The Home Improvements Thread (3)

[Pho3nix]

Thoughts on alternatives to the eweLink light switches? Can't be 3D printing more bases since the don't sit snug in our electrical boxes

 

[Tinuva]

Thoughts on alternatives to the eweLink light switches? Can't be 3D printing more bases since the don't sit snug in our electrical boxes

Have you considered the sonoff mini or Shelly device behind a regular switch that doesn't look smart?

Thats what I do. Prefer it to soft touch switches. The only difference is, I get the bell press switches which I found makes more sense. Also then works with the Shelly dimmers to allow switching and change dim levels with the switch.

 

[maumau]

Yeah, there are other colours available.. common ones are black, aluminium, stainless steel and brass/gold in the metal range..

Thanks so much. Will check and tell the contractor which ones to buy.

 

[Pho3nix]

Have you considered the sonoff mini or Shelly device behind a regular switch that doesn't look smart?

Thats what I do. Prefer it to soft touch switches. The only difference is, I get the bell press switches which I found makes more sense. Also then works with the Shelly dimmers to allow switching and change dim levels with the switch.

These fit behind the tiny electrical boxes in SA? Let me look

 

[Tinuva]

These fit behind the tiny electrical boxes in SA? Let me look

Yip. So here you will see a Shelly dimmer. I try to use the shelly2.5 when it is 2 or more switches. I have 2 behind a 4 gang square box.

Veti 1 one gang.

Damn I held the camera skew lol, it doesn't look like this on the wall.

Here you can see a dimmer behind it.

Doing it this way, allows you to go for whatever switch look you prefer, or even using your existing switches.

Also look like I did a terrible job with the wire length, it should not be that visible, the copper part.

 

[Pho3nix]

Yip. So here you will see a Shelly dimmer. I try to use the shelly2.5 when it is 2 or more switches. I have 2 behind a 4 gang square box.

Veti 1 one gang.

Damn I held the camera skew lol, it doesn't look like this on the wall.

Here you can see a dimmer behind it.

Doing it this way, allows you to go for whatever switch look you prefer, or even using your existing switches.

Also look like I did a terrible job with the wire length, it should not be that visible, the copper part.

Nope, this helps a lot! Let me order a Shelly and Mini and see what works better for me.
Thank you

 

[W@P]

Hi guys, any idea if this silver coloured edging comes in different colours. The contractor's set on it and I loathe it because it highlights the window sills whereas I'd prefer them blending in. EDIT: it's for a kitchen.

View attachment 1707601

Not sure but I think you get them in black, brown and silver.
What colour you looking for?

 

[The_MAC]

Hi guys, any idea if this silver coloured edging comes in different colours. The contractor's set on it and I loathe it because it highlights the window sills whereas I'd prefer them blending in. EDIT: it's for a kitchen.

View attachment 1707601

These are the colour I have seen:

Aluminum = Silver or Black
Plastic = White, Brown or Black

If you do it correctly, they can actually look very nice e.g. our bathrooms have black taps and fittings, and the aluminum strips are also black, it rounds everything off

 

[maumau]

Not sure but I think you get them in black, brown and silver.
What colour you looking for?

Would've liked a matt grey. Aluminium would probably be closest but the shine draws attention.

 

[The_MAC]

Would've liked a matt grey. Aluminium would probably be closest but the shine draws attention.

Not sure this is the best advice, but you could paint them with a very good quality spray paint, just sand them down lightly before hand.

I used this product on silver brushed aluminum vanity legs/supports, it stuck very well and has not peeled off:

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Yip. So here you will see a Shelly dimmer. I try to use the shelly2.5 when it is 2 or more switches. I have 2 behind a 4 gang square box.

Veti 1 one gang.

Damn I held the camera skew lol, it doesn't look like this on the wall.

Here you can see a dimmer behind it.

Doing it this way, allows you to go for whatever switch look you prefer, or even using your existing switches.

Also look like I did a terrible job with the wire length, it should not be that visible, the copper part.

This is what I'm doing too. I'm just having a hard time with 2 gang switches as there is too little room in my backbox to fit everything. Single gang are fine.

I'll likely have to trim some of the excess wire to get them to fit properly but I'm scared I remove too much.

 

[Tinuva]

This is what I'm doing too. I'm just having a hard time with 2 gang switches as there is too little room in my backbox to fit everything. Single gang are fine.

I'll likely have to trim some of the excess wire to get them to fit properly but I'm scared I remove too much.

Are you using a shelly2.5 or 2pm for 2gang or try to use like 2x shelly1/sonoff_mini ?

When using a shelly2.5 it was fine for me mostly. I pre-wire the shelly2.5 to the 2x switches outside, then only do the last bit in the box.

I only have 2 spots, where I tried to have 2 devices in a box. Only one 2x4 box where I shoved a shelly dimmer and shelly1 in. The other box at least was a 4x4 box with 4 gang, but the 4th switch is actually linked to another box so it allowed me to get away with 1x 2.5 and 1x dimmer, instead of 2x shelly2.5 devices.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Are you using a shelly2.5 or 2pm for 2gang or try to use like 2x shelly1/sonoff_mini ?

When using a shelly2.5 it was fine for me mostly. I pre-wire the shelly2.5 to the 2x switches outside, then only do the last bit in the box.

I only have 2 spots, where I tried to have 2 devices in a box. Only one 2x4 box where I shoved a shelly dimmer and shelly1 in. The other box at least was a 4x4 box with 4 gang, but the 4th switch is actually linked to another box so it allowed me to get away with 1x 2.5 and 1x dimmer, instead of 2x shelly2.5 devices.

Pretty sure the Shelly relays are all the same size no? I've only got the 1PM at the moment which I'm using for a bedroom and my garage. Tested using those.

 

[Tinuva]

Pretty sure the Shelly relays are all the same size no? I've only got the 1PM at the moment which I'm using for a bedroom and my garage. Tested using those.

Yeah but the point is, using a shelly2.5 or shelly2pm, you only need a single device behind the 2gang switches, instead of lets say, 2x shelly1pm devices.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Yeah but the point is, using a shelly2.5 or shelly2pm, you only need a single device behind the 2gang switches, instead of lets say, 2x shelly1pm devices.

Oh yep, I know that. I would never fit 2 in there - I was testing the sizing with the 1PM before getting the 2PM.

 

[maumau]

Not sure this is the best advice, but you could paint them with a very good quality spray paint, just sand them down lightly before hand.

I used this product on silver brushed aluminum vanity legs/supports, it stuck very well and has not peeled off:

View attachment 1708123

Thanks, that's an excellent idea, Rustoleum's good quality.

 

[deesef]

Would've liked a matt grey. Aluminium would probably be closest but the shine draws attention.

If you want plastic, they are available in the full rainbow colour spectrum. Mine are more than 20 years old and still looking good...

 

[maumau]

If you want plastic, they are available in the full rainbow colour spectrum. Mine are more than 20 years old and still looking good...

That plastic looks fine, I wonder if they're still available. Will have a quick Google, thanks.

 

[Snyper564]

Engineer out for first site inspection window order and hopefully building starts next weeek!

 

[Syphonx]

Any experience with solar powered outside lights? Wanting to add some lighting to the driveway but hopefully avoid running trunking etc. if a solar light can last the whole (or majority) of the night. Preferably an all in one unit (solar panel on top of the light casing).