Uk switches - where to start?

Id like to buy some smart switches. I hope I can connect these to HA and then when they are pressed they turn off my lights, but they don’t actually cut power to the bulbs. Is that how they work?

Or are there smart switches that can also control non-smart bulbs? So the switches are still controllable even when the lights are off, and then we can switch the non smart bulbs back on by requesting HA contact the switch and turn them on. They’d be helpful too in a few places.

Does anyone have any recommendations for smart switches of either sort?

I have standard UK wiring.

Both exist.
Some, like the Xiaomi Aqara, are available in the two variant.

  • One variant which cut the current to the bulb (can be control via HA, or via the push button, and report the status back to HA).
  • The other variant doesn’t control the bulb itself but are simple press button that only send a signal to HA (you then need to turn ON/OFF your bulb using HA automation).

Xiaomi aqara requires a Xiaomi gateway to work in conjonction with HA (if you use the switch which can also cut power, it keep working even if HA is down or if internet is down).

Another solution is offered by Sonoff with the Sonoff T1 and connect simply via wifi, this variant control the bulb power. I personally don’t like the sensitive button too much, you always have to look at the switch to turn a lamp on/off since there is no “physical” button to press on.

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Thanks. Looks like, within that listing, the wirless switch is for smart bulbs and the wall switch is for non-smart bulbs? :slight_smile:
Do you know if they come in biffer sizes (like 3 gang or 4 gang)

Cheers!

James

So this is the same thing, right? And then I just need the gateway with it?

Main thing to check when buying switches for the UK is that you have the correct wiring behind the switch, I found that I didn’t actually have a neutral behind my switches so have had to go for a different setup. Checkout the sonoff basics as they can have a spare gpio and GND connected to make your standard light switches into a smart one and then the output from the Sonoff can be connected to the light.

Thanks. Yeah, looking around I think I will have to go for the wireless versions as I am likely to have just a regular live/switched live to my switches. I could fiddle about with those cables to get the neutral line to actually be neutral, but then I wouldn’t have a switched live to go to the lights. So I’m screwed either way!

Yes, that’s the same thing. Those “wireless” switch basically act as a remote for HA, while looking like a switch :slight_smile:

You can also use the tiny push button then:
https://www.gearbest.com/access-control/pp_626695.html

In 3 or 4 gang I don’t know any (except the sensitive sonoff T1), but you could just install 2 side by side. And using hass to control your light, 1 button can turn 2 or more lamp on or off together, so that you don’t really need that many gang :slight_smile:

Wow they really are small. This stuff is cool as hell, isn’t it?!

I have 1 of those wireless switches “hidden” behind my bedside cupboard… it is my all off switch, so it turns off any lights that are on and I plan to have it set the alarm when I get round to it.

and if in an emergency a double press of it turns on every light in the house :smiley:

I also have some of the wireless switches, double and single. I have 2 hue bulbs in the bedroom, left controls 1 side right the other… and come on 40% so not so bright, but if extra brightness in needed, then a press of both at once and both bulbs come on at 100%. I love them till something better like “Den” comes out.

https://getden.co.uk/product/light-switch/

Thanks MarkR - very informative and useful. Are you able to press and hold them, e.g., for dimming?

Is it easy to set them up with the Xiaomi hub, and subsequently with HA? I’ve discovered over the last few days, that I’m not that great at coding.

dimming, alas no that would be too good :slight_smile:

Dead easy to get working… these are my automations for the bedroom ones, I could still tweak them more when I get round to it. I did play with toggle so it would be just 1 automation for each but toggle doesn’t allow brightness, colour etc… I’m sure there is a way to put it into a script but this works for me… if light on and switch pressed turn off, if off, turn on etc

- alias: Bedroom Left Light off
  trigger:
    platform: event
    event_type: click
    event_data:
      entity_id: binary_sensor.wall_switch_right_158d00012a3e9a
      click_type: single
  condition:
    condition: state
    entity_id: light.bedroom_1
    state: 'on'
  action:
    service: light.turn_off
    data:
      entity_id: light.bedroom_1
    
- alias: Bedroom Left Light on
  trigger:
    platform: event
    event_type: click
    event_data:
      entity_id: binary_sensor.wall_switch_right_158d00012a3e9a
      click_type: single
  condition:
    condition: state
    entity_id: light.bedroom_1
    state: 'off'
  action:
    service: light.turn_on
    data:
      entity_id: light.bedroom_1
      brightness: 77
      color_temp: 363

- alias: Bedroom light both off
  trigger:
    platform: event
    event_type: click
    event_data:
      entity_id: binary_sensor.wall_switch_both_158d00012a3e9a
      click_type: both
  condition:
    condition: state
    entity_id: light.bedroom
    state: 'on'
  action:
    service: light.turn_off
    data:
      entity_id: 
        - light.bedroom_1
        - light.bedroom_2

- alias: Bedroom light both on bright
  trigger:
    platform: event
    event_type: click
    event_data:
      entity_id: binary_sensor.wall_switch_both_158d00012a3e9a
      click_type: both
#condition:
#  condition: state
#  entity_id: light.bedroom_2, light.bedroom_2
#  state: 'off'
  action:
    service: light.turn_on
    data:
      entity_id: 
        - light.bedroom_1
        - light.bedroom_2
      brightness: 255
      color_temp: 343

- alias: Bedroom light right off
  trigger:
    platform: event
    event_type: click
    event_data:
      entity_id: binary_sensor.wall_switch_left_158d00012a3e9a
      click_type: single
  condition:
    condition: state
    entity_id: light.bedroom_2
    state: 'on'
  action:
    service: light.turn_off
    data:
      entity_id: light.bedroom_2

- alias: Bedroom light right on
  trigger:
    platform: event
    event_type: click
    event_data:
      entity_id: binary_sensor.wall_switch_left_158d00012a3e9a
      click_type: single
  condition:
    condition: state
    entity_id: light.bedroom_2
    state: 'off'
  action:
    service: light.turn_on
    data:
      entity_id: light.bedroom_2
      brightness: 77
      color_temp: 363

Too good indeed. They seem pretty great when without that.

One more question - what’s battery life like?

Also - this den stuff. Is the an ETA or more details?

had mine a few months and battery hasn’t changed… ETA on Den was now but slipped till early 2018

Long press for brightness should be possible, using the long_click_press event:

And stopping the brightness change on long_click_release.

I use this to increase brightness with one of by remote:

        action:
      - service: light.turn_on
        entity_id: light.my_lamp
        data_template:
          brightness: '{{states.light.my_lamp.attributes.brightness + 10}}'

Careful though, long press is only supported with this button:

And not with the new square aqara one (only support single and double click), so my advise would be to buy the round one as it support more function.

Thanks both.

I’ll have to consider which I get. Dimming isn’t essential as if each switch has 2 functions I can always program them accordingly…

Mark - one more question if I may. How quick is the response time? With a small battery like that I guess they must power down when not being actively used so I assume they’re quite slow to activate and do their thing, but maybe zigbee is good at doing it fast?

James

I use something similar using the cube, but more of a gimmick than useful. The cube that is. I use the round one but never used it, plan was for a door bell… :slight_smile:

immediate… as if you are turning on a normal light switch. My wife wouldn’t allow it if it wasn’t :slight_smile:

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Cool.

I’ve ordered a hub, two two gang wireless switches and 3 of the small buttons.

Do they all come with batteries? Oh; and any recommendations for a UK power adaptor for the hub would be great (it is a Chinese plug on it?).

James

Normally yes, but it depend on the vendor and the shipping method used.

I actually ordered them all separately via GearBest. We will see when they arrive!