Aqara switch h1 eu - don't control the light right after installation

Hardware
1

A newbie needs help. I’m sorry if this is a stupid question.

I’ve installed Aqara wall switch h1 EU (no neutral) - connected the life wire (the one that had power - tested with that screwdriver that lights a little light when you touch a powered wire) to L and the other wire to L1.

when turned the breaker back on - the light stayed off. I’ve pressed the switch once - the light went off for a second, and then started to turn on and off with cycle approximately half a second. pressed the switch again - the light turned off and since then the switch remains always on. Tried to disconnect and connect back, turned the breaker on and off - still the same behavior - the light is always on regardless of presses on the switch. The switch little light is off. Tried press and hold for various durations. double, triple quadruple etc. presses - nothing changes.

The only hypothesis I have is that the switch had broken after I’ve connected it, but to be honest can’t even understand if that is viable explanation - would a broken switch be permanently connected? (I would assume that it would be rather permanently disconnected).

Any advice would be highly appreciated. This is the second devise I’m testing with home assistant and have a long way to go. it would be a pity to stay in this dead-end, please help me out.

2

Some of these no-neutral switches have a minimum load required to operate. If you’re only connecting a single led light, then you might not be passing the minimum required wattage for the switch to work without a neutral.

What is the wattage on the light you’re controlling?

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3

Thank you, @ShadowFist . Added the second bulb and now it works :slight_smile:

I’m still learning and it looks like ZHA integration is really limited (two Aqara devices have very limited functionality exposed and some bugs). I guess it is a common knowledge, but I’m struggling to understand - why a native integration should be inferior and push everyone to Zigbee2MQTT. I understand that it is due to the fact that HA community puts more effort into Z2M integration features, but… why? :frowning:

I know my question isn’t going to change anything, just venting. My philosophy is maximum simplicity, how an extra intermediary system (read - extra code) could be better than without it. But maybe I’m missing something.

4

Glad it’s working for you!

Not gonna be drawn into the ZHA Vs Z2MQTT discussion because there’s already too many threads on that subject.

Personally, I’m running both and have a preference for one over the other, but this is not the place to discuss it