Smart light switches

ZeroNeo said:
Thanks, the reason I want to keep the standard switches is because the soft touch switch is going to irritate me having to look for he button and not be able to do it by feel to switch a light on by feel.
Click to expand...
Check out below

This 2 x 5A Smart Switch WiFi module can be used to make any existing wall Socket, Smart. The unit is both 2 Gang 2 Way and can be used for switching on either side of a passage or upstairs and downstairs and switches two sets of lights.

Smart 2 gang module | Tuya Smart Home

Smart Mini Switch, WiFi Module 2 Gang can be used to make any existing light fitting, Smart. Override feature & 2 way for passage or up & downstairs
tuya-smarthome.co.za tuya-smarthome.co.za
 
Saba'a said:
@Dolby any Shelly solutions that can be used?
Click to expand...
Not for 3 gang :(

They have a Shelly 2.5 which is a dual channel / Power monitoring - but will need the neutral. I'm the same as the poster in that I prefer regular switches as opposed to smart switches - and the Shelly 2.5 obviously allows you to use your legacy switches. Those Legrand look awesome.

As in the link above (and the Mini), your switch can be controlled via the app or traditional switch. In other words, your traditional switch won't kill the power to the Shelly - it's always powered.

Maybe one of the smarter guys can tell us how this fits into a solution? Luckily, I don't have more than 2 switches on a panel.

All products

shelly.cloud shelly.cloud
 
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I kinda wonder if Sonoff or Tuya are ever going make a pretty app or keep it kinda functional?

Shelly already have a pretty app - but they've already got the second 'pretty' version coming outIMG_20210806_145040.jpg
 
Dolby said:
I think if your phone battles opening a JPEG, probably time for an upgrade ;)
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Nah, have a s20 Ultra and waiting for post s21 model. :-)

Just the less decoration, the better. Unless the "pretty" is adding functionality, just a waste of phone resources. :-)
 
ZeroNeo said:
Thanks, the reason I want to keep the standard switches is because the soft touch switch is going to irritate me having to look for he button and not be able to do it by feel to switch a light on by feel.
Click to expand...
Any luck?

Pity SA certified switches are all or so it seems, soft touch.

On Amazon lots of clickable switches.
 
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What is the smallest smart device to fit into a dumb light switch?

Sonoff or Shelly?
 
The problem with smart switches. If the power goes out and then comes on, the lights stay on. So if you're away and eskom cuts your power, the power switch will remain on. Slight flaw there.

The TP Link ones work nice. We use their cameras too, but we prefer just normal switches and smart bulbs. Work easier.

But with Eskom, even thats effort. So we have switched all to rechargeable bulbs. They last 3-4 hours when eskom cuts. Our neighbour still cant figure out how all our lights work when their power are out. I know they have been peeking if we have solar panels which we dont have yet.
 
Corelli said:
The problem with smart switches. If the power goes out and then comes on, the lights stay on. So if you're away and eskom cuts your power, the power switch will remain on. Slight flaw there.

The TP Link ones work nice. We use their cameras too, but we prefer just normal switches and smart bulbs. Work easier.

But with Eskom, even thats effort. So we have switched all to rechargeable bulbs. They last 3-4 hours when eskom cuts. Our neighbour still cant figure out how all our lights work when their power are out. I know they have been peeking if we have solar panels which we dont have yet.
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You need to set last state in your app for your switches.

Bulbs are a pain, they take far longer to come back on. Thus wanting to find something to change dumb switches also.

Edit
Sonoffs ewelink most have option
Tuya Smartlife only some have it
 
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Corelli said:
The problem with smart switches. If the power goes out and then comes on, the lights stay on. So if you're away and eskom cuts your power, the power switch will remain on. Slight flaw there
Click to expand...

Saba'a said:
You need to set last state in your app for your switches.
Click to expand...

PowerOnState - Tasmota

Documentation (Wiki) for Tasmota
tasmota.github.io tasmota.github.io
support.itead.cc

How to set power on state

Generally speaking, the switch stays OFF after recovering from the electricity cut-off, which can be inconvenient for smart home switches. The power on state feature allows you to decide the status of the switch. Sonoff products that support powe...
support.itead.cc support.itead.cc
 
Dolby said:
I kinda wonder if Sonoff or Tuya are ever going make a pretty app or keep it kinda functional?

