Smart light switch options with no neutral

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EricsON

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I would like to make my house lights smart and controllable from Home Assistant, etc.

So far I've summarised the no neutral options available locally as follows:

Shelly 1LShelly Dimmer 2EACHEN L-RF-USTuya Smart Light Switch
AppShelly CloudShelly CloudeWeLinkSmartLife/Tuya
Cloud/LAN supportCloud and/or LANCloud and/or LANCloud & LANCloud & LAN
WiFi - 2.4GHzYesYesYesYes
RF - 433MHzNoNoYesYes
CapacitorShelly Bypass ($)Shelly Bypass ($)IncludedIncluded
DimmerNoYesNoNo
Power usage measurementNoYesNoNo
Tactile feedback--NoNo
Double tap/long press support--No (???)No (???)
Home Assistant supportShelly (CoIoT)Shelly (CoIoT)SonoffLAN (HACS)local tuya (HACS)
ChipsetESP8266???ESP8285???
Tasmota firmware upgradeOTA & Serial???Soldering required???
ESPHome firmware upgradeOTA & SerialOTA & Serial (in dev)??????
1 gang costR 201 (11.58€)
R 216 (12.42€) with Bypass		R346 (19.90€)
R ??? (???€) with Bypass		R 340 / R 312R 420
2 gang cost--R 370 / R 337R 450
3 gang cost--R 405 / R 405R 480
4 gang cost--R 435 / R 425-
ICASA Type approvalYesYesYesNo
NRCS approvalPendingPendingPending???
SANS (IEC) 60669-1????????????

The possible issues with Shelly 1L/Dimmer 2 include:
  • Coming soon, used EU pricing as a guide.
  • No physical light switch included, need to reuse the existing light switch or replace with a button.
  • One device and bypass required per gang.
  • Possibly no space behind the light switch to install multiple devices.
Anyone have any experience with the above products and can fill in the missing information (???) for me?

Update 1: Added Shelly Dimmer 2.
Update 2: Added alternate EACHEN pricing.
 
Last edited:
As per the other thread, the Shelly Dimmer 2 is also a no neutral and available soon - albeit, it is the more expensive option.

But it does power monitoring and the dimmer function
 
Dolby said:
As per the other thread, the Shelly Dimmer 2 is also a no neutral and available soon - albeit, it is the more expensive option.

But it does power monitoring and the dimmer function
Click to expand...
Thanks for a heads up on the Shelly Dimmer 2. Although dimmer functionality in this case is not my priority its good to know there is an option coming that will make it happen. In terms of a tactile switch I'm assuming you need to change the switch to be a momentary switch rather than the normal wall toggle.
 
EricsON said:
Thanks for a heads up on the Shelly Dimmer 2. Although dimmer functionality in this case is not my priority its good to know there is an option coming that will make it happen. In terms of a tactile switch I'm assuming you need to change the switch to be a momentary switch rather than the normal wall toggle.
Click to expand...
I think so - I think something like this :

leroymerlin.co.za

Dimmer arteor LEGRAND 1 lever 1 way 2x4 white

SAFE AND RELIABLE ELECTRICAL SWITCHING
leroymerlin.co.za leroymerlin.co.za

I assume you hold down the button or something
 
EricsON said:
I would like to make my house lights smart and controllable from Home Assistant, etc.

So far I've summarised the no neutral options available locally as follows:

Shelly 1LShelly Dimmer 2EACHEN L-RF-USTuya Smart Light Switch
AppShelly CloudShelly CloudeWeLinkSmartLife/Tuya
Cloud/LAN supportCloud and/or LANCloud and/or LANCloud & LANCloud & LAN
WiFi - 2.4GHzYesYesYesYes
RF - 433MHzNoNoYesYes
CapacitorShelly Bypass ($)Shelly Bypass ($)IncludedIncluded
DimmerNoYesNoNo
Power usage measurementNoYesNoNo
Tactile feedback--NoNo
Double tap/long press support--No (???)No (???)
Home Assistant supportShelly (CoIoT)Shelly (CoIoT)SonoffLAN (HACS)local tuya (HACS)
ChipsetESP8266???ESP8285???
Tasmota firmware upgradeOTA & Serial???Soldering required???
ESPHome firmware upgradeOTA & SerialOTA & Serial (in dev)??????
1 gang costR 201 (11.58€)
R 216 (12.42€) with Bypass		R346 (19.90€)
R ??? (???€) with Bypass		R 340 / R 312R 420
2 gang cost--R 370 / R 337R 450
3 gang cost--R 405 / R 405R 480
4 gang cost--R 435 / R 425-
ICASA Type approvalYesYesYesNo
NRCS approvalPendingPendingPending???
SANS (IEC) 60669-1????????????

