I'd like to install a smart switch to the usual 2 way switch circuit. One of the 3-way switches is connected to Hot, the other to the load and 2 wires between each switch (as a newbie I can only attach one image). But I'm struggling to find a solution to avoid passing an extra wire.
I was thinking if it would be possible to replace the 3-way switch that is connected to Hot with a double channel smart switch without neutral along with a regular wall switch.
Then, it would be a matter of programming the smart switch as a 3-way switch so when the input switch is triggered, it would toggle the Line out between 1 and 2 outputs.
This is a schematic of what I have in mind.
Is there a better solution? The big problem here is that there is no way of knowing whether the lights are on or not. So it shold be implemented with a light sensor that toggles the switch when it's too dark.
I realise I may end up passing an extra wire so I can set it up with a regulars smart switch, but it's quite a long run and pretty tight. I think I would have to remove the existing wires and pass 3 new ones in one go.
My current setup is the usual 2-way switch circuit and the goal is to control the light via HA. Only that I'm looking for a solution that can avoid rewiring.
Yeah, I think I'm trying too hard no to pass an extra wire but it really is the solution that makes sense in this case. I believed I might be missing other options and that's why I reached the community.
What you have now is a three-way switch. Is the problem you don't have a neutral wire?
I have a bunch of Zooz wall light switches that replaced that standard 3 (or 4) way hard-wired switches. They are designed to just be a drop-in replacement and you keep your other regular switches as-is.
Adding to that, I'm not 100% clear if you don't have a neutral at the switch or were talking about passing a neutral between the switches.
I added a fan to a room recently and didn't have a switch so I used a Zen51 relay at the fan (or light in your case) and added a battery switch for controlling it.
It's not my favorite solution, but if you look at the instructions for the Zen51 you can hard-wire a switch so you still have switch that works when HA or the controller is down.
Ok, I updated the comment above. There are smart switches that don't need a neutral and then you could replace the downstream switches with a button to toggle the light. The trade off is it won't work if your network is down.
Wow! I didn't know about this feature. I do have some sonoff switches so I think I'll conduct some tests and see if it works well with my switches. Thanks a lot!