Shelly already have a pretty app - but they've already got the second 'pretty' version coming outView attachment 1122878
Click to expand...

To me that looks horrendous and dysfunctional.

Much prefer the look of Tuya then.

In a perfect world I would have none of them and just use Home instead.
 
Corelli said:
The problem with smart switches. If the power goes out and then comes on, the lights stay on. So if you're away and eskom cuts your power, the power switch will remain on. Slight flaw there.

The TP Link ones work nice. We use their cameras too, but we prefer just normal switches and smart bulbs. Work easier.

But with Eskom, even thats effort. So we have switched all to rechargeable bulbs. They last 3-4 hours when eskom cuts. Our neighbour still cant figure out how all our lights work when their power are out. I know they have been peeking if we have solar panels which we dont have yet.
Click to expand...

Incorrect.

Bad configuration, not a flaw.

Or a piss poor product.
 
Corelli said:
The problem with smart switches. If the power goes out and then comes on, the lights stay on. So if you're away and eskom cuts your power, the power switch will remain on. Slight flaw there.

The TP Link ones work nice. We use their cameras too, but we prefer just normal switches and smart bulbs. Work easier.

But with Eskom, even thats effort. So we have switched all to rechargeable bulbs. They last 3-4 hours when eskom cuts. Our neighbour still cant figure out how all our lights work when their power are out. I know they have been peeking if we have solar panels which we dont have yet.
Click to expand...

That's just not true.

Unless you did not configure your power on settings.

And if it doenst have power on settings then it's not a smart switch.
 
SauRoNZA said:
To me that looks horrendous and dysfunctional.
Click to expand...

Granted, they're only one of the fastest growing IoT companies in the world with a ton of cash put towards RnD / development - but your opinion is your option.

But curious - what would you do different ?

It's room >>> devices scenario- with a custom photo for each room and each device if desired?
The user can also change position of each room and group ?
And a snapshot of temperature / light / battery power / electricity use per room?
And total consumption of the house in the top right corner?

And you're struggling with this way of things ?
 
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Dolby said:
Granted, they're only one of the fastest growing IoT companies in the world with a ton of cash put towards RnD / development - but your opinion is your option.

But curious - what would you do different ?

It's room >>> devices scenario- with a custom photo for each room and each device if desired?
The user can also change position of each room and group ?
And a snapshot of temperature / light / battery power / electricity use per room?
And total consumption of the house in the top right corner?

And you're struggling with this way of things ?
Click to expand...

It’s just too busy for me.

I prefer the way HomeKit has a summary of active status at the top and then just your favourite things down the main screen.

I don’t need to see every device all the time on a single pane of glass.

If I did want that I would want those pictures to be half or even 1/3rd the width and not cover the entire screen. Also make the backgrounds opaque or strip them out and replace them with clean and uniform iconography.

The fact that every tile is different scrambles my brain.

What I do like is the larger easily readable font though which is something that drives me up the wall with HomeKit especially for Thermostat temperature which is almost invisible at times.
 
SauRoNZA said:
It’s just too busy for me.

I prefer the way HomeKit has a summary of active status at the top and then just your favourite things down the main screen.

I don’t need to see every device all the time on a single pane of glass.

If I did want that I would want those pictures to be half or even 1/3rd the width and not cover the entire screen. Also make the backgrounds opaque or strip them out and replace them with clean and uniform iconography.

The fact that every tile is different scrambles my brain.

What I do like is the larger easily readable font though which is something that drives me up the wall with HomeKit especially for Thermostat temperature which is almost invisible at times.
Click to expand...

I thought you were comparing it to Tuya / SmartLife?
Can you hide rooms or devices in Tuya ?

Anyway - if the screen is too busy, why not add a custom photo black / dark / text / icons or whatever you want ?
You can then duplicate that same photo / icon etc across every room ?

I know you can hide devices in the app, but I'm not sure about rooms yet.
 
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