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I got a smart switch for the dinning room when it was used by my wife after an operation as a bedroom for a time, so I could use a magnetic push and turn switch so she could switch lights on/off from the bed.
However she used google Nest Mini and voice control, so I could have done it all by simply fitting a smart bulb, and leaving the switch always turned on.
The problem with the smart bulb is the default is on. Some I am told you can select the default, but in the main default on is good as at the switch turn it off and on again and the bulb lights, but if you have a power cut, then it will also turn on when power returns. I as a work around program in a time when they switch off, say 9 am so if there is a power cut they will turn off again at 9 am. But power cuts are rare.
What we found was the living room needs more than the main light, so we have up lighters, spot lights and cabinet lights to supplement the main light, great we turn them on as required, but on leaving the room we would need to walk around selecting each lamp, however since all are smart in some way, be it an adaptor, or bulb, hey google turn off living room lights turns them all off, but we can select, hey google turn on Christmas will just turn on the lantern we have not put away yet from Christmas.
As to wired multi switches, that has also changed, in the old days you needed three wires from master to slave switch
shown was the standard way years ago, with two x two way and one intermediate switch, however today there are switches which only need two wires between them, and also kinetic which does not need any. The whole idea of two way switching has been turned on its head.
The problem is many smart switches will not work in the old way, the smart switch I have used for my outside light does not come as a two way version, as there is no need, pressing door bell turns on outside light, as well as the switch inside the door. Using a battery powered smart switch (TP Link or Tapo) means no neutral required, and it does not change state with a power cut, or pass any current through the bulb, so it can work an outdoor PIR lamp.
The problem is there are so many smart bulbs and all seem to have different features, so selecting which make is a problem, specially as some need a hub. In the main a mains powered device like a bulb or adaptor does not need a hub, a device battery powered or powered through the small current through bulb when off, needs a hub so it can use less power.
Down stairs in the flat used for visitors, did not want a lamp visitors could not use, so this was used, does not connect to wifi, or phone, just a simple remote control so light can be turned off/on when in bed, as long as main switch left on.
However she used google Nest Mini and voice control, so I could have done it all by simply fitting a smart bulb, and leaving the switch always turned on.
The problem with the smart bulb is the default is on. Some I am told you can select the default, but in the main default on is good as at the switch turn it off and on again and the bulb lights, but if you have a power cut, then it will also turn on when power returns. I as a work around program in a time when they switch off, say 9 am so if there is a power cut they will turn off again at 9 am. But power cuts are rare.
What we found was the living room needs more than the main light, so we have up lighters, spot lights and cabinet lights to supplement the main light, great we turn them on as required, but on leaving the room we would need to walk around selecting each lamp, however since all are smart in some way, be it an adaptor, or bulb, hey google turn off living room lights turns them all off, but we can select, hey google turn on Christmas will just turn on the lantern we have not put away yet from Christmas.
As to wired multi switches, that has also changed, in the old days you needed three wires from master to slave switch
The problem is many smart switches will not work in the old way, the smart switch I have used for my outside light does not come as a two way version, as there is no need, pressing door bell turns on outside light, as well as the switch inside the door. Using a battery powered smart switch (TP Link or Tapo) means no neutral required, and it does not change state with a power cut, or pass any current through the bulb, so it can work an outdoor PIR lamp.
The problem is there are so many smart bulbs and all seem to have different features, so selecting which make is a problem, specially as some need a hub. In the main a mains powered device like a bulb or adaptor does not need a hub, a device battery powered or powered through the small current through bulb when off, needs a hub so it can use less power.
Down stairs in the flat used for visitors, did not want a lamp visitors could not use, so this was used, does not connect to wifi, or phone, just a simple remote control so light can be turned off/on when in bed, as long as main switch left on.