem is when you go into a dark room without a phone to operate them, but they can be over ridden by turning the switch off and back on again.
HTH
Tant said:
In our house we have a number of Tapo smart lamps (I had it drilled into me as an apprentice that Bulbs grow, lamps glow), which can be controlled/dimmed over the tapo app.
They can also be set up with timers and random schedules for when you are away, they can be dimmed, and they can also be linked so that, say, certain ones come on when the doorbell is pressed. I think they can also be grouped. They are dirt cheap and work well.
Only problem is when you go into a dark room without a phone to operate them, but they can be over ridden by turning the switch off and back on again.
HTH
This is what we have done. Much easier than replacing switches. They can also be set up with timers and random schedules for when you are away, they can be dimmed, and they can also be linked so that, say, certain ones come on when the doorbell is pressed. I think they can also be grouped. They are dirt cheap and work well.
Only problem is when you go into a dark room without a phone to operate them, but they can be over ridden by turning the switch off and back on again.
HTH
We have also added Tapo motion sensors in the hallways and landing, so the lights come on automatically.
Linked to Alexa, for voice control too.
We've taken it a stage further using Home Assistant, so we can trigger the lights that way too, using sensors from other manufacturers etc.
We have Tapo plugs to control lamps in our house too, work really well for us. Ours are voice controlled via Alexa but obviously could use the app as well if preferred
Think you may struggle with smart 2 way light switches, I wanted one for my garage but Tapo at least don't do these so ended up changing it to a 1 way system (I'd never used the second switch in the 12 years we've lived here so wasn't an issue for me)
Be aware also that the Tapo smart light switch required a rediculously deep back box, again not an issue in a garage but would have required a bit more surgery if it was in a living area where aesthetics are more important
Think you may struggle with smart 2 way light switches, I wanted one for my garage but Tapo at least don't do these so ended up changing it to a 1 way system (I'd never used the second switch in the 12 years we've lived here so wasn't an issue for me)
Be aware also that the Tapo smart light switch required a rediculously deep back box, again not an issue in a garage but would have required a bit more surgery if it was in a living area where aesthetics are more important
BlackTails said:
Those are called three gang and two gang switches. A two way switch is one of a pair of switches in different locations, each of which can turn a light off or on. Usually found at different levels on stairs.
We have Lightwave RF. But your bulbs need to be dimmable, and if you have lights that use transformers you will need dimmable transformers. It allows control at the switch, by an app, by timers, and by setting up automated routines.
The LWRF set up can be linked to Alexa. The whole lot can then be controlled by voice commands.
Lightwave here too throughout, including a 4 way dimmer which looked incredibly fun to wire in. Have been faultless for over 7 years. However it does need a hub which the O/Pis averse to. Although it can be hidden away, and the RF switches can still be used without internet connection. They are also aesthetically very pleasing in white stainless.We have Lightwave RF. But your bulbs need to be dimmable, and if you have lights that use transformers you will need dimmable transformers. It allows control at the switch, by an app, by timers, and by setting up automated routines.
The LWRF set up can be linked to Alexa. The whole lot can then be controlled by voice commands.
normalbloke said:
BlackTails said:
I don t really understand the appeal of motion sensors inside a home. It would make me feel I was living in the stairwell of a block of flats. Each to their own, I guess.
They can be used for more than just triggering lights..(Perhaps not what you meant, I appreciate )
There's basically 3 ways you can do this kind of thing
Smart Bulbs - controlled by an app or a remote, but if someone flicks the wall switch it cuts the power to the bulb so obviously now cant be turned on. Ikea's a cheap option for this, either with thier hub or using thier remotes as secondary wall switches providing you leave the main switch on. Phillips Hue is amore expensive option but with a good range of kit.
Smart Switches - Replace the switches so everything works as normal, but you can also control remotely. This is the way I've gone with Zigbee switches and Home Assistant controlling it, but there are plenty of simpler control systems including more recent Alexa devices. However 3 way switches are rare so I've wired mine such that only 1 switch actually controls the light, and the second switch tells home assistant to turn the first switch on. So in your case I'd probably set the 3 gang switch to be the main one, and then join the wires behind the 2 gang so they bypass the switch as if it was on, and use the 2 gang switch as a remote control. You ideally want a neutral wire to power the switch but there are ways around it.
Smart Relays - lots of companies make small relays (Sonoff or Shelly are well known ones) that can be fitted either behind the switch or in the light fitting, using the switch as just a change state signal, i.e. turn the light off if it's on and on if it's off, while allowing you to also switch them remotely. The advantage is you keep your existing switches, but you get might annoyed if you're used to down always being on.
Smart Bulbs - controlled by an app or a remote, but if someone flicks the wall switch it cuts the power to the bulb so obviously now cant be turned on. Ikea's a cheap option for this, either with thier hub or using thier remotes as secondary wall switches providing you leave the main switch on. Phillips Hue is amore expensive option but with a good range of kit.
Smart Switches - Replace the switches so everything works as normal, but you can also control remotely. This is the way I've gone with Zigbee switches and Home Assistant controlling it, but there are plenty of simpler control systems including more recent Alexa devices. However 3 way switches are rare so I've wired mine such that only 1 switch actually controls the light, and the second switch tells home assistant to turn the first switch on. So in your case I'd probably set the 3 gang switch to be the main one, and then join the wires behind the 2 gang so they bypass the switch as if it was on, and use the 2 gang switch as a remote control. You ideally want a neutral wire to power the switch but there are ways around it.
