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