What UK switches can do all of this?

Hardware
1

I’m in the process of replacing my mk1 Lightwave switches with something better. Problem is that I can’t easily find anything better than lightwave mk2, and if it wasn’t for their cost, I’d probably just stick with them.

But I have the following requirements:

  1. No Netural
  2. 1/2/3 gang, ideally the 3 gang fits in a double backbone instead of single
  3. Local control
  4. Preferably dimmers rather than just on/off
  5. The ability for one switch in a 2 way unit to function as a wireless switch instead of connected to a load, to allow 2 way switching for a circuit without the wiring in place.

All the above can be achieved with the Lightwave switches but I’d really like to move to something ideally Zigbee based and with a native integration available, or just use the standard ZHA Zigbee integration.

Is any of that possible, specifically in the UK?

Thanks

2

  1. Most tuya zigbee switch works without neutral.
    For wifi there’s switches that comes with capacitor that needs to installed in L1 to work.
    There’s also a no neutral hack for any switch using neutral

  2. You might need a zigbee switch/relay that could do binding.
    On tasmota, you can just use device group to accomplish that

3

My personal favourite is to replace light switches with MK Grid modular covers with momentary switches. You can then mount most dimmers behind the UK ceiling rose in the ceiling, with permanent line and neutral available. Mine have secondary insulation with a tubular case which fits in a hole-saw aperture.

The momentary switches look like any other, but being momentary, can be used for dimming.

The main advantage is access to all conductors in one place, removing the need for ‘ballast’ modules which usually are a bodge and limit low-level dimming especially with LEDs (e.g. a minimal current is needed for the device 24x7).

Worse case, you can buy 1G / 2G spacer rings to give more room behind a patress fitting.

2-Way switching can be achieved by using the triple and CPC cable to connect momentary switches in parallel back to one rose with the module. Extra conductors can be used for additional macro switches.

My install uses Fibaro FGD-212 Z-Wave (can’t recommend Fibaro as they won’t release firmware updates), but I’d personally wait a month or so for Sonoff Matter switch modules to be released in the UK - coming soon…

If this helps, :heart: this post!

1 Like
4

Like you I spent quite a lot of money on Lightwave Mk1 switches and sockets four or five years ago. I never did get the two way switching to work, though - in the end I put in Philips Hue bulbs with wireless dimmer switches at the top and bottom of the stairs. You can get mountings for them that clip over the original wall switches, which stay permanently on.

I also got rid of the Lightwave hub and replaced it with a Broadlink RM4 Pro, giving local control. Of course this didn’t solve the problem of the switches not reporting their state and I still sometimes get that “cross pairing” thing, but they’ll do for a few more years…

5

Well in the end, as I had only recently bought a link plus for mk2, I thought it would make more sense to invest in the second gen of the switches. Yes they are more expensive but if I saved money on the switches, I’d be wasting the investment in the link plus. It’s not totally cloud free, but it’s close enough. The control itself is local, so that’s what matters.

Upgraded 4 switches so far and it’s working well, so much better to have 2 way feedback and I’ve replaced some previous mk1 slave switches with cheap aqara Zigbee scene controllers, which actually gives me more flexibility, so that’s saved some money at least