WiFi Light Switches

zep

Hi,
Anyone got any recommendation for WiFi light switches?
Looking to replace current switches with ones capable of being controlled by Alexa.
Cheers

The high horse brigade

zep wrote: »

Hi,
Anyone got any recommendation for WiFi light switches?
Looking to replace current switches with ones capable of being controlled by Alexa.
Cheers

Do you have power at your light switches, nearly all electrical installations in this country only route the positive core through the switch.

Have you looked at Philips hue? This way you can just leave the switch on and get a hue switch or motion sensor. I have most of the house done in hue at this stage with sensors for hallway and landing and switches for the other rooms. You can even get covers for your original switches to take the hue switch which is removable and magnetic


Light Wall Switch Cover for Philips Hue Dimmer Switch, Homegoo Dimmable Via Smart Wireless Device or Dimmer Switch for EU/UK Standard Switch Adapter Converter Cover Plate https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NR4L4NG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hG.yDb22VDK7P

zep

Thanks for the reply, nearly sure switches have a common wire and the switched live so just a WiFi switch as per below is what I was thinking.

https://www.itead.cc/smart-home/sonoff-tx-series-wifi-smart-wall-switches.html

Cheers

quiggs1000

These ones look good too, haven't tried them:

https://getden.co.uk/

Advantage is that it just looks like a normal switch.

bk

quiggs1000 wrote: »

These ones look good too, haven't tried them:

https://getden.co.uk/

Advantage is that it just looks like a normal switch.

Nice looking switches, but a bit expensive and requires a hub.

Chet T16

quiggs1000 wrote: »

These ones look good too, haven't tried them:

https://getden.co.uk/

Advantage is that it just looks like a normal switch.

I have one, works fine but as said it needs a hub.

Uses leakage between live and earth to power itself so you need an earth at the switch you're replacing. That limited it's usefulness in our house.

Due to the high power usage of the switch activator and the limit to high much current can drawn there is a 45 second recharge period between automated switching.

Activation is also ridiculously loud!

The high horse brigade

The high horse brigade wrote: »

nearly all electrical installations in this country only route the positive core through the switch.
2VDK7P

Nearly all is a stretch.
Anything I've wired/seen wired in the last 15 years would have neutrals at the switch.

quiggs1000

Chet T16 wrote: »

I have one, works fine but as said it needs a hub.

Uses leakage between live and earth to power itself so you need an earth at the switch you're replacing. That limited it's usefulness in our house.

Due to the high power usage of the switch activator and the limit to high much current can drawn there is a 45 second recharge period between automated switching.

Activation is also ridiculously loud!

Thanks for the review, I was wondering myself how it worked in practice. I've heard that the switching is really loud - you could be woken up in bed with the lights turning off downstairs

Also, you can't switch back on/off for 45 seconds after the last automation - good to know. Trying to figure out if that's a deal-breaker. I guess if you walk into a room and leave immediately and want to switch on/off the light with Alexa as you come and go that would be a problem.

Chet T16

quiggs1000 wrote: »

Thanks for the review, I was wondering myself how it worked in practice. I've heard that the switching is really loud - you could be woken up in bed with the lights turning off downstairs

Also, you can't switch back on/off for 45 seconds after the last automation - good to know. Trying to figure out if that's a deal-breaker. I guess if you walk into a room and leave immediately and want to switch on/off the light with Alexa as you come and go that would be a problem.

The problem is if you activate it by mistake, you need to wait until you can correct yourself. If you're walking out you can just hit the switch.

I genuinely got a warning from my wife that I need to warn her when if I was going to switch it!

banie01

I was looking into WiFi switches a couple of years ago.
Didn't have neutral at the switch so I ended up going with Smart Bulbs instead.

Full range of control via the Smartlife or Tuya app, that also integrates fully with Google Assistant, Alexa IFTTT and other assistants, fully dimmable and colour changing too (not that colour changing gets used much)

Rather than drop neutrals to all my switches changing to the WiFi bulb and switching my bulb holders from E22 to B27 sorts all my GH lighting control and worked out really well.

The price of the bulbs has varied between @€;12 and €15 so quite cost effective too IMO.