I’m stuck with a setup that seems common, but documentation and marketing blur the lines:
Setup:
– Bathroom fan (Limodor Compact 60), so inductive load / motor
– No neutral wire** at the wall switch (just L → L1)
– I need a real smart wall switch that actually switches the load, not just sends Zigbee events
What I tried:
– Sonoff ZBM5-1C-86W → marketed as “no neutral”,
he manual clearly states: “in no-neutral mode this device does not support inductive loads such as fans”
– Aqara H1 EU (no-neutral): looks promising, but I can’t find any official statement that it supports motors or inductive loads
– Shelly 1L / ZBMINI-L: can work without neutral, but specs mostly mention resistive loads*
Question:
Does anyone have a smart switch or relay **running a fan/motor without neutral at the wall?
Which device works reliably?
If you’re lucky you’ll find line, neutral, and the pair of wires that leads to your wall switch up there. You can then wire your existing wall switch to the switch terminals on the Zigbee switch. You might choose to replace the wall switch with a SPST switch, like a garbage disposal switch so you can always touch the same side to toggle the fan but it would also work with an existing mechanical switch.
If you’re not lucky, you’ll only find 2 wires up there - neutral and load. In that case, you can get the mini switch working by shorting the line and load at the wall switch - then you’ll have line and neutral by the fan. If you’re planning on fully automating the fan, you’re all done.
If you still want the option of manual (but not hardwired) control, you’re looking at adding a battery powered wall switch in place of the existing wall switch.
That’s actually what I’m looking for now. I haven’t found anything that looks decent so I’m considering a bit of a hack - wiring one of those momentary Decora switches to a water sensor (!) They’re small enough to stuff back in the wall box and the batteries last a long time (the ones in my basement use AAA batteries and are still showing over 80% after 2 years). The sensor on those is external and it would be really easy to cut the wire and connect it to a switch.
I’m in the same situation and tried out the Aqara T1 no neutral and it didn’t work. Connecting the live wire and one speed as output the fan would always run on that speed but the Aqara would not turn on. So on the lookout again since I don’t want to make changes on the Perilex socket side if I can avoid it
I am in US, & installed an Aqara WS-USC01 no-neutral switch (purchased from Amazon), as one of my very first HA projects. It’s a Zigbee device that sounds very similar to Aqara H1 EU.
I’m using it to control a bathroom fan / light, as a manual switch, & with automations for humidity-controlled turn-on, & auto shutoff after X minutes. It’s rated for 1/4 HP, with no need for bypass.
It’s been absolutely trouble-free in the 3.5 years it’s been in place, with no issues whatsoever. (Wish I could say the same about some of my other 280+ devices.)
I went ahead and built a Zigbee switch myself. It’s a standard Decora style switch connected to a cheap Zigbee water sensor. So cheap, Z2M identifies it as a motion sensor (!)