Smart Relays - lots of companies make small relays (Sonoff or Shelly are well known ones) that can be fitted either behind the switch or in the light fitting, using the switch as just a change state signal, i.e. turn the light off if it's on and on if it's off, while allowing you to also switch them remotely. The advantage is you keep your existing switches, but you get might annoyed if you're used to down always being on.
BlackTails said:
I don t really understand the appeal of motion sensors inside a home. It would make me feel I was living in the stairwell of a block of flats. Each to their own, I guess.
I love it, but then we have 4 flights of stairs so it's a lot of lights to switch on an off when you nip downstairs for a cuppa. I have our porch, downstairs hallway, the 2 main flights of stairs and the kitchen on motion sensors, and a several others on voice commands.Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 20th October 12:04
Freakuk said:
So my wife would like it if we could have a smart switch which could be controlled by an app specifically for a timer to turn on/off lights.
We have a lot of automation. Using a phone app to control lights gets tedious, fast. Most of ours have wall "smart" switches. Alexa controls them 99% of the time with simple voice commands. Would that suit you?RizzoTheRat said:
I love it, but then we have 4 flights of stairs so it's a lot of lights to switch on an off when you nip downstairs for a cuppa. I have our porch, downstairs hallway, the 2 main flights of stairs and the kitchen on motion sensors, and a several others on voice commands.
I see the problem, but why not set up a voice command to turn the stair lights on, which would turn them all on?Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 20th October 12:04
I’m guessing you don’t have pets, in particular a cat which roams the house at night surveying his domain…
BlackTails said:
I see the problem, but why not set up a voice command to turn the stair lights on, which would turn them all on?
I m guessing you don t have pets, in particular a cat which roams the house at night surveying his domain
I do have a voice command that turns on all the stairs lights but hardly ever use it, as I never need all floors on at the same time and the motion sensors do it for me anyway. I find motion/presence sensors far more convenient than voice commands. A voice command is just another form of switch, motion sensors actually let you automate. I do have a switch on my phone dashboard to turn all motion automations off though, which came in useful when decorating recently. I m guessing you don t have pets, in particular a cat which roams the house at night surveying his domain
We don't have pets but one of the stair lights did randomly turn itself on one evening a while ago. I could figure out why until we discovered a neighbours cat having a snooze in the laundry basket having got in through the roof terrace door we'd left open on a hot afternoon
Seems like lots of scope creep to my original ask.
I just want a means to operate 1 of the 3 gang switches (that operates the outside light) via a timer which I assume would be an app. I'd still like the option to operate the switch if needed.
If there's a wifi relay I can put in-line to that switch that's an option, or maybe I just add a wifi bulb holder and control it that way, but I'm not sure whether the switch itself is redundant, I assume so and as long as it's switched to on it'll work.
I just want a means to operate 1 of the 3 gang switches (that operates the outside light) via a timer which I assume would be an app. I'd still like the option to operate the switch if needed.
If there's a wifi relay I can put in-line to that switch that's an option, or maybe I just add a wifi bulb holder and control it that way, but I'm not sure whether the switch itself is redundant, I assume so and as long as it's switched to on it'll work.
Freakuk said:
Seems like lots of scope creep to my original ask.
I just want a means to operate 1 of the 3 gang switches (that operates the outside light) via a timer which I assume would be an app. I'd still like the option to operate the switch if needed.
If there's a wifi relay I can put in-line to that switch that's an option, or maybe I just add a wifi bulb holder and control it that way, but I'm not sure whether the switch itself is redundant, I assume so and as long as it's switched to on it'll work.
Smart bulbs will do exactly what you want:I just want a means to operate 1 of the 3 gang switches (that operates the outside light) via a timer which I assume would be an app. I'd still like the option to operate the switch if needed.
If there's a wifi relay I can put in-line to that switch that's an option, or maybe I just add a wifi bulb holder and control it that way, but I'm not sure whether the switch itself is redundant, I assume so and as long as it's switched to on it'll work.
Scheduled on/off times, set via the app
Override using the existing switch - switch "off" then "on" again, the light will come on
The only potential downside is that obviously the switch needs to be "on" for the light to work, so a bit of "retraining" of habits may be needed.
You can do the same things with smart switches and relays, but they tend to cost more, and obviously need to be wired into place.
Wifi Smart bulb is cheap, easy to fit, but you obviously need a WiFi signal right to the bulb, which might be an issue for an outside light.
As a bonus, a smart bulb can be scheduled or adjusted via the app to go dim, or even change colour if you buy the right one.
I'm not sure about the 3-way requirement, but Sonoff would definitely tick the boxes of being able to use a standard physical switch as well as having app control. The units themselves are tiny so will fit in a 35mm depth back box. I ran a new wire so I could have neutral at the switch, but they do no-neutral versions..
Smart bulb is an easy solution. I fitted one downstairs when my daughter wouldn’t go to sleep without some light being on downstairs so I just set it to go off at 1am every morning by which time I knew she would be asleep. I actually forgot we had it until I saw the post as we stopped using it a few years ago but a good security device I should remember to use.
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