I’ve been slowly converting my house (in the U.K.) to use smart switches, rather than smart bulbs. I am using a mix of these and these. The goal is to make the house work a bit more normally and not have to worry about guests flipping switches off.
I was surprised to find that these aren’t acting as routers, like the Zigbee bulbs they are replacing. I was naively thinking that, since these are wired, they would be like my smart sockets or other plug-in things. Instead, I’ve been actually worsening the Zigbee network.
Can anyone recommend any switches available in the U.K. that are also routers?
No, there is an exception to the above statement. Only switches with neutral will route. The scolmore one definitely won’t since it doesn’t even seem to have a neutral terminal.
As for the Moes switch, there’s a good chance it’s hard coded as an end device. At least on the model I had bought, even plugging in a neutral didn’t make them routers. I’d steer clear from that brand.
I know UK houses don’t usually have neutrals at the switch, however you will find it in the ceiling rose along with live & switched live. You can install switch modules there if you have access, or get an electrician to pull a neutral cable to your switches if you don’t.
It can be tricky finding switches that function as Zigbee routers. If you’re looking for recommendations on reliable smart switches that can act as Zigbee routers, I’ve put together a comparison of wall switches on my site: Wall Switches - Smart Home Compared. It covers various options, including those that help extend Zigbee networks while providing the functionality you’re after. Hope it helps!
