It is typically not recommended to mix smart lighting and smart wiring accessories together using conventional wiring – a product needs to be powered in order to be controlled via the app and if a smart light is controlled directly by a smart switch this will cause the light to not always be able to connect to the app. If you do choose to power a smart light by a smart switch what will happen is when the switch is in the off position the light will be unpowered which means it cannot connect to the app and will appear as offline, with no app control available. When the switch is turned on the light will automatically turn on, but you wont be able to control the additional light settings such as the colour temperature or brightness until the light comes back online (which can take up to 30 seconds depending on whether you are using Wi-Fi or Zigbee). This also means if you want to use any scenes or automations you would need to turn on the switch, allow a time delay and then apply any settings to the lights.
It is also important to keep in mind that lighting products go into pairing mode by having their light switch turned on and off 3 times, if you were to do this with the smart switch you would essentially re-pair the product; which is typically not desirable.
There is a more convenient and effective way for a customer to have the benefit of smart wiring accessories without sacrificing the additional lighting control gained by smart lighting – that is creating a scene switch.
Wire the smart lighting product to a normal, non-smart switch. It is suggested that the position of this switch is put somewhere someone, such as a visitor to the home, wont accidently turn it off, but is still easily accessible for isolation purposes. Behind the door or another area may be appropriate.
Install a Mercator Ikuü light switch in an appropriate, easy to access, location of the room and provide power, neutral (if required – Mercator Ikuü includes no-neutral options) but no load for that switch (no-neutral switches require at least one load to complete the circuit).
The client would then create an automation where if the light switch turns on, the light does too. Since they are connected via the app, and not physical cable, there isn’t the issue described above.
Below is a step-by-step guide for users on how to create the automations required – there are 2, one to turn the light on when the switch is turned on, and other to turn the light off when the switch is turned off. This is a once-off setup process.
The below steps create an automation so that when the smart light switch is turned on, the light will also turn on. This will happen whether you turn on the light switch via the physical switch, the app or voice control.
Make sure that both the lighting product and light switch have been paired to the app. Refer to our pairing overview if you need help with this.
Open the Mercator Ikuü app and tap the gear icon
Select + > ‘when a device’s status changes’
Find the light switch in your device list and select it. Select the switch (if there are more than 1) that you want to turn the light on
Select ‘ON’
Tap ‘activate a device’
Find the light in your device list and select it. Then select switch > ‘ON’ > save > next
If you want the smart switch to turn on more than one light tap the + icon beside ‘task’ and repeat steps 4-7. You can do this for as many lights as you need.
Adjust the name of the automation (optional)
Select ‘save’. If you want to start using the automation straight away, select ‘yes’.
The newly created automation will now appear in your automation list.
Repeat steps 2-11 for the ‘off’ automation.
Tip: make sure that the ‘condition’ (what triggers the automation) and the ‘task’ are both either ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ so that the light turns on when the switch turns on and vice versa.
With Mercator Ikuü the options of personal customisation are endless… if you were to install a 2 gang light switch you could have one switch turn the light onto cool white whereas the other switch turns the light to warm white. This solution is ideal when the client wants the benefits of smart lighting but doesn’t want to be heavily reliant on the app or voice control.
If your client has any specific requests get into contact with our customer care team who can help formulate a specific configuration to match their needs, we can then provide screen captures and step by step instructions so that the client is supported through the process.
Smart switches give you the ability to make any of your existing light bulbs and fixtures smart, while smart bulbs give you the ability to play with color. Luckily, you don't have to choose between the two.
A smart switch controls the flow of power to a certain area, replacing a traditional wall switch. This means it will control whatever the traditional switch controlled, usually light fixtures. The switch connects to the internet, allowing you to control it remotely via an app or a voice assistant like Alexa.
Disadvantages. For users who have installed wired switches, if you want to install a smart switch, you need to disassemble and install it. This is actually not difficult, but you must cut off the power first before installation, and then find the neutral and live wires. usually there are instructions.
On its own, the average smart plug uses at most one, maybe two watts at any given time. Zero, like that of an unused standard outlet, would be ideal, but smart plugs require a small amount of electricity to stay connected to your Wi-Fi. Still, a smart plug uses only around 10 kWh over the course of a year.
Having smart switches installed is a home improvement that saves money. If you live with children or big kids, smart switches are programmed to turn off after a specific amount of time, with or without WiFi. Do you want smart switches, smart bulbs, or smart plugs? All of them have distinct advantages.
The biggest disadvantage of smart light bulbs is that they're much more expensive than regular lightbulbs. As of this writing, a standard incandescent bulb costs about a dollar, while a non-smart LED light bulb costs around $5. A smart bulb costs around $15 each, and that's not counting additional hub expenses.
This integration doesn't come easy, though. The advanced technology required to facilitate communication between these various smart devices and platforms is complex, and thus contributes to the higher cost of smart dimmer switches.
The majority of smart light switches are designed to replace traditional light switches. However, you may need to determine if your existing switch uses a neutral wire, or is connected to another switch, so you know to purchase a compatible smart light switch.
Smart light switches will still work without Wi-Fi, but their advanced features won't be available. You'll only be able to switch the lights on and off, as with a regular light switch. However, with Wi-Fi, you can access a range of features such as scheduling, dimming, and voice control.
Smart lights have a chip inside them so that they can communicate with other devices wirelessly. Every light can connect to an app, smart home assistant, or other smart accessory, so you can automate your lights, change their color, or control them remotely.
Do Smart Switches Slow Down WiFi? Generally speaking, smart lights won't put much extra drawn on your WiFi network because, like smart plugs, smart lights are very simple devices that will typically only need to communicate when their status changes.
Unlike the TV remote, these devices can collect and store information on your usage, habits, and preferences — either on the device or on the network. All that data makes your smart home a potential privacy risk, and every device you add to the network adds a new privacy concern.
Smart switches should last for a lifetime if they're used properly. You can increase their lifespan by following simple troubleshooting techniques. For example, if a smart switch keeps losing power, try resetting it to its original settings. These methods will ensure the device has a long life.
Smart lights are light globes you can control remotely. You can switch them on and off from anywhere in the house and even operate them when you're away from home. This set-and-forget convenience is one of the best features of smart lights.
Once installed, the light is connected to and controlled by an app on a smartphone, tablet, or smart speaker. Smart downlights can work independently of any other smart lighting product. But they can also work in groups or with other smart light fittings. Some smart downlights require a smart hub to control them.
TP-Link Tapo Smart Light Switch, Single Pole, Neutral Wire Required, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Light Switch Compatible with Alexa and Google Home, UL Certified, No Hub Required, White (Tapo S500) This product is certified by Amazon to work with Alexa.
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