Smart light switches - which one?
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I started with Energenie but of the original 5 only 2 still working after 7 years. They do not need a neutral, bulbs must be over 5 watt, needs a hub, will work with PC or Smart phone, most the other stuff is phone only. Due to the problems with smaller bulbs with shimmer when on and not switching fully off without a load capacitor, I moved to TP-Link also called Tapo, again no neutral required, needs a hub which doubles as a door bell, uses a battery so no lower limit on bulb size, no shimmer, and does turn off fully, done in single or two gang as with most needs deep back box, but I have now moved over to these in the main just two old energenie left.
TP-Link will work with an emulator with PC but really only option is phone or tablet. It has dusk and dawn options, and works with google Nest Mini's no real complaints works well.
If only one or two bulbs, smart bulbs are normally better. You can get smart relays which fit inside my lamps.
Smart bulb default is on. Smart Energenie light switch default off. Smart LP-Link light switch not affected by power cut. On power returning it will resume as left.
My phone has a collection of apps, Smart Life, MiHome, Wiz, Wizer Home, TPC Smart, Tapo, Kasa, and they can all once set up, hardly be touched again as Google home will work them all, maybe not with all functions, but will do most, I use Nest Mini speakers for voice control, my son uses Alexa, Nest is smaller and cheaper, but both basic do the same thing.
Some features are down to the app, some the device, and some another device, so finding what they can do is not easy, the Wiz bulb can be set to slowly switch on/off, but no dusk or dawn, the Tapo I can set living room lights to switch on one hour before dusk.
The Eveready bulbs could not get the app to work with Google Home, but found reason was it was same app as Smart Life but different name, the Kasa and Tapo were diffrent apps, Kasa for heating and Tapo for lights, now combined, both from TP-Link. Wizer, Tapo and Smart Life all to smart socket adaptors, and when adding to Google Home you can call them lights, so the adaptor works with rest, so I have 6 outside lights two on socket adaptors, 3 smart bulbs, and one Tapo lights switch and the one command "Hey google turn on/off outside lights" works them all. But also can use names like pond to turn just one on.
I got a button to work with Tapo so we could turn lights on/off from the bed, but wife uses voice command so re-used as a door bell.
TP-Link will work with an emulator with PC but really only option is phone or tablet. It has dusk and dawn options, and works with google Nest Mini's no real complaints works well.
If only one or two bulbs, smart bulbs are normally better. You can get smart relays which fit inside my lamps.
Smart bulb default is on. Smart Energenie light switch default off. Smart LP-Link light switch not affected by power cut. On power returning it will resume as left.
My phone has a collection of apps, Smart Life, MiHome, Wiz, Wizer Home, TPC Smart, Tapo, Kasa, and they can all once set up, hardly be touched again as Google home will work them all, maybe not with all functions, but will do most, I use Nest Mini speakers for voice control, my son uses Alexa, Nest is smaller and cheaper, but both basic do the same thing.
Some features are down to the app, some the device, and some another device, so finding what they can do is not easy, the Wiz bulb can be set to slowly switch on/off, but no dusk or dawn, the Tapo I can set living room lights to switch on one hour before dusk.
The Eveready bulbs could not get the app to work with Google Home, but found reason was it was same app as Smart Life but different name, the Kasa and Tapo were diffrent apps, Kasa for heating and Tapo for lights, now combined, both from TP-Link. Wizer, Tapo and Smart Life all to smart socket adaptors, and when adding to Google Home you can call them lights, so the adaptor works with rest, so I have 6 outside lights two on socket adaptors, 3 smart bulbs, and one Tapo lights switch and the one command "Hey google turn on/off outside lights" works them all. But also can use names like pond to turn just one on.
I got a button to work with Tapo so we could turn lights on/off from the bed, but wife uses voice command so re-used as a door bell.
Last edited:
@Taylortwocities in the house I think we've got all the combinations mentioned.
Apart from Amazon basics, I can't find any smart light switches that are good brands.
EDIT Tapo = tplink?
I'm put off by the need to have batteries
On ebay, I've just seen a few super cheap options. I'm hesitant to buy though. If it was another electric device, I'd buy. But for a light switch, I'm thinking best to be safe?
Apart from Amazon basics, I can't find any smart light switches that are good brands.
EDIT Tapo = tplink?
I'm put off by the need to have batteries
On ebay, I've just seen a few super cheap options. I'm hesitant to buy though. If it was another electric device, I'd buy. But for a light switch, I'm thinking best to be safe?
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Smart bulbs ?
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I have found having batteries is what makes them so much better if you have no neutral at the switch. Wife had a replacement hip, so dinning room turned into a bedroom while see recovered this was two years ago, not replaced the batteries yet. To date only the door bell button has had the batteries replaced
the living room seems to be lowest battery, likely as lights on for longer than the rest, newest around 6 months old, oldest about 2 years, the Energenie MiHome they replaced turned into flasher units, only 2 of the original 5 still in use. The button when used as two way did work well, magnetic base, where the Energenie had a remote control 
there is an option for a master/slave with Energenie
master has LED to show on, slave does not, however the TP-Link button can come with a backing plate
so does same thing but does not need wires, using as a door bell battery lasted around 18 months. We started before Tapo and Kasa combined, so have two hubs, which double as door bells.
I am looking at the Wizer 13 amp adaptors, as they also monitor power being used. I have one Energenie energy monitor and one combined monitor and remote switch, but it would not pair to the remote control, the Energenie remote works direct not through the wifi, can have up to 3, so faster response time with remote. However also had some sockets turn into flasher units, so now favour socket adaptors as easy to change if they go wrong.
Had about 5 smart bulbs fail, over around 4 years, I have about 15 smart bulbs, all that failed were GU10.
the living room seems to be lowest battery, likely as lights on for longer than the rest, newest around 6 months old, oldest about 2 years, the Energenie MiHome they replaced turned into flasher units, only 2 of the original 5 still in use. The button when used as two way did work well, magnetic base, where the Energenie had a remote control there is an option for a master/slave with Energenie I am looking at the Wizer 13 amp adaptors, as they also monitor power being used. I have one Energenie energy monitor and one combined monitor and remote switch, but it would not pair to the remote control, the Energenie remote works direct not through the wifi, can have up to 3, so faster response time with remote. However also had some sockets turn into flasher units, so now favour socket adaptors as easy to change if they go wrong.
Had about 5 smart bulbs fail, over around 4 years, I have about 15 smart bulbs, all that failed were GU10.
Well spotted old chap.
Though you didn't read what I said entirely: "All Chinese brands. Don't want to buy Chinese off amazon. (Happy to buy Chinese from reputable place like Screwfix though)."
Just adding clarification: happy to buy well known brands like TP Link (if they had a standalone light switch) or one from Screwfix or Toolstation or B&Q for example.
Not happy to buy brand name "Hoo Hahaha Hing" which comes with 50 year warranty stated on the thumbnail.
ebay has looooads of cheap price ones. They look pretty good. Just not sure if OK to buy!
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