Smart Light Switches

squirrel

squirrel

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Hi everyone. Looking to replace all the light switches in my place. Need about 9 total (3x 1 gang, 3x 2 gang, 3x 3 gang). I'm currently looking at the Qualitel range. I believe there's a neutral wire everywhere. I see they sell two models - one requires a neutral whilst the other doesn't. Is one better than the other? Are there any other affordable alternatives?
 
squirrel said:
Thanks for the info. They don't seem to have stock of the 1 gang for this switch or this one :(
Click to expand...

Personally I bought 2-gangs even when needing just 1-gang and then I run automations on those buttons.

So I would just do that again if I was you.

But he is very responsive so you can reach out and ask about stock.

I have those first options so the cost difference was negligence.

If I did it again I would have taken the smaller backing plates as well.
 
I have no neutrals, using these with my existing switches, works lovely in Homekit. Wish I had neutrals much more options available.

www.geewiz.co.za

Aqara - Controller - Single Switch Module T1 (No Neutral)

Even if your wall box doesn't have a neutral wire, the Aqara Single Switch Module T1 can be installed and used. Enjoy the benefits of the fastest, most stable, and energy-efficient smart home technology. Can be connected to your existing 2-way switches and make them smart. You will be able to...
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za
 
Think I might end up with the Eachon ones, they R260 a pop from Geewiz, seems like a good deal.
 
squirrel said:
Hi everyone. Looking to replace all the light switches in my place. Need about 9 total (3x 1 gang, 3x 2 gang, 3x 3 gang). I'm currently looking at the Qualitel range. I believe there's a neutral wire everywhere. I see they sell two models - one requires a neutral whilst the other doesn't. Is one better than the other? Are there any other affordable alternatives?
Click to expand...
Just make sure you really want touch sensitive buttons, I know that would likely annoy me.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Just make sure you really want touch sensitive buttons, I know that would likely annoy me.
Click to expand...

I stayed in a guest house with touch switches and it didn't really bother me. Definitely will take some time getting used to after flicking switches for decades!
 
I have place my smart switch at the light, the neutral and live is there. Smart switch runs parallel.
 
Folks are there still no connected switches that have physical bell push buttons instead of touch buttons?

I went with Quikswitch for this VERY reason as it was the closest I could find that resembles a physical bell push button 4-5 years ago. Although not ideal as I would prefer more solid and durable bell push buttons (like the ones used on some old school doorbells) and not having to change batteries (hardly ever have to so not a biggie), but it was the best I could get in SA and it seems nothing much has changed since 4-5 years ago.
 
ipodmusicman said:
Folks are there still no connected switches that have physical bell push buttons instead of touch buttons?

I went with Quikswitch for this VERY reason as it was the closest I could find that resembles a physical bell push button 4-5 years ago. Although not ideal as I would prefer more solid and durable bell push buttons (like the ones used on some old school doorbells) and not having to change batteries (hardly ever have to so not a biggie), but it was the best I could get in SA and it seems nothing much has changed since 4-5 years ago.
Click to expand...

What are bell push buttons?

Like momentary switches that go in and pop back out and then the thing stays on?

I have never even seen normal non-smart switches like that.
 
If you want physical buttons you need to go with something like the switchman.

www.geewiz.co.za

SONOFF SwitchMan Smart Wall Switch-M5 - (Available in 1/2/3 Channel)

Physical buttons – High-precision physical button to operate. Anyone can easily use it Safe Disassembly – Separate the high and low voltage and disassemble the switch safely APP control – Manage devices at any time, don’t worry about forgetting to turn off the electrical appliances Voice control...
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za
 
ipodmusicman said:
Folks are there still no connected switches that have physical bell push buttons instead of touch buttons?

I went with Quikswitch for this VERY reason as it was the closest I could find that resembles a physical bell push button 4-5 years ago. Although not ideal as I would prefer more solid and durable bell push buttons (like the ones used on some old school doorbells) and not having to change batteries (hardly ever have to so not a biggie), but it was the best I could get in SA and it seems nothing much has changed since 4-5 years ago.
Click to expand...
It seems a bit of a step backwards. Touch vs push has a higher number use/contact AFAIK.
 
ipodmusicman said:
Folks are there still no connected switches that have physical bell push buttons instead of touch buttons?

