There Home automation is now part of the daily lives of many users. thanks above all to the popularity that Google and Amazon have given it with their assistants. There are obviously much older, much more complex and better systems, but for the average user they are generally too difficult to manage. This is why in most cases a few home devices are usually enough, whether via smart buttons, light bulbs or speakers.
Lighting control is usually the most obvious, either via smart plugs (which can also control other devices, like a fire pit or electric water heater), or via smart bulbs. The latter are the most practical to install and normally allow you to change not only the state between on and off, but also the intensity of the light, its tone and, sometimes, the color.
But not all lights allow smart bulbs., because they are fluorescent tubes, because they are recessed, because they use very strange sockets or because they are bulbs of a very specific design that cannot be reproduced in models with connectivity. In this case, other types of devices must be used to automate the switches.
Wifi relay
To control a switch in a house, it is necessary to use a relay with Wifi, that is, a device that acts as a bridge between the electrical connection of the switch and the device that is operating, whether it’s a lamp or something else. One of their advantages is that they are small and economical, since it is simply a relay capable of letting electricity pass or not depending on a signal coming from the Wi-Fi network to which it connects .
Like other products, once installed It must be configured in an application to be controlled remotely, from this same application or from a voice assistant, whether on your mobile or with smart speakers in the house. Of course, most use a 2.4 GHz network, so it’s important to make sure our home network looks like this. Typically there are two, one at 2.4 GHz and one at 5 GHz, which may or may not be linked. In the first case, they may need to be separated.
Wifi relay installation
The installation is not complex, you just need to disassemble the switch you want to install it in and put the cables in the holes which marks the instruction manual. Some models require a neutral wire, others do not, and depending on the electrical installation of the house you will need to purchase one or the other.
Lights, garages, switches…
These types of devices can be used in several areas. These are not exactly the same, but they can be installed in the illuminated buttons to make a recessed lamp smart, for example. They can also be put in the garage door motor to open or close it, and they can even be placed in the curtains.
Smart switch on a wall
The installation differs in each case, but it is always similar since it involves bridge the power cables of the device with the relaywhich, thanks to the power supply of the device that we want to modify, is able to receive the Wifi signal to communicate with the smartphone.
There are models that do not use Wi-Fi, but rather Bluetooth.so to use them you have to be within range, and obviously it cannot be used from outside the house, in case you want to give access to the garage to a family member, or turn on the lights from time to time time to pretend that there is someone inside
Of course, in addition to turning the devices on and off They can be programmed to turn on and off at certain times, as happens with smart plugs or certain light bulbs. This can be done from the application from which they are controlled or, if compatible, with those of intelligent assistants.
Where to buy them
These types of devices are not very well known, but can be purchased easily. In addition in the stores of some manufacturers, such as Shelly Europe, one of the best known, it is possible to buy them online on Amazon and even in stores like Leroy Merlin.
Installing a WiFi relay on the wall
In addition to checking if they are using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (although many have both), it is important to know how it will be controlled. Most use a application, own or third-party, but they are also compatible with Alexa and the Google Assistant. The price of those that are compatible and those that aren’t usually doesn’t vary much.
Where there is a difference is in models compatible with Apple HomeKit, the home automation protocol that Apple designed to verify that all the products that had it worked well with its ecosystem. This makes the certification process more expensive, which is reflected in the price. For example, he Refoss 10A DIY Smart Switch which contains two units costs 19.99 dollars, or each unit costs 10 dollars. But if you want the identical model, HomeKit compatible, you will have to pay 32.99 dollars, each unit costing 16.50 dollars. It’s not a huge price, but it’s a considerable increase so unless you’re using HomeKit, it’s not worth it.
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