New to Automating Lighting

Hardware
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1

Hello all

I Hope you are Well.

I am just starting my Smart Home journey having received my Home Assistant Green Yesterday which is now successfully setup along with a Sonoff Zigbee USB Dongle attached to a USB Extension Cable.

One thing i am looking at Automating is my Lights, however, i am confused.

I have been researching for awhile now and i see a lot about Neutral being required.

I removed one of the current Light Switches and there are 3 Wires, Red, Black and Green, I am in the UK and the House was Built in 1988.

Does this mean that i can use a Smart Switch?

I am looking at the ’ SONOFF SwitchMan Zigbee Smart Wall Switch’ which says that it works with or without Neutral.

I am also looking at getting the Back Boxes replaced, they look to be 16mm Deep, with 40mm Deep Back Boxes.

Thanks in advance

Kevin

2

I would suggest you have an electrician check for you. It is true that the wire colours should indicate:

Red - Live
Black - Neutral
Green - Earth

However, it is possible that black is being used as switched live. The only real way to know is to put a meter on the wires and test.

3

A few things to mention and take note of.

First electricity can hurt and cause fires, if not sure pay for advice.
You can buy many devices to operate lights without a neutral connection, but if using zigbee for these devices they often don’t perform the router function which is needed for a reliable zigbee mesh.
You will also face trouble with 2 way switching and most units do not cater for 2 way switchiing.
You can fit zigbee relays using neutral into the light fittings which will solve most of those issues.

If you need more advice please ask as someone here will have experience of anything you suggest.

4

Hello

Thanks for the Reply.

There are some things that i do not mess with, Electricity being one.

Regarding the Zigbee Mesh, could i add some Smart Zigbee Plugs around the House to supplement it?

The House is only a Small Two Bedroom Semi Detached with Living Room, Kitchen, Hallway, Landing, Box Room and Bedroom.

Thanks

Kevin

5

Yes, and the Ikea ones are reasonably priced ( INSPELNING plug, smart/energy monitor - IKEA UK).

Might be wise to book an electrician for an EICR Certificate and whilst they are doing that ask them politely if they can check a few wall switches and tell you if they all have neutral or not. As they should test everything you can ask them to ensure your fuse box is correctly labelled - this way you are 100% sure which fuse turns off which circuit.

6

Hello

Thanks for the Reply.

I actually had my last EICR done in 2018 when i had Sound Proofing installed on all of the Party Walls where some Wall Sockets had to be refitted.

I also had a new Consumer Unit fitted a few Years ago.

Thanks

Kevin

7

Hello

I think I am overthinking this situation which would not be the first Time :frowning:

Instead of replacing all of the Light Switches with Smart Switches, could I just use Phillips Hue Bulbs and add them to Home Assistant using Zigbee?

I know that I would have to keep the Light Switches On all the Time but since there is only me here that should not be an issue.

Thanks in advance

Kevin

8

Putting smart bulbs after wall switches is a pet hate of mine, I may be the only one who thinks it is wrong though.

In my head if you are going for home automation the first objective is to not have to interact with switches, it should be automatic. The next thing is everything should be able to be operated as normal, e.g click the wall switch and a light comes on. Think how you will turn a light on if your router, or zigbee hub stops working.

If your grandmother comes round and wants to turn a light on she should be able to, without having to learn how to download an app. install it and then work out how to use the app.

You or someone else will switch that switch off.

9

Hello

Thanks for the Reply.

At the risk of digging a Hole for myself :slight_smile:

Some things I have discovered over the last while.

I do not have a Neutral Wire going to the Light Switches.

Getting access to the Light fitting Roses for fitting a Shelly would be difficult.

Adding a Smart Switch with no Neutral would limit what I am able to do with the Lights, i.e. Dimming which would be advantagous for me since I am Autistic and sensitive to Bright Light.

Also, I have contacted a few Electricians and they have all said that to Replace the current 16mm Back Boxes with 40mm Back Boxes on 6 Light Switches would Cost around £500.

The Cost to Replace the Back Boxes, Six Smart Switches etc. is more than is ideal, for me.

Hence the Phillips Hue which would allow me to have Dimming control and to also allow control over the Colour Temperature and Brightness.

If I am missing something then Please tell me, I am Learning this as I go.

Thanks in advance

Kevin