I went with Quikswitch for this VERY reason as it was the closest I could find that resembles a physical bell push button 4-5 years ago. Although not ideal as I would prefer more solid and durable bell push buttons (like the ones used on some old school doorbells) and not having to change batteries (hardly ever have to so not a biggie), but it was the best I could get in SA and it seems nothing much has changed since 4-5 years ago.
Click to expand...

No unfortunately not anything out of the box, although I did spot these but they look a bit cheap feeling: https://henractech.co.za/shop/smart-wifi-mechanical-light-switch-2-gang/

I’ve rolled my own quality ones though with Legrand Arteor switches and Shelly relays, can’t easily do more than 2 gang though with this solution.
 
abudabi said:
If you want physical buttons you need to go with something like the switchman.

www.geewiz.co.za

SONOFF SwitchMan Smart Wall Switch-M5 - (Available in 1/2/3 Channel)

Physical buttons – High-precision physical button to operate. Anyone can easily use it Safe Disassembly – Separate the high and low voltage and disassemble the switch safely APP control – Manage devices at any time, don’t worry about forgetting to turn off the electrical appliances Voice control...
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za
Click to expand...

These use micro switches which feel terrible to use.
 
SauRoNZA said:
What are bell push buttons?

Like momentary switches that go in and pop back out and then the thing stays on?

I have never even seen normal non-smart switches like that.
Click to expand...

They’re used for doorbell and dimmer switches, and yes they’re just momentary switches.
 
SauRoNZA said:
What are bell push buttons?

Like momentary switches that go in and pop back out and then the thing stays on?

I have never even seen normal non-smart switches like that.
Click to expand...

That is correct. In other words, the physical button itself does not hold state which is what we want for being able to, not only turn lights on and off via the switch itself, but whereby the lights are turned on and off via automations and thus the state of the physical button does not show whether the light is on or off. That would bug the living daylights out of me if I was in a situation whereby the physical button and the state of the lights were not in sync.

Regarding touch vs physical buttons, when one switches a light on and off, one generally feels for the physical button and as such, presses it, especially in the dark. That is also why I am not a fan of touch buttons, especially in a 2-3 gang configuration.

The ideal light switch is:
- Bell push buttons. Press to toggle on/off, hold to dim.
- Must be able to get them in 2, 3 or 4 gang configurations in a 4x2 size.
- Ideally, it must be a connected switch. If it a dumb switch with Shellys in line, the Shellys would need to be placed in the roof in protective enclosures, as in the vast majority of cases there won't be enough room within the wall cavity behind the switch for 1 or 2 Shellys, not to mention 4, so not a bad compromise.
- If the home automation platform is down or no longer available, the switch must still do its job in toggling the lights on and off because we like to keep our Home Assistant instances updated, weekend tweaking, etc or if we sell the house to a buyer who is not going to smart it up, all must still work. One mistake that some people make is controlling connected bulbs with switches that rely on the automation platform to send a command to the bulb to turn it on or off based on the switch being toggled.

Too much to ask? hahahaha.
 
I agree with a physical switch over a touch switch. The same as touch screen remote vs physical - the touch is horrible .

I've been using a combination of Shelly 1, Shelly 2.5 and Shelly Dimmer with a real switch for the past 4 years, but I do have neutral cables and the Shelly are fitted in the wall. I don't have 3 or 4 gang though - so I understand that space would be an issue
 
Put a little DB in your roof and get Shelly switches. Run the cabling from the DB with the shelly switches in it to your physical light switches. That is the way to go in my opinion. That is what I am doing at my place.
 
Thread necro!

Which smart light switches would be the best to get today?
I finally have solar so I can start with my smart home project, and I'd like to make sure I get the right switches.
I don't know if I have neutral wires yet as it just occurred to me. Will check after work.
 
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