The possible issues with Shelly 1L/Dimmer 2 include:
  • Coming soon, used EU pricing as a guide.
  • No physical light switch included, need to reuse the existing light switch or replace with a button.
  • One device and bypass required per gang.
  • Possibly no space behind the light switch to install multiple devices.
Anyone have any experience with the above products and can fill in the missing information (???) for me?

Update 1: Added Shelly Dimmer 2.
Update 2: Added alternate EACHEN pricing.
Click to expand...
I have the archers throught the house, no dimming possible and works without the neutral. No issues from them tbh in the 6 months I've had them installed. Actually going to buy 2 4gangs tomorrow - i get mine from Eiferer here in GP
 
krieg said:
Might be easier to just fish a replacement cable.
Click to expand...
Yeah that requires an electrician. I plan on replacing all of my light switches so that could be a costly route. However still a consideration.
 
powermzii said:
I have the archers throught the house, no dimming possible and works without the neutral. No issues from them tbh in the 6 months I've had them installed. Actually going to buy 2 4gangs tomorrow - i get mine from Eiferer here in GP
Click to expand...
Archers? Link?
 
EricsON said:
Yeah that requires an electrician. I plan on replacing all of my light switches so that could be a costly route. However still a consideration.
Click to expand...

Open up one of your light switches and see whether your cables are run in conduit and going up towards the roof, next step check the roof and see what kind of access you have to the cables.
 
krieg said:
Open up one of your light switches and see whether your cables are run in conduit and going up towards the roof, next step check the roof and see what kind of access you have to the cables.
Click to expand...
I can check the light switch but there is no way I will be climbing in the roof. I would need to call out an electrician in either case.
 
EricsON said:
I can check the light switch but there is no way I will be climbing in the roof. I would need to call out an electrician in either case.
Click to expand...

Well if you have conduit and it comes out in the roof it is an easy job and you might as well rewire all the lights in one go. I would prefer a neutral wire gives you a wider choice of controllers.
 
Any experience on flashing any of these units and reliability of the capacitive touch buttons?
 
So it seems that the Dimmer 2 is available for sale already and will be listing at the various resellers today or tomorrow .
 
Hi guys purchased the eachen 4 gang and 2 gangs to try out with Alexa, but cannot pair nor link to ewelink, as there is no blue light blinking on the device only glows either blue or red and cannot pair the devices to my switches.Any assistance is hugely apperaciated.
 
Jash GP said:
Hi guys purchased the eachen 4 gang and 2 gangs to try out with Alexa, but cannot pair nor link to ewelink, as there is no blue light blinking on the device only glows either blue or red and cannot pair the devices to my switches.Any assistance is hugely apperaciated.
Click to expand...
Must blink to air.

Have you pressed a button switch for about 10 seconds?
 
Jash GP said:
Hi guys purchased the eachen 4 gang and 2 gangs to try out with Alexa, but cannot pair nor link to ewelink, as there is no blue light blinking on the device only glows either blue or red and cannot pair the devices to my switches.Any assistance is hugely apperaciated.
Click to expand...
On the 2 gang you need to hold the 2 buttons for about 10 seconds, this will put the device into pairing mode. Once in that mode you can then use either the quick pair or the AP mode on the app
 
Must the buttons be in red or blue when pairing, struggling for find more info on the net about the Eachen Wifi switches as the pamphlet is so vague and does not contain how to pair information.
 